Hydrate Your Skin From Within
By Dr. Jessica Wu
I’m on an airplane once or twice a month, and all that flying can really dehydrate my skin, so I’ve made a conscious effort to drink more water. However, as I’ve written before, I don’t like the taste of water (or lack thereof). In fact, my staff used to call me the desert rat because I could go all day without a sip. This year, I made a resolution to drink more water, and so far I think I’m doing a pretty good job (and my skin looks better). If you fly frequently, live in a dry climate, or just want plumper skin, remember to stay hydrated. Here are some of my tricks to making water more tasty:
Add fruit. Slice some lemons or cucumbers into a pitcher of water so you’ll always have a tasty cold drink. If you don’t have a fridge at work, or you’re always on the go, put half a lemon or orange in a Ziploc bag, and squeeze a few drops of fresh juice into your water bottle now and then.
Have a “cocktail.” Sweet, candy-colored cocktails go down easily, but alcohol can end up dehydrating you. When I’m out with friends, I try to have just one real cocktail — then I switch to cranberry and club soda. I love the bubbles, and it’s more fun to drink than just plain water. (This is also a great option if you’re the designated driver for the night.)
Make tea. Many teas contain caffeine, which is a diuretic, meaning it flushes water from your body. While this can be helpful when you’re bloated, too much caffeine can dehydrate you, making your cheeks look drawn and your wrinkles more prominent. Instead, drink caffeine-free or herbal teas, such as chamomile and mint. At Starbucks, choose iced herbal tea instead of Frappuccinos.
Make Great Scented Water for Baths
Herbs for that Wondrous Bathroom Scented Waters Indulgence
Author: Hester-Lynne Murdoch
The bathroom and the time we spend in it are important for so many reasons. Besides the usual short visits, we spend time there cleansing and reviving our body and inner person. This is a time that you have “me – time” the few minutes when the children cannot get to you, your family have to fend for themselves or all have gone to bed and now is the time to relax, slow down and enjoy your senses and stir the imagination:
We have five senses; Smell, feel/touch, hear, see and taste, but in our rushed life we often forget, or don’t have the time, or just postpone stopping and enjoying being alive.
Take a little time to spoil yourself, make this easy herbal scent, for your bathroom.
Place these next to the bath, when you bath add lavishly to bath water, relax smell it, run your hands through the water, feel the water and scent on your skin, smell the air, smell your skin. When you dry yourself, spread more of the Scented Waters over your entire body. The difference it makes to how you feel is amazing.
Place some Scented Waters next to your basin. When the weather is hot, pour water into the basin, add Scented Waters, and splash your face with this wondrous luxury.
The great thing about making Scented Water is that it is so easy, you can use any herb you like, or whatever is available in your garden or once a flower arrangement has slightly lost its firmness, use the flowers to make your scented waters:
Herb Scented Waters
Use any herb you like, here are a few you might consider: Rose petals, lemon balm, lemon thyme, rosemary, chamomile, violet, sage, mint or lavender, vanilla pods, or a combination of any flowers or herbs, whatever takes your fancy.
Directions
Wash and sterilise a jar that has a screw top. Fill the jar with fresh or dried flowers or flower petals and cover them with boiling water. Allow to cool. Add surgical spirit in the proportion of 4 tablespoons of spirit to 1 litre of water. Add 15 drops of lemon juice. Leave for two days, shaking daily. Strain and pour into clean sterilised bottles. Pretty small bottles, preferably dark glass, with cork or glass stoppers look the best especially if you have in mind to use these super fast and easy to make scents as a gift to a friend. Make a card saying made with love or care by hand from yourself and you have a winner present for any occasion.
Spice Scented Water
This takes a little longer, but it is well worth it: Use any of the following spices: Cinnamon sticks, cloves, coriander, or combine them with a favourite herb like bergamot, patchouli, or sage.
Directions:
Coarsely ground, crush or pummel the spice. Place 1 part spice and 5 parts rubbing alcohol in a sterilised screw top jar. Seal and leave for a week, shaking daily. After a week, strain discard spices and herbs and smell, if you feel it needs a stronger smell, replace the herbs and spices with fresh and repeat the storage and shaking for a week. Once you are happy with your Spice Scented Water, strain and pour into clean sterilised bottles with glass or cork stoppers as above.
