Renaissance Culinaire: honey

The daily grind. Whether you are a high powered executive or working a minimum wage job, or stay at home parent - everyone has their stressors. Factoring in lack of sleep, deadlines and financial woes can make for one un-happy, sleep deprived camper.

If you watch television or read magazines you are sure to have seen the segments devoted to 'spa rejuvenation', whether or not it is geared for females, the theme seems to be pampering yourself. Popular media likes to flaunt this term, as it is conducive to the high-end, trendy "jet setter" lifestyle most average people dream of - the thinking behind it is simple, those who have the means put indulgence at the forefront.

Photo Courtesy of samthehamsmom

You don't have to be a jet setter to experience a spa style session. In-fact you don't even have to purchase expensive high end concoctions in a jar - no, you can make them yourself and be satisfied knowing all the ingredients are natural and safe for your use.

For some of these recipes I consulted one of my favorite sites, Spa Index.com

SpaIndex.com Tip: You've heard the adage "Never cook with wine you wouldn't drink." This holds equally true for home spa remedies.

Never use ingredients for your home spa treatments that you wouldn't want to eat. Your skin, the largest organ on your body, breathes and is porous. It will absorb the properties of the ingredients you are using. Don't "clean out the fridge or pantry" to create your home skincare remedies. Use fresh, high quality ingredients for the best results, and do not store the treatment longer than the shelf life of the most perishable ingredient. - This is great advice, true of beauty or cooking!

Relaxation Techniques:

The key to achieving total relaxation is the act of brushing aside any woes or obligations for at least 10 minutes and giving yourself time to reflect on relaxing. There are several ways to get you started :

Do meditation: something repetitive and quiet (kneading dough, knitting etc) focus your thoughts on the act, the movement. If your thoughts start to wonder, allow them to float away and get back to the task.
If you don't feel doing "something" is very meditative - then try using visualization: envision yourself in a serene spot or tropical setting, concentrate on the sounds in this setting - birds or waves crashing. Or think of something soothing, such as a favorite quilt - take time to relive the textures of the stitches and the feeling of the fabric against your skin.
Rhythmic breathing is another technique to put you in a relaxed state. Lay on your back in a comfortable position, and slowly inhale, lips pursed, counting to 3 - watch / feel your diaphragm move inward. When you reach 3 slowly exhale - imagine your breath fanning outward. Repeat 10 times, allow yourself to become more relaxed each time.

Spa Props and Eats:

Once you have become more relaxed using one of the techniques above it is time now to gather some "spa props" - Aromatic candles, relaxing music. Most of us have these things tucked in a drawer. For an even more sensual experience try fresh rose petals spread on a bed or atop the bath water. And for ideas on how to create some yummy, exotic spa eats - or mood elevating cocktails (see "Spa Index Recipe Collection").

Spa Treatment Recipes:

To create our food based "spa treatments" there are a variety of recipes. (FYI: These aren't just for women!)

Photo Courtesy of MarkAndMarina

One ingredient you may not have considered is Arm & Hammer Baking Soda - sure you know it is an ingredient in cookies, or toothpaste, but beauty treatments? Yes!

After months of bathing your hair in styling products and your normal shampoo regimen - which is loaded with waxes and plastic-like agents, your hair needs de-greasing!

Arm & Hammer Hair De-greaser :

This works great! Hair feels clean and smooth!

Get rid of build-up by sprinkling a quarter-size amount of baking soda into your palm along with your fav shampoo.
Shampoo as usual, rinse thoroughly.

Arm & Hammer Ex-foliating Pedi':

Blend 2 TB Baking Soda in a basin of warm water. (optional: Add a few drops of lavender oil for relaxing aromatherapy. Do not use if pregnant!).
After allowing your feet a nice soak in the basin - Make a scrub: 3 parts Baking Soda & 1 part water. Add one part brown sugar and mix.
Using your hands or a washcloth - rub the scrub in circles into your feet, one at a time. Rinse.
Follow with an application of your favorite moisturizer,(or try this one below). Wrap your feet in a warm towel for 5-10 minutes.

Soothing Bath Cookies: (Not for eating!)

2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 T light oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
2 eggs
5-6 drops essential oil of your choice

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Combine all the listed ingredients and form into a dough. Using a teaspoon or so of dough at a time, roll it gently in the palm of your hand until it forms a ball. Form all dough into one teaspoon balls, and gently place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Consider sprinkling the bath balls with herbs, flower petals, cloves, citrus zest and similar aromatic ingredients. Bake your bath cookies for ten minutes, until they are lightly browned. Do not over bake. Allow the bath cookies to cool completely. To use, Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve. Yield: 24 cookies, enough for 12 baths.

Well, I am sure you have heard of using cocoa butter for moisturizing the skin, but how bout using ginger to invigorate it?

Ginger Skin Cream:

2-inch piece of fresh ginger
2 teaspoons light sesame oil
2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
½ cup cocoa butter

Preheat oven on lowest setting. Finely grate the ginger just enough so that you have about an 1/8 teaspoon of ginger "juice." To obtain the juice, squeeze the freshly grated ginger over a small bowl. Place the ingredients (including the ginger) in a glass container and heat just until the cocoa butter is melted and the oils are blended. Pour into a clean, dry container and store in a cool dry place. You can add a few drops of orange or other essential oil for a nice twist.

Chocolate Facial Mask:
This creamy mask is an excellent moisturizer, leaving your skin baby soft. Recommended for normal skin.

1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tsp. cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
3 tsp. oatmeal

Mix all ingredients together (a bullet blender / food processor is ideal) and smooth onto face. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Chocolate Bubble Bath:

1 cup of unscented bubble bath
1/3 cup of unsweetened soy milk
3 oz. of grated or powdered dark chocolate

Heat the soy milk and add in the grated or powdered chocolate. Stir well until melted and blended, but do not boil. Allow to cool. Mix well again just before adding to your bath.

Beer Hair Rinse

1 oz distilled or clean catch rain water
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
7 drops lemon essential oil
1 ounce beer (stale works fine)
5 drops rosemary essential oil (do not use if pregnant)
5 drops calendula essential oil (optional, but recommended for blondes)

Mix all ingredients together. Use as a final rinse, rinse well. Beer adds protein to make hair shiny and make it feel thicker.

Coffee Body Scrub:

2 cups of coarsely ground coffee
1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt
2-3 T massage oil

Mix all ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. Using wide, circular motions, rub the coffee exfoliant onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat skin dry, and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion

Avocado Hand and Foot Treatment

Mix together:

1/4 to 1/2 mashed fresh avocado
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon rice bran
10 drops of oil of evening primrose.

Gently massage this treatment onto your hands and feet, and leave in place for 20 minutes. Rinse. This natural treatment will revive your dry, wrinkled and rough hands, feet, elbows and knees. The avocado and egg nourish the skin with proteins and oils; the rice bran exfoliates dead skin cells; the oil of evening primrose contains precious gamma linolenic acids, essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. Consider purchasing a small jar of Oil of Evening Primrose capsules from your health food store. Open one, and voila...you have the ingredient for this recipe.

And for the "Man Hide" - Here is an aftershave that probably combines a few of his favorite ingredients.

Bay Rum Aftershave:

1/2 cup vodka
2 Tbs Jamaican rum
2 dried bay leaves
1/4 tsp whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
zest from a small orange

Mix together all the ingredients and place into a clean jar with a tight fitting lid. Place the jar in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks. After two weeks, strain liquid through several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Discard solids. To use, splash on the face after shaving.

Closing thoughts:
Hmm...what an interesting idea - for Valentines Day or a special Anniversary, try creating a 'spacation' date for just the two of you using some of the hints and recipes mentioned above. Remember that pampering yourself is not just a luxury, it is necessary. Be sure to have fun!

The view expressed here are mine & mone alone. I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I received an "Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Spa Gift Basket to thank me for taking the time to participate.Please read more about Renaissance Culinaire's Disclosure Policy