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Paying attention to the body, hands and feet is an important part of grooming. Use your Sunday, or weekly day of rest to catch up on a bath and beauty needs.
Pre-bath massage
Massage oil: Make a fragrant body massage oil based on Aromatherapy. It relieves stress, inducing relaxation and uplifting the mood. A combination of essential oils works wonders. Add a few drops of essential oil of rose or sandalwood to sesame seed (til) oil.
Add four drops each of cinnamon oil, lavender oil and rose oil to 100 ml of pure olive oil. Essential oils should never be used directly on the skin. They must be diluted with pressed oils.
Give your arms, legs and body a good massage, paying attention to elbows and knees. Use circular strokes on the shoulders, elbows and wrists. Stroke down the muscles of the inner arms and then upwards — on the back of the arms, in a smooth movement. Using the palms , massage the body, moving upwards and outwards from the centre. Use circular strokes for the abdomen. Apply oil to the whole leg, stroking upwards. Using both hands, one on the inside and one outside, massage down the front of the legs, from knee to ankle and then upwards at the back of the legs, from ankle to back of knees.
Scrubs for exfoliation: Scrubs help to remove dead skin cells and stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface. Try sesame seeds, dried mint leaves and honey. They have a remarkably rejuvenating effect on the skin. Crush sesame seeds coarsely and powder the dried mint leaves. Mix them with a little honey and apply. Sesame seeds have sun-protective properties and also soothe sun-damaged skin. It removes tan and produces an even colour tone. Mint adds a glow to the skin, while honey moisturises and softens the skin.
For the bath: Try bath additives to nourish the skin and leave the body soft, smooth and perfumed.
Almond oil: Add one tablespoon almond oil to your bath water for dry skin.
Powdered milk: Add it to bath water to help soften dry skin.
Honey bath: Add two tablespoons of honey to a bucket of water. It is said to induce relaxation and leave your skin soft and moist.
Vinegar: Add two tablespoons of vinegar to relieve itching.
Eau de Cologne: Add a few drops of cologne for a cooling effect and fragrance.
Rose oil: Add two drops of essential oil of rose to a bucket of water to soothe the nerves and add fragrance.
Sandalwood oil: This oil calms the nerves and leaves the body smelling earthy.
Exotic mask: To add radiance to the skin, take a ripe papaya and cucumber pulp and add half a teaspoon of wheatgerm oil and two drops of geranium oil, two teaspoons oatmeal, one teaspoon of almond meal and orange juice. Mix and apply. Wash it off after half an hour.
‘Miracle Bundle’ for bath: An ideal way of using natural ingredients is to tie them in a clean cloth, wet it lightly and to then rub the bag over the skin.
Mix powdered milk, oatmeal, rice powder and rose petals. The ingredients will gently cleanse the skin. The Bundle of Miracles formula leaves your body naturally perfumed and refreshed. It is also known to soothe the body and remove fatigue, bringing about total relaxation and tranquility.
Tips: Your bath or shower water should not be too cold or too hot. Give your body a scrub with a loofah or sponge. This helps to stimulate the skin and remove dead cells. Pay special attention to areas where the skin is hard, like the elbow, knees and feet. If you have a dry skin, use a glycerine soap. A baby soap is also gentle on the skin. After drying the body, apply a moisturising lotion, while the skin is still damp.