DELICIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL YOU!

"I've decided to devote my life to cultivating my natural beauty!" (Lucy, in Clark Gesner's You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

By Lin Grensing

Now, I realize that some folks scoff at beauty aids and cosmetics. That's just because they don't know how rejuvenating playing with cosmetics can be. Taking a few minutes a day-or a couple of hours one afternoon a week-to attend to one's "natural beauty" can be very relaxing. Besides, it's fun! And this luxury doesn't have to be expensive or hazardous to your health ...not if you make your own beauty aids out of all-natural ingredients found in your kitchen or garden. [EDITOR'S NOTE In issue 87, the mini-manual, "MOTHER's Guide to Hazardous Household Substances,"pointed out some of the dangers of using commercial cosmetics.]

Of course, there are about as many different concoctions to be made from such raw materials as there are ingredients to make them from. But for starters, let me guide you through a day's worth of some of my favorite easy-to-create home beauty recipes.

MORNING ABLUTIONS

Waking up in the morning can mean bad breath and furry teeth, right? You can combat these foes easily by brushing with "tooth soda," a teaspoon or so of baking soda mixed with an equal part of salt and topped off with two drops of oil of peppermint. Now doesn't your mouth feel fresher? [EDITOR'S NOTE: One of our editors found that this recipe also erased coffee and tea stains from tooth enamel.]

Next on your agenda is livening up that old sleep-filled face. If your skin is oily, wash it with uncooked oatmeal (or bran plus a tad of baking soda) blended with just enough water to make a paste. Massage this into your face and neck . . rinse it off with warm water ...and, using a cotton pad, rub on an astringent made of equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar. If you have dry skin, squeeze the juice from one lemon and one tomato into a dish and add an equal amount of almond oil (or safflower, apricot kernel, or any other pure vegetable oil you may have on hand). Gently massage this rich formula into your face and neck, then rinse it off with tepid water. For an astringent that will get rid of all the excess oil, try swabbing on plain old witch hazel.

OK, now that your face is awake, jump into the shower and lather up the rest of your skin with pure and gentle castile soap. Here's a recipe that will make your castile go further: Mix 3/4 cup of almond meal with 1/2 cup of rice powder and 1-1/4 cups of the shaved soap; store this in a tightly sealed jar. When you want to use it, simply lather it up in your hands with warm water.