These are just a few simple absolutely wonderful beauty secrets to get you ready for the summer months and is also wonderful for those winter months when you skin can become so dry..

Exfoliating your skin is probably the most important thing to do to make your skin beautiful. Because you can add lotions, creams and all those things to your skin. But if you don't exfoliate your skin it will be rough patchy, dry looking and feeling.

To make your face feel tingly and clean...Pour a small amount of baking soda with a little bit of water to make a paste, in a warm wash cloth and start in circular motion gently scrubbing your face. Rinse very well with warm water, final rinse with cool water. Your face will feel soft and clean. You can also use baking soda for a full body scrub, it exfoliates very well, just rinse off well.

Baking soda is also good for softening your hair and taking out old build up. Wet your hair well and massage into your hair, let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse very well, then shampoo and condition as usual. You will have to experiment to how much baking soda to use, depending on you hair type and length.

A word of caution: I would also like to mention if you use baking soda in the shower be careful because it can make the bottom of you shower a little slick. I usually just let the water run a few seconds after I rinse it off, that is all it takes.

You can make a face mask... of lemon juice, a touch of honey mixed with just a small amount of water (to help it spread easier) Let it sit on your skin for about 15 min and rinse off. Your face will feel soft and beautiful.

Or

For a firming mask...Mix a small amount of flour, 1 egg, and a teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar, mix thoroughly and spread on your clean face and neck. Let it dry and rinse very well, Your face will feel firmer. If you want to soften after this mask mix about a tablespoon of honey with warm water. Put on your face and neck let sit for a few minutes and rinse well. Wow! you won't believe how great your face will feel

Cider vinegar...is great for killing bacteria. So for acne it is wonderful. mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water. Apply with a cotton ball, do not rinse off. Do this twice a day. This can be used on any part of your body,

For example..shoulders and back. I use this on my teenagers. It works wonders on break outs.

Honey is a wonderful thing... you can use it for so many things. I have very dry hair and my hair is to the bottom of my neck so I use about 2 tablespoons (if you have longer hair you may want to use a little more) mixed with a little warm water, and use as a conditioner. Some people don't rinse it out but I do because I don't want to go outside and have to out run bees, flies and whatever else. LOL! It makes my hair very, very soft even though I rinse it out thoroughly.

If you have dry rough skin on your thighs...( I do because of wearing jeans all winter) you can exfoliate with either baking soda or brown sugar to make your legs soft and smooth so your legs will really look great with that tan and bathing suit.

Olive oils... Massage olive oil into your legs, it really softens your skin. I actually put it on before I get into the shower.

You can really soften your feet by coating in olive oil and putting on a pair of cotton socks. I know people that sleep in the socks overnight. I could not imagine sleeping like that so, I wear the socks for a few hours before bedtime. Usually while I am pampering myself.

Pampering yourself is a very important thing. I started it back when my kids were younger. Sometimes at the end of the day, when the kids were calmed down for the evening. I would go through, my kitchen and get all the goodies I needed, grabbed a couple of candles and sometimes a glass of wine. Tell the kids it is "Me time" and filled my garden tub with very warm water, 1/2 cup of baking soda, corn starch and a 1/2 cup of honey ( I used that much because the tub was pretty big). I would soak, relax and sip wine. I would get out of the tub and feel so fresh, calm and relaxed.

If you have an average or small bathroom you can make it a little nicer for "me time" put a pretty colorful bath towel over the toilet covering the lid of course and place candles on the lid. Scented candles are nice. Of course use caution burning candles while they sit on a towel.

Now that I am so into aromatherapy I use a few drops of lavender in my bath water. It does help you relax.

I believe that "Me time" is very important for all of us. Especially, if you have small children. Lets face it life is hectic and we (moms) seem to do it all. So, take a break and pamper yourself. You will be so glad that you did.

With all the money you can save using your own healthy beauty recipes out of your kitchen instead of over-the-counter, you could buy a new bathing suit, sunglasses or get your hair and/or nails done.

That special someone will notice how soft and smooth you are :)