(re)freshing: Facial Spray Tutorial

Facial sprays are little known, yet so fantastic. Jonie uses them everyday after washing her face. Just spritz on for some refreshing, skin-helping goodness, which can be as moisturizing or smell as good as you want it to!

Start out with a simple travel size perfume bottle.

As far as what you put in it, you've got a few options. You could

a.) make tea (herbal or floral)
b.) boil skin-healthy herbs (lavender or rosemary, for example)
c.) use distilled water and add a couple of drops of skin-healthy essential oil (like rose or lavender)

You can be done here, or you can keep going and add a couple drops of Vitamin E oil, or if you don't have that on hand, use some olive oil. Of course, these will probably settle on top, so you'll have to shake up your bottle when you use it.

Depending on the ingredients, the facial spray may have a short shelf life of 1 week, but it may last much longer. Check every day to see if any little floaties have developed, and if they have, it's time to make a new batch!

You're done! Use your facial spray after washing your face, or simply to put some pep in your step midday.

(re)freshing: Bath and Beauty Tutorial Roundup

...because who doesn't life to feel good?

We've made this with some friends before with fantastic results! Two notes,though: (a.) We used cheap 'ol sugar. Still exfoliated like there was no tomorrow,and (b.) We used olive oil and a few people learned the hard was that the really nice oil makes it look really really gross. Like,nigh unto un-dyable gross. The cheap stuff still moisturizes,if you want to give a pretty gift!

The ultimate Jonie item: Tea. Soap. Find out how here.

Find out how to make your own lip balm!

Um,who DOESN'T want an eye mask? Find out how with Prudent Baby.

You could always use our tutorial for an oatmeal lavender face mask!(it's fabulous.And shameless self-promotion ;)

Lavender Oatmeal Facial Mask Tutorial

 Facial masks in stores are expensive and often full of icky synthetic nasties that are doubtless bad for your skin, thus defeating the point of a facial mask. Oatmeal, however, is soothing and naturally oil-reducing. Lavender is good for acne. Basically, this facial mask is just a good combo. When used correctly, it forms a nice paste and rinses off leaving your skin feeling clean and soft.

You will need:

• -dried lavender buds
• -regular oatmeal (enough to fill your jar)
• -a food processor or coffee/spice grinder
• -a sufficiently attractive jar
• -a small square of fabric to cover the lid of the jar (optional)
• -enough string to tie around top of jar (optional)
• -a bit of paper to make a tag (optional)

Step 1: gather your supplies

A wee bit of lavender buds

Enough oatmeal to fill jar

Spice/coffee grinder

A rather homely jar inherited from Jonie's Mommy.

Step 2: Put some oatmeal and a itty bitty bit of lavender in whatever you are using to grind everything. You'll probably have to do several batches to fill your jar. (It's best to do small batches so that everything is well ground.)

Step 3: Grind until the mixture is a fine powder.

It should pretty much smell fantastic by now.  Enjoy your sketchy aromatherapy.

 Step 4: Put the mixture into the jar and put the lid on.

Step 5: Cut out a square of fabric, sufficient to cover the lid of your jar.

Step 6: Cut out a rectangle of paper to make a tag. Fold it in half and make a hole in the corner. Put directions on the inside to this effect: "Using warm water, form a paste. Spread on face and leave on for 10 minutes." On the front, put "Lavender Oatmeal Facial Mask".

Man writing. Sadly, that's as neat as it gets.

Step 7: Cover your jar with the square of fabric. Attach the tag to the string and tie the string either in a knot or a bow near the tag, like this.

Now you have a cheap, yummy smelling facial mask. Gift it, keep it...we're pretty sure you'll like it enough to do both.

Keep crafting, and, most importantly, stay fancy.

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