Milk Bath Benefits

I'm always searching for ways to be thrifty without compromising for quality, especially when it comes to health and beauty. It's amazing how much money women (and men) will spend on high end cosmetics and creams for better skin, when most of the ingredients that hold the magic are right in your kitchen. For example, milk. Milk has been used for ages as a bath additive for smoother and more radiant skin. Just to name a few beauties, Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, and Elizabeth of Bavaria were known for their beauty...and one of their tricks...milk baths! This video of Cleopatra from the movie, The Sign of the Cross, is pretty comical but illustrates Cleopatra's use of donkey milk for her baths:

It has been told that she kept a whole herd of donkeys just for their milk. Haha!

Why milk? So I did a little research and found that milk acts as a gentle exfoliant, and when used on the skin it has a very regulating and regenerative effect. The lactic acid in milk is a form of alpha hydroxy acid (the stuff used in expensive facial creams), and is the exfoliant which dissolves the proteins that hold dead skin cells together, hence regenerating the skin cells. Milk also contains vitamins A, B, and E which help to smooth the skin. Vitamins A and B replenish the lipids in skin and Vitamin E smoothes skin. It has also been said that the calcium in milk has a calming effect on skin.
So treat yourself to a milk bath!

Here's a good recipe for a calming, skin-smoothing, and muscle de-stressing bath:
         1/2 cup epsom salt
         1/2 cup powdered whole or nonfat milk
         *add your own essential oils for a bit of aromatherapy, my favorites are lavender rosemary
         *whole milk is better, the more fat the better! if you have non-fat just add some olive oil in it :)


*You can either use liquid or powdered milk. I use powdered just because it's easier to mix and has a longer shelf life. And epsom salt is super cheap at any pharmacy store like Long's Drugs.

*And remember, if you don't have epsom salt...no need, use what you have! Just use the milk, or you can add ground up oatmeal or a bit of honey for extra softening boost...those are both excellent for dry skin!
       
*And what's the scoop on epsom salt?
It's a naturally occurring mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate easily absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is excellent for reducing inflammation, easing sore muscles, and drawing toxins out of the body.

Enjoy!





Sources:
On Milk:
      www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-life/article2535527.ece
      www.cyrenorganics.com/index.php/skincare-articles/bathing-milk.html/

On Epsom Salt:
       http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp
       http://www.care2.com/greenliving/use-epsom-salts-13-wonderful-ways.html

Too Much or Too Little Sun? | Big Island Weekly

Came across this interesting article in the Big Island Weekly last week Wednesday, and since it is summer and a lot of us will be in the sun, I thought it would be nice to share the article with you if you haven't already read it. In a nutshell, 1/4 of Americans don't get enough vitamin D and one important factor the article discusses is the use of sunscreen...one thing I never really considered is that sunscreen blocks out about 95% of vitamin D absorption, so in order to really get enough of your daily vita D dose it needs to be at least 10 minutes of sun exposure without being lathered up in sunscreen. Of course it is best to avoid the hours of 10-2 as that is the hottest time of the day and sunburns are more likely. Anyway, take a look at the article it's a good read:
Too Much or Too Little Sun? | Big Island Weekly

I've been eating a lot of kale and using aloe on my skin lately, hopefully it will aid in protecting my sun over the hot summer days ahead :)

What's in your makeup?

This is the reason why I make my own cosmetics when I can, and spend the few extra dollars for the cosmetics that are safer for me...and why not make your own? It's cheaper, easier to keep the ingredients local, and it's fun! 

quilted keeper

I love patterns!

Whether it be patterns we are blessed with in our natural surroundings, as in the ripples of a glassy turquoise ocean, a wrinkled cappaciuno-coloured tree trunk, a webbed lime green leaf dancing in midday sun,golden wet sand, or the colors and patterns designed by our fellow genius beings that rock them in everyday lifestyles...I am inspired. I love to incorporate my inspiration in my own creations, and somehow it makes me happy to know that inspiration can be something as simple as the way the sun is shining on a leaf combined with the glimpse of the bold colors and shapes seen on a vintage rug. My current source of inspiration comes from the multitude of fabric passed down from my grandmothers and great grandmother, combined with my passion for the ocean embodied in one simple puka shell. I'd like to think of it as sharing my piko with others, for it is from the life of my grandmothers that I owe tribute to my life, and in the piko of a shell is where I find a souce of revitalization for my life...by going back to the ocean I am always able to center my spirit. This is the spirit I dream of sharing with all those who come across my creations.

in the making...

More goodies to look forward to...

*moisturizing facial mist

*onolicious sugar scrubs for the body

*body butters for dry skin

"Maka Pillow Pillow"

"Maka Pillow-Pillows"

$10

9"x3" pillows stuffed with pure goodness:

(organic lavender buds, peppermint leaves, rose buds, organic flax seeds,

and essential oils of lavender/peppermint/rose otto.)

Created with recycled clothing and hand-me-down fabric.


now taking orders at: maliamadeinHI@gmail.com