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Home Beauty by Cornelia Zicu

CELLULITE CURE

If you don’t have time to visit the spa for cellulite treatments, here is an easy at-home secret that is sure to work. Best of all, it only requires three simple items which can be found in most kitchens: ground coffee, Nutella and Saran Wrap.

Mix Nutella and coffee powder together to form a paste
Apply the paste to your problem area (buttocks, inner or outer thigh)
Wrap the area with plastic Saran Wrap
Put on your lounge clothes and relax

After 3–4 hours, rinse off with warm water. You will be amazed at how quickly you will see a difference in the appearance of your skin.

TWO-LAYERED EGG MASK

If you notice that your makeup doesn’t last through the evening or that you frequently see creases or lines by the time you step out of the car, you might need to hydrate your skin. Best would be to seek out a spa treatment, but in the meantime try this great trick with an egg, olive oil and a fresh lemon.

To start, separate the yoke from the white and save both parts.

For the first layer:

Add 2-3 drops of olive oil to yoke and beat until it forms the consistency of mayonnaise
Massage formula with your fingers onto your neck, face and décolletage. Remember to always apply with an upward motion
Leave on neck/face/décolletage for 5 minutes or until dry

For the second layer:

Add 2 drops of fresh lemon juice to the egg whites and beat to a foamy consistency
Layer the egg white foam on top of the egg yoke which you have already applied
Lie down and relax while the second layer completely dries (about 10–15 minutes)

After both layers are dry, splash your face with warm water to soften treatment and begin removing it from the face with your hands. (If you choose to use a hand towel, gently remove mask, do not scrub). You will notice the treatment melting off and leaving you with a gorgeous glow!

PAPAYA HAND AND FEET MASK

Papaya contains strong enzymes that gently exfoliate and soften rough, cracked heels and calluses.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp papaya puree (made from about four slices of blended papaya)
5 drops olive oil
Quarter-size drop sour cream
Quarter-size drop fresh yeast
1 tsp honey

Combine olive oil, honey and papaya puree. Add sour cream and yeast to make paste. Apply mask to hands and/or feet, rubbing deeply into the driest, thickest area of the skin, like the heels or soles. Let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse. Finish by applying a heavy-duty moisturizer.

POMEGRANATE BODY BUFFER

Pomegranate is made up of 80 percent antioxidants and 20 percent minerals including iron, potassium, calcium and vitamin C, all of which help nourish dry skin and reverse sun damage.

Ingredients:

Seeds from one half of a pomegranate
One spoonful yogurt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 handful Epsom salts
1 spoonful shower gel
oatmeal

Directions:

Grind seeds in a blender. In a bowl combine ground seeds with juice, yogurt, oil, Epsom salts and enough oatmeal to create a soft paste. Top off with a dime-size amount of preferred shower gel. In shower, wet skin then apply scrub, rubbing in circular motions from feet up to head. Using this scrub weekly makes dull, dry skin silky smooth.

SKIN BRIGHTENING FACIAL

The weekend is the perfect time to exfoliate your face if you don’t have time during the week. We recommend a mini at-home facial every single weekend to complement your monthly spa services.

At-home brightening facial:

Start off with a very clean face by washing with your favorite cleanser
Cut green tomatoes into thin slices
Rub the thinly sliced tomato onto face (The enzymes and natural acids in the green tomatoes brighten the skin.)
Leave juices from tomato on face and then apply the following homemade mask

Create mask with:

1 tsp of fresh lemon juice
Pinch of baking soda (Baking soda aids in the bleaching.)
Mix together and layer mask on top of tomato juice and leave for 20 minutes

Rinse thoroughly until skin is completely clean. Then apply moisturizer and sun protection and you’re good to go. For best results, try using this treatment twice a week. It’s also great to help lighten sun spots on hands and décolletage.

Cornelia Zicu is Chief Creative Officer at Red Door Spa in Bellevue.

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