Pampering Sunday

I love lazy Sundays, when I can shut myself off from the world and have some “me time”. That’s when I read a good book, watch (very stupid) TV series, listen to the music or daydream. It’s usually accompanied by some beauty treatments – treat for the body and mind. Also, I am a big lover of homemade skin care products, especially if I know all ingredients are organic – no crazy chemicals or E-something!

So here’s what I did today:

1. turned on ZAZ since I’ll be going to the concert later tonight with Petra and Dario :)
2. put an olive oil and egg yolk mask on my hair.
3. steamed my face with chamomile water
4. exfoliated face with wheat bran
5. put strawberry mask on my face
6. drank blueberry + strawberry milkshake
7. scrubbed my hands with olive oil and sugar
8. soaked feet in hot water with salt and lavender oil
9. read Tokyo Fiancée by Amelié Nothomb (LOVE her books)
10. painted my nails red
11. continued reading Tokyo Fiancée

Here are recipes, in case you were wondering. :)

1. my favorite ZAZ song:

2. Olive oil and egg yolk hair mask:

Mix 2 spoons of olive oil and 1 egg yolk in a paste and spread it evenly through dry hair (I put it mostly on my ends and avoid roots). Wrap hair in a towel and leave it for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Olive oil and egg yolk will feed your dry ends, giving them moisture and elasticity they needed.

3. Chamomile steaming water:

You’ll need 2 fists full of chamomile flower (you can also use sage, peppermint or thyme) and 3 liters of water. Boil the water and pour it over the flowers. Keep it on a (very) low heat so it continues to steam. Bring your head over the bowl for 10 minutes. Herbs are good both for your skin and respiratory system. I recommend putting towel over your head so the steam goes directly to your face. Enjoy and relax!

Steaming the face opens up pores and makes cleaning easier whereas chamomile flowers (as well as other herbs I’ve mentioned) have excellent soothing and antiseptic effect (+ they smell really nice).

4. Wheat bran exfoliating scrub:

Heat 2 table spoons of water (do not over heat it, you should be able to dip your fingers in it without burning yourself) and pour it over 1 table spoon of wheat bran. Use it as a face scrub, preferably after steaming.

Wheat bran is full of vitamins E and B which is good for your skin. Also, it exfoliates really good, leaving your pores nice and clean.

5. Strawberry facial mask:

Mash 1 table spoon of strawberries and add 1 teaspoon of yogurt. Apply it on your face and cover it with warm damp cloth (i.e. towel). Leave it for 5-10 minutes and rinse it with lukewarm water. Please do not use this mask if you’re allergic to strawberries!

Strawberries are rich in alpha-hydroxy acids which help exfoliate the skin. So fresh strawberry masks are great for people with dull, damaged or acne-prone skin. This masque will hydrate and soothe your skin, leaving it baby soft – and it smells yummy! :)

6. Strawberry + Blueberry milkshake:

Blend 1 fist of strawberries and a fist full of blueberries with 1 tea spoon of brown sugar, add milk or yogurt until liquid (exact quantity depends on your preference). If you want it extra cold, blend some ice cubes with berries first, and then add milk. Delicious, I know! :)

7. Olive oil and sugar hand scrub:

In a bowl mix 2 table spoons of sugar and 1-2 table spoons of olive oil and rub it in your hands (over a sink!). Use the same motions you would use for washing your hands. Concentrate on the parts with hard skin but avoid rubbing your nails too much, especially if they’re fragile. Rinse it well, and cover your hands with moisturizing hand crème (the richer the better) and wrap them in a hot damp towel (you can heat the damp towel in a microwave or pour hot water over it). Leave your hands like that until the towel cools. Use paper towel to swipe off excess hand cream (if anything is left). If you like, now is the time to use some cuticle oil. E violá!  Baby-soft hands, just for you!

There are a variety of antioxidants in olive oil including Vitamin A and E but the most potent compound is hydroxytyrosol. Hydroxytyrosol is a very rare but potent antioxidant found in olive oil that prevents free radical damage on skin cells. This compound also absorbs deeply into the skin and is suitable for all skin types.

8. Lavender oil and sea salt foot soak

Mix 2 table spoons of sea salt with 1 tea spoon of lavender oil and pour hot water over it. Water should feel hot but pleasant on your skin, not too warm! Soak your feet for 15 minutes. Afterwards, you can do a peeling (the one you used for your hands) or get rid of the dry skin – it’s up to you.

Sea salt is alkaline and therefore helps to de-acidify the body and raise the body's pH levels. The salt water penetrates the skin's pores and enters into the bloodstream and thus enters the tissues and begins to remove accumulations of lactic acid (which is produced in response to working out or exercising as well as being produced as a byproduct of the catabolism of dairy products).

9. Tokyo Fiancée by Amelié Nothomb

This is a detailed novel about two years Amelié Nothomb spent in Tokyo while in her early twenties. Seemingly a story of unrequited love, it is also a love letter to Japanese culture, and a revealing—nearly confessional—self-portrait of the author as an ambitious young woman.

If you’re interested, drop me a line and I’ll write a review of this book, once I finish reading it.

That’s it! Enjoy your Sunday! :)

xx,

Iva