Food for your face . . . and elsewhere

Beauty recipes are what all beauty products are made of so why not take advantage of centuries of trial and error and make some homemade goodies for your body? All those beauty secrets of the great beauties; Cleopatra, Aimee duBuque de Riviera, Josehphine? They can be as simple as replacing cuticle oil with a few drops of olive oil, using milk to soften your skin or making tub tea from your herb garden. Using ingredients readily found at home, you, too, can whip up a beauty treat fit for a queen.

Make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients listed though. That would be counterproductive in more than one way. If you're unsure, try a patch test on a small area first.

Oatmeal mask

This breakfast staple not only helps lower cholesterol, but for years doctors also have recommended it to relieve dry, itchy skin. Its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties make it the perfect ingredient for thirsty skin.

1/4 cup Quaker Oats
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon mashed banana

Pulverize oats to a powder in a blender or coffee grinder. Mix oats and water to form a spreadable paste. Add one tablespoon of mashed banana and mix thoroughly. If the paste is too thick, add more water; if it's too runny, add more fruit. Apply to a clean face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Avocado facial

Rich in vitamins A, C and E, this fruit is not only good for your diet but your skin, too. This green smoothie can help absorb the shiny glow of oily skin. Right after WWII there was a death from using an avocado facial but that was due to making too much and letting mold grow on it causing an allergic reaction. Keep it fresh!

1 egg white
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 avocado, mashed

Puree all ingredients in a blender. After cleansing your face, smooth mixture over oily areas. Relax for 20 minutes, then remove mixture with tepid water and a face cloth.

Lemon cleanse

You will come to swear by this morning ritual a few times a week for clear skin. The acid in the lemon is a natural exfoliator, and the bonus: A cup of lemon tea is a great way to start the day.

1/2 lemon
1 cup hot water

Make a tea by squeezing the juice of half a lemon into hot water. Rub the remaining lemon on your face (avoiding the eye area) and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. Drink the remainder hot or add ice and some gin!

Celebrity Fresh deep-cleansing and toning mask

Whip up this mask to lighten the appearance of blackheads, remove dead skin cells and tighten the face.

1 tablespoon crystallized honey
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon cornmeal

Mix the ingredients in a small glass bowl. Massage lightly onto freshly cleansed skin and leave on for 25 minutes. As the mask dries, you will feel a tightening effect. Rinse well with lukewarm water, and follow with a few cool splashes of water or your favorite toner.

Ginger toner

Used twice a week, this is a great antiseptic for acne-prone skin.

1 piece fresh organic ginger (about the size of a small plum)
1 cup distilled water
1 cup witch hazel

Chop the ginger into small pieces. Bring the water to a gentle boil, remove from heat. Add ginger and allow to cool. Blend mixture in a blender for 30 seconds. Strain and mix with the witch hazel. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Hair clarifier

1 teaspoon baking soda
shampoo

This combination is great for getting rid of hair product buildup. Add the baking soda to your regular shampoo once a week and all the leftover goop from hair spray, mousse or gel will be rinsed away.

Rock salt volumizing spray

For sexy beach hair all year-round, you will find this spray thickens and adds volume.

3 tablespoons coarse Rock salt
2 drops vanilla extract
1 cup water

Combine ingredients in a blender for 1 minute on medium. Strain and spray on damp hair. Style as usual or let hair air-dry.

Coriander, basil and mint body oil

This refreshing body oil will both soften and scent. Keep it in your shower or bath and apply to damp skin.

10 drops coriander oil
10 drops basil oil
5 drops mint oil
8 drops bergamot oil
1 ounce jojoba oil

Add the essential oils to the jojoba oil and stir. Decant into a bottle and leave the oils to marry for two days.

Lavender and honey milk bath

This soak will have you dreaming of Provence and leave your skin silky smooth with the lingering scent of lavender. Both the honey and milk soften and moisturize.

3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (in spice section of gourmet and specialty stores)
1/3 cup honey
1 1/2 cups whole milk

Grind flowers in a blender until they become a fine powder. In a bowl whisk together the lavender powder, milk and honey. Pour into a jar and store covered in your refrigerator up to one week. Before each use, shake well and pour half the mixture under running bath water. Makes enough for two baths.

Invigorating ginger body scrub

For a wonderful stimulating body scrub that's also moisturizing.

1/4 cup distilled water
1 piece fresh organic ginger (about the size of an egg), minced
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan then remove from heat. Add ginger and allow mixture to cool. Add sugar and honey and mix well. Makes one scrub. To avoid irritation, be careful not to scrub too hard or use on freshly shaved or sunburned skin.