Homemade Beauty Recipes |

The first use of mascara can be documented around 4000 BC by the ancient Egyptians using a substance called kohl. The product that people would recognize today did not develop until the 19th century by a chemist named Eugene Rimmel (I’m guessing in London cuz… of the “Rimmel London Look”). Across the Atlantic and around roughly the same time (1913) T. L. Williams created a very similar substance for his sister Maybel. Long story short…. “Maybelline” was born!!!

(I loosely paraphrased this from Wikipedia. I suggest you look it up. Very interesting.)

People were developing their own mascara recipes all over the world. Including my grandmother!!

Now I would just like to point out that I DO NOT advocate trying this at home. It is dangerous and if you cry one single tear you will burn the crap out of your eyes!!! But in the 1930′s in Quito, Ecuador; Maria Angelica de Endara was such a glamourpuss that she couldn’t live without long lucious lashes for one single minute.

See?? I keep telling everyone, it’s in my blood. I just can’t help it. I feel this only proves it.

I had to call my mother and ask her how Abuelita (Grandmother in Spanish) made it. She gave it to me as well as she could remember… Although she did make me swear I would not try to make it myself.

Abuelita would take a soap called “Jabon Rosado” (loosely translates into pink soap) and shred it. I guess maybe with a cheese grater??? I didn’t think to ask that part. Sorry.

Then she would take a candle and burn the bottom of a tea kettle until black soot formed. She would scrape all this black soot off then mix it with the soap until it turned into a nice creamy mixture. And then POOF!!! There was her mascara!!!

I remember she used to keep it in a Ponds Cold Cream jar.

My mother did say that it was the best mascara she had ever used. Everyone in school called her “spider lashes” because they were so long and thick. But don’t even think about crying!!!

All in the name of beauty, style and glamour……

One of my favorite beauty secrets is this homemade body scrub. I learned this years ago from one of my fabulous clients. She was a gorgeous girl and had a body TO-DIE-FOR! So naturally, always on a quest for unattainable perfection I simply had to ask her what she did to keep her body looking the way it did. Seriously, (I kid you not) she looked like someone drew her. Picture Jessica Rabbit.

Being an absolute doll on the inside too, she told me everything! Apart from eating healthy and working out she said that she religiously makes this scrub at least once a week and absolutely swears by it.

Now if you do your research you will discover that the main active ingredient in most of those expensive cellulite creams is CAFFEINE!!! So what you do is this….

Mix some olive oil, approximately 3/4 cup or so with maybe 1/2 cup of coffee. I use Espresso as pictured above. I feel like maybe it’s stronger than regular coffee. Couldn’t hurt right??

Measurements don’t have to be exact. You like it extra “scrubby” put more coffee. Less “scrubby” less coffee. Same with the olive oil. A little more or a little less it doesn’t really matter as long as you have enough for your whole body.

Take it with you in a non-breakable bowl or container into the shower. Save it for the last part of your bathing beauty routine as you will not wash it off. Once you have taken care of your beautiful hair and washed that gorgeous body you will then take your homemade scrub and rub it all over. Get in there and give it a really good scrub. Aside from the coffee helping firm your body the scrubbing action will exfoliate and the olive oil will nourish your skin.

Once you have exfoliated your entire bod rinse off but DO NOT wash again with soap!! The olive oil will leave a silky residue and delicious scent. Your skin will glow and feel lusciously supple.

Let me know when you try it!!! I love hearing from you.

XOXO

Category Archives: Homemade Beauty Recipes

My grandmother’s homemade mascara

Caffeinated Cellulite Scrub