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gel
    ¼ large cucumber, washed, unpeeled, and cut into cubes
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    1. Place the cucumber in your food processor or blender and blend until it’s liquid.
     
    2. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a glass measuring cup.
     
    3. Place the aloe gel in a small bowl and add 1 tbsp. of the cucumber juice. Blend well and use a funnel to pour into the bottle. Shake gently and place in the fridge to chill before using.
     
    How to use: Apply under and around eyes when needed.
    Salon Alternatives
    Having now made your basics, you may want to choose a treatment or two from the recipes that follow. These are all extremely inexpensive and easy to make. It always thrills me to think I can create treatments that are just as effective as salon treatments, in the comfort of my own kitchen.
    DIY Salon-Style Facial
    Salon facials not only are prohibitively expensive, but also often use products that aren’t in the least bit effective. It’s a win/win to learn to do it yourself in the comfort of your own home. The following is really fun to do with your partner or a good friend.
    HOW TO
    1. Thoroughly cleanse your face of all makeup, dirt, and grime with one of the homemade cleansers in this chapter.
     
    2. Tone by dipping a cotton ball in fresh, chilled aloe vera juice and wiping across your face.
     
    3. Perform a facial steam with the Facial Steam Blend (below).
     
    4. Sit in front of a strong magnifying mirror. If you don’t have one, it’s worth borrowing a really strong one, ideally one with a light. Examine your skin, especially around your nose and the top of your upper lip. Check to see if there are blackheads that need removing. There are several ways in which you can attempt to remove blackheads/pimples; however, you need to be really careful not to damage the delicate tissue around the spot. Choose from a variety of blackhead-extracting implements from your local beauty supply store. (I have the Blackhead Remover kit from www.venusworldwide.com.) When your extracting session is done, pour 1 tbsp. of aloe vera juice into a small glass and add 4 drops of tea tree oil. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and wipe over the infected area.
     
    5. Having de-clogged your pores, it’s now time for either a Clay (see “Do It Beautifully”) or AHA Skin-lightening Mask (Do It Beautifully).
     
    6. Rinse off your mask, then apply the vitamin C serum and leave it to soak in for 5 minutes.
     
    7. Massage in the Restorative Facial Oil (see “Do It Beautifully”).
     
    8. Perform the Acupressure Face Lift (see “Do It Beautifully”).
    Facial Steam Blend
    Prepare a small 1-oz. bottle of this extraordinary blend and use it as a facial steam once a week. If you have blackheads, acne, or problem skin, use it twice a week for 6 weeks.
     
    Yields: approximately 1 oz. of oil blend
     
    Application: see above
     
    Storage: 1-oz. dark glass bottle in a cool, dark cupboard
     
    Shelf life: 2 years
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    4 drops bergamot essential oil
    4 drops chamomile essential oil
    4 drops geranium essential oil
    4 drops grapefruit essential oil
    2 drops juniper essential oil
    2 drops patchouli essential oil
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    Drop each of the oils straight into the bottle and shake gently.
     
    How to use: For your facial steam, boil a teakettle of water and pour carefully into a large stainless steel or ceramic bowl. Add 4 or 5 drops of your blend and immediately cover with a small towel. When you are ready to steam, sit in front of the bowl, put the towel over your head, and breathe in the delicious aroma until the water stops steaming.
    Gorgeously Green Purifying Clay Mask
    This mask is made with green clay, which is high in chromium, copper, and nickel. It works well for oily skin, as it helps minimize sebum production, which can lead to clogged pores.
     
    Yields: enough for 1 application
     
    Application: use when your skin feels in need of a deep cleanse
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    1 tbsp. green clay (also known as French clay)
    Approximately 3 tsp. aloe vera juice
    3 drops