My grandfather emigrated to the United Stated from the Ukraine 100 years ago…I never really had a chance to reconnect with my Ukrainian roots until I read Babushka’s Beauty Secrets: Old World Tips For a Glamorous New You. Written by Raisa Ruder, esthetician to the stars and Susan Campos, it’s a complete guide to homemade beauty. “Babushka,” by the way is Ukrainian for grandmother. Raisa grew up learning all her babushka’s natural homemade remedies for the hair, skin, and nails and wrote this book to share all her secrets with everyone.

Skin Care You Can Afford

Many times commercial beauty products are not only filled with toxic chemicals, but also extremely expensive! One of the best things about creating your own skin and hair care recipes is that it’s affordable. Not only will you have beautiful glowing skin, but you’ll also have a few extra dollars in your wallet. If you thought certain foods were healthy for your body, wait until you see what they can do for your skin and hair!

While I read this book (a very fun read, by the way, as Raisa interjects humor throughout) I was like a kid in a candy store. I didn’t know which recipe to try first! The book is divided into different sections, based on your beauty needs (hair, skin, nails, hands, feet, lips, eyes) and she even gives recipes designed for different ages. Have a special event coming up? Want to give your skin some pizazz? Try the “Graduation Souflee.” Many women have expressed concern about dark under eye circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Whip up the “Banish Bags,” “Lighten Up!” or “Heard it Through the Grapevine”  recipes. An index makes it very easy to find the right concoctions for you. For the lazy ones who say, “I will never make all this stuff,” (I admit this is me sometimes) she even provides a section for “One-Ingredient Wonders.”

Beauty Food For Thought

My nails were looking pretty ragged so I decided to follow Raisa’s instructions for the “10-Minute Manicure.” Afterwards, my nails never looked so good…or my hands more moisturized! I used a scrub of brown sugar and olive oil and I was able to save the rest for another day. I also did “The Perfect Pedicure” because my feet were in great need of some TLC! I soaked my feet in water with epsom salts and a dash of vanilla (smelled amazing!) Then I mixed up the “Strawberry Scrub”…a very easy mixture consisting of strawberries, olive oil, and salt. Raisa advises using olive oil after applying lotion to your feet and legs for extra softening.  Oh, my feet felt so pampered!

You may say I have egg..err...avocado...on my face!

Now on to the “One-Ingredient Wonders.” I turned my attention to avocado…I must admit that even when I am mixing up guacamole I admire the texture and color of the avocado and more than once or twice I thought this would make a great face mask! It does!  Your skin will benefit from antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It was so easy….all I had to do was mash up the avocado and apply to my face….it’s also great to condition hair, so I rubbed it all over my hair as well. Now I must admit, I looked a bit like the green monster, but 15 minutes later I easily rinsed in the shower, and came out with glowing skin and soft, shiny, healthier hair. I loved this recipe and it was so easy!

I really loved this book. I had already liked homemade beauty or DIY (Do-it-yourself) recipes, but this book pushed me to actually start doing it on a regular basis. It’s a great guide to keep around for when you need a little extra “oomph.” I really hope you are able to give some of them a try…stay tuned to the next post on Toxic Beauty Blog for a special surprise…you may get to try Babushka’s Beauty Secrets a little sooner than you think…hint…hint…

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!