Recipes for Natural Summer Skin Care

The sun is here! It's time for playing outside, summer BBQs and picnics, trips to the beach. Which means ... it's also time to keep your skin protected and looking healthy.

Sunbathing, air conditioning, and temperature changes can all put a little extra stress on your skin, so in addition to wearing protective creams and a hat when you're out in the sun, here are a few recipes you can use at home to provide a little extra nourishment for your skin. Enjoy!

Exfoliating Mask

• 1/2 papaya
• 3-4 strawberries

Blend ingredients. Add brewer's yeast or fuller's earth if the mixture is too wet. Apply to the face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Apply cotton wool soaked in witch hazel over the eye area. Do not leave more than ten minutes or if the mask starts to sting, particularly on sensitive skins, as the papaya has a powerful enzyme action that can leave the face rather raw. Finish by splashing the face with lukewarm water.

A Cooling and Soothing Foot Mask

Your feet can be the most neglected part of the body - we tend not to think of them until they start to hurt! For those days when your feet need some indulgence, apply the following mask to clean feet.

• ¼-cup pineapple flesh
• 2-t chopped peppermint leaves
• 1-t chopped fresh basil
• 2-T rosemary leaves
• 1 drop cinnamon oil
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil

Mix all ingredients together in blender for 45 seconds. Apply to tops and soles of feet. Wrap feet in plastic wrap, raise them on a pillow, and relax for 10 minutes. Rinse well with cool water.

Please feel free to share your own recipes for natural summer skin and body care! Post a comment here or add a post to our "Natural Bodycare Recipe" discussion on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=99091122240&topic=14158

More Great News about Strawberries

Back in March, we posted about how great strawberries are, including their unique flavor and nutrient-rich health properties. Here's the link for a quick review: http://achsnews.blogspot.com/2010/03/strawberries-sweet-vitamin-rich-health.html

Well, there's more great news about strawberries...

Turns out you don't have to waste over-ripe berries (though we know you never would!), nor do you have to become an expert canner if you don't want to. According to The Oregonian, over-ripe strawberries can be roasted in the oven like heartier fruits and veggies.

"The method is simple," Oregonian writer Danielle Centoni says. " Toss the berries with some sugar and slowly roast at moderate heat until much of the juices have been released and thickened, about one hour. The berries will shrink down considerably -- 2 pounds of berries (about 3 or 4 pints) will give you just 2 cups of roasted fruit. [...] It's a great way to turn berries past their prime, or a bumper crop, into something more versatile than jam that won't take up much real estate in your fridge or freezer.

You can also change up the flavors of your roasted berries in countless ways. Try adding the seeds of a vanilla bean and maybe a crushed cardamom pod to the roasting pan. Or add fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme, maybe even some peppercorns or a cinnamon stick. A splash of balsamic vinegar adds brightness and dimension, too."

Give it a try and let us know how your strawberries turn out. We'd love for you to share your recipes with the ACHS Holistic Kitchen too! It just takes a moment to post here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=99091122240&topic=13172