For many summer is a time to get away from the stress of the city. If fortunate you may find yourself curling up on a hammock with a good book. And suddenly it hits you- you desperately need a spa treatment and there is nothing in town! Not to worry, head straight to the kitchen. And no not to uncork the rose, but to discover some of the best home spa treatments.

Flawless Skin Facial
non-coated aspirin
lemon juice
baking soda
this Flawless Skin Home Remedy is a great way to clear your complexion. The aspirin has salicylic acid which helps to remove acne and pimples since it is like a chemical peel. The lemon juice has vitamin C and helps minimize sun damage to your skin. Baking soda works great at the end to neutralize the salicylic acid.
Mash up 6-12 non-coated aspirins and combine with freshly squeeze lemon juice.
Let the aspirin dissolve until it turns into a paste.
Apply the mask to your skin and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Remove the face mask by dipping a cotton round in some baking soda and some water.

A simple mask from Josephine de Beauharais leaves your skin soothed and nourished.
1 egg white beaten
1 tablespoon honey
few drop of apple cider vinegar
Beat the egg white until frothy-add the remaining ingredients.
Spread over your face a leave on for a few minutes
Rinse with tepid water

Even out your skin tone
one egg white
half a lemon
Don’t you hate when you get a case of blotchy skin patches?!?! This mask will save you! Lemon has bleaching properties to help even out skin tone.
Beat the egg white until frothy.
Beat in the juice from half a lemon.
Cover your face with the mask.
Leave it on for 15-30 minutes.
Rinse off your face with warm water.

and wait don’t waste the yolk
Egg Yolk Hair Conditioner
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 egg yolks
2 T olive oil
Beat the yolks and the olive oil together
Add the apple cider vinegar
Distribute throughout your hair.
Rinse thoroughly.

Cellulite scrub
1/2 cup coffee grounds
1/4 cup brown sugar
Almond or Olive oil
The key to this is massaging in a deep circular motion to break down the fat. I suggest doing this in the bath and taking the time so that the sugar melts and the coffee is absorbed. This works because caffeine enhances fat metabolism and when it is topically applied, coffee absorbs and removes water retention which can decrease the appearance of cellulite.

The key to the treatments are keeping them in perspective. Don’t let your mirror become your identity.
Lastly I’d like to share this poem by Lucille Clifton (read during the cellulite scrub)

Homage to My Hips

these hips are big hips.
they need space to
move around in.
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top

and with that enjoy the rest of summer!