Self Care At Home During And After pregnancy

Preparing your own spa treatment is an affordable luxury. Take control of your own beauty regimen with these homemade indulgences.

Relax with herbs while you bathe:

Making herbal baths is as easy as making a cup of herbal tea. First you need an infusion bag. A piece of muslin or cheesecloth work well. Place the herbs in the center and tie the cloth together tightly with a string. Place the infusion bag in a bowl or a large mug and pour in boiling water. Steep the brew for at least 10-15 minutes. Basically you are steeping a tea and then adding it to your bath. You can use combinations of the following - about ½ to 1 cup of each herb: Dried mint, dried lavender, dried chamomile, dried rosemary or dried rose petals. You can even add dried milk and/or ground oatmeal (make use of the food processor or blender).

Homemade facial scrubs and masks:

1.Mash one-half banana. Add one tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of sour cream to it. Apply this mixture on your face and let it stay for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

2.Puree half a cucumber (peeled and sliced) in a food processor or blender and add one tablespoon of curd. Apply this to the face and let it stay for about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth. This should be avoided if you have cold.

3.For a scrub, make a paste with a little oatmeal and water. Apply to the face and allow it to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

Hair care:

1.Pour two cups of boiling water over two tablespoons of dried rosemary. Steep this for about 15 minutes. Strain and let it cool. Rinse your hair with this herbal tea.

2.Avoid hair styles that pull on your hair, such as ponytails, weaves, and tight braids.

3.Avoid overly hot hair dryers and/or styling implements (including irons and hot rollers).

4.Be gentle when handling wet hair, as it's more liable to tear, break, or become even more brittle. Wide-toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips may be gentler on your scalp, as will conditioner that helps untangle without pulling.

Keep yourself pampered with these homemade recipes. Each one can be very soothing and nourishing for your skin.