As early as ancient Egyptian Civilizations bathing has been an essential element of one’s health, appearance, and peace of mind.  Bathing is one of the most accessible, exotic and rewarding beauty rituals that you can perform.  Showering will get you clean, but fully immersing your body in water is true bathing.  For me it is a perfect end or beginning of my day.  After a bath filled with lavender and chamomile I feel beautiful, healthy and renewed.  Loving and caring for the body is an obligation and bathing was one of the first ways people began to respond to caring for the body.

Bathing will help you reap the following benefits:

• relaxes tense muscles
• opens clogged pores
• removes dirt, bacteria, and environmental toxins from the skin
• gives strength to your body
• restores moisture to your skin and tissues
• adds a healing dimension to your day
• reconnects you to your body, mind, and spirit

To get the most from your bath time, first of all, prepare your bathroom.  Your bathroom should be clean, fresh, and soothing.  Lighting a candle or incense and playing some soft music may help to set the mood.  Make sure your slippers, towels, and robe are close by.

Next, prepare your tub.  Draw water that is very warm but not hot.  Water that is too hot will actually do harm to the skin. Add natural ingredients to your water such as pure essential oils, salts, herbs, and plant oils like jojoba, avocado, almond, and apricot.  It is important that you use live natural ingredients as they help to keep your skin healthy and alive.  Natural soaps, herbs, sea salts, and clays are also helpful.

Bathing is a healing activity, so you especially want to avoid synthetic fragrances, harsh soaps and other bath additives that will strip moisture from your skin and create a toxic bath. Once you have prepared your bath, dry brush your skin to help get rid of dead skin cells, and to open the skin so that it can absorb the water, and additives in your bath. Soak for 20-30 minutes, taking deep breaths, which help rid your lungs of toxins.  Relax and appreciate the water, and the benefits of the natural ingredients in your bath.  and then use a natural sponge or cotton washcloth to clean your skin.  Massage your skin in a circular motion.  You should also use a foot file to remove old skin from your heels.

Pat your skin dry, and, starting at your feet, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.  One of the best moisturizers is raw, unrefined shea butter. When applied to the skin, it’s rich fatty acid and vitamin a content will help to seal moisture into your skin.  This step will help to prevent dryness and cracking and helps to keep your skin from aging.  Pure unrefined Shea butter is available at PrettyNatural-inc.com.

Your mind, body, and spirit all gain strength from bathing. Rediscover the art of bathing.

image: fairygodmotherinc.com

Where I live, it’s getting pretty cold and dry outside. I went to the drugstore in search of a good moisturizer because the spaces between my fingers were dry and cracked. I was browsing and debating between several $15 lotions when I came across that old familiar green can–Bag Balm. The cow on the lid of the can proves that yes, this stuff really IS for cows. The “bags” they are referring to are the udders:

“For use on cows, thoroughly wash treated teats and udder with separate towels before each milking. To avoid contamination after each milking, bath the udder with plenty of hot water, strip milk out and dry skin. Apply BAG BALM freely and massage gently with this proven ointment twice daily. This product contains no alcohol.”

She looks good!

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to slather something on that is meant to sooth udders but I bought the $3 can and brought it home. That night, I slathered it on my hands and feet and I can tell you now: This stuff is GREAT. It’s super thick and greasy, so beware, but it moisturizes like nothing I have ever used before. It’s like a thicker and more moisturizing version of Vaseline. The smell is definitely not pretty, but it’s not offensive either.

I wouldn’t use it on my face, but for the hands, feet, elbows and knees it is AWESOME and the price can’t be beat!

Shop for more moisturizers at Smarter.com.

You know the process-get out the shaving cream, thoroughly wet your legs, shave, and then moisturize.  I don’t know your process but it seems like every time I realize-”Crap! I need to shave me legs,” I am in a mad rush.  We all know what happens when you don’t take the time to properly wet, lather, and moisturize your legs before and after you shave?  You end up with dry, chaffed legs, but hey! they are shaved after all.  Right?  Wrong!  I have found the perfect solution- the Schick Intuition Razor.  It lathers and shaves in one easy step.  I truly love it and I know you will too!  In fact, I found I shave more now that I know it won’t take long. This razor is great for the on-the-go life we all live.  Has anyone else used this amazing products?  

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more razors.
Discounts on shaving cream.

When I was a kid my older brother and I use to have “STATIC ELECTRICITY” fights! Obviously it was the 80’s and both parents were working so we had a ton of time on our hands. The premise was to put on two pairs of our soccer socks and begin rubbing our feet against the orange shag carpeting furiously until we built up enough static electricity to shock each other. He always won! To this day I always get a little nervous when people touch me, I guess subliminally I imagine getting shocked.

Well the other night I was at dinner and I noticed my date’s hair was standing up a little and when I touched his arm I got a little shock! It was sort of funny and sweet. Made me think of my brother and our childhood shenanigans.

It also inspired this post because I just wanted to let all you ladies and gentlemen know how to get rid of static electricity. 

1. Rub a dryer sheet against your clothes and head. This works, I do it all the time. Takes literally seconds plus you end up smelling dryer fresh.

2. Lotion - Apparently staying moisturized helps you from getting shocked or building up static electricity. Applying lotion after a shower especially during the winter seasons helps you from picking up shocks.

3. Apply metal to metal - If you are tired of getting shocked by your doorknob or kitchen towel rack etc. Touch the surface first with your metal keyes or a spoon etc. The other metal will absorb the built up electricity.

4.  Fake Fibers - apparently synthetic fibers build up more static electricity than natural ones.. so if you are a frequent fan of the spandex you are in for some shocks! Ha!

I hope this helps all of you, with these nuggets of knowledge in your arsenal maybe you will be victorious in your own “Static Electricity Wars”!!

Hahahaha! Check out these Baby Hand SHAPED Soap featured on BoingBoing!

“I very much like these cakes of soap in the shape of immature humans’ hands. A bag of them will set you back $20.

Creep everyone out in your guest bathroom. Each soap is shaped like a little hand! The soaps range from 1/2” to 2”.

You will get at least 10 hands (at least/about 100 grams of soap). This soap is made from goat’s milk and vegetable glycerin with a light scent. Your hands come packaged in a pretty bag…all ready for gifting to a friend with dirty paws!”

(Source: BoingBoing)

Sorry I felt compelled to share that with you guys! It cracked me up, plus if I really did see those little baby paws in someone’s house I wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cringe.

I have been wondering what the best hand soap is, I am searching for one that smells nice (not too strong) kills germs without drying your hands to the point of cracking. Is there such a magical hand soap?

What hand soap do you guys love and would recommend to others? 

I think it has happened to everyone. You are on a date and you start to notice that the person you are talking too begins to stare at your teeth! And not in that “My what a great smile she has” way BUT in a “I am now distracted because jabber jaws over here has half a steak stuck by her incisor”…

It’s always embarrassing!

I always hated flossing, I always felt that it was such a hassle. Like all things it is a task that I have resigned myself to learn to love as I got older. It really makes a HUGE difference both in the color and healthiness of your gums but as well as your breathe.

Specifically I am a fan of Glide Mint flavored Floss.

The floss itself is wider and more comfortable. Plus the minty taste makes it tolerable. The thinner versions of floss creep me out and often cause my gums to bleed or become tender. Plus the wider strip helps pop out food and built up teeth crap.

The dispenser is discrete and portable. Don’t ever got caught with food in your teeth again. Just throw one in your purse and go!

To shop for discount Glide Mint Flavored Dental Floss - Click here!

Price $3.52

Do you travel a lot? I do and I use to cart around miniatures of everything- baby wipes, toilet paper, mouth wash, lotion..etc.

Which is why when I came across this product I simply had to share, I think the concept is pure genius and saves a lot of room and hassle when you are on the go. If I had a nickel for all the mini lotions I have had to chuck at the airport because of “security”. Stupid terrorists cause me to have perpetually dry hands when I fly..

This set includes individually wrapped towelettes in six different bottle-free forms—Makeup Remover, Feminine Hygiene, Nail Polish Remover, Hydrating Lotion, Lens Cleaning, and Dental Mitt. Just pop your portable goods in a purse and be on your (suddenly unburdened) way.

Price $19.99  (awesome right!?)

If you are interested in checking out La Fresh Travel Wipes for Her - Click here!

For more low priced Health & Beauty Products, click here.

The weird part is that if someone has a bogey hanging from their nostril or a piece of spinach stuck between their teeth, I would have no qualms about discretely signaling the required adjustments. But there is something innately personal about body odor that makes me hesitate.

What would you say? “Hi you stink, please bath in Clorox and die?”

Also, I guess I should mention that I have no mercy for stench. I am hyper aware of scents of friends and peers around me. Plus, while I sweat I do not stink. There was a patch back in junior high when I first got my boobs that my body started changing and I suffered the occasional B.O. attack, but thankfully my hormones re-aligned themselves and everything was right again in the universe.

By the way if you are reading this and you happen to have body odor issues, my second question would be; “Don’t you smell yourself?”
I always knew when I was ripe and would steer clear of close contact. I do not mean to sound harsh it just baffles me…

Well in order to ease the suffering of my nose and others here is a list of TOP 5 Deodorants:

1. Secret Platinum Protection Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($4.69)
2. Dove Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant ($4.49)
3. Degree Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($3.29)
4. Mitchum Cool Dry Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($2.99)
5. Boyfriends Deodorant! - This last option was recommended to me by my friend who wears her boyfriend’s Old Spice. Apparently male deodorant is stronger and she likes smelling like him all day. Smelling like a boy could be both good and bad. Good - reminds you of your man. Bad - you smell like a dude.

Honestly all kidding aside, I hope this helps. Try each and every one of the deodorants until you find your glass slipper. Body Odor is embarrassing for you and those around you. - Michelle

See there are some things that are seriously only marketed to women, well women and gay men. And there is a reason for that, it’s because “we” appreciate attention to details and beauty. Duh!

Which is why I now present to you the Soap Leaves from Wrapables.com.

They look so pretty, delicate and fragile… if I saw them in someone’s bathroom I would be torn. For two reasons:

1. They are so pretty I wouldn’t want to use them because I would assume that they cost a small fortune
2. The naughty part of me would consider stealing them and putting them in my bathroom. (I know, I know…bad Michelle, bad!)

Plus check out the fancy official description from Wrapables:

The soap is made through a process in which soap resin is mixed with a secret Thai formula, then hand poured over a dried and cured lattice-like frame of real mango tree leaves to form individual soaps of unmatched exquisiteness. These are sure to be a conversational piece. Comes in packs of 20 honey-scented soap leaves in an acetate box perfect for gift-giving. Each leaf is good for one or two washings. (Source: Wrapables.com)

Cost $12.95 for a box of 12 (each leaf is good for 1 or 2 washes) so if you carry the five and divide by 6…. wow that’s math I can’t do in my head. Ha! Suffice to say I pretty much want them…

 What do you guys think? Want or Waste?

To shop for or checkout the Soap Leaves from Wrapables.com, click here.