Milk, Honey and Oil Oh My!

I want to share some beauty secrets that I have recently learned with you all! These are from the book Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett.

Facial Routine

1) Wash and Exfoliate

Women in biblical times loved to wash their faces in milk. This is the first step.

1 Cup powered milk (goat's milk such as the one by Meyenberg is recommended, but any powered milk can be substituted)
1 Cup quick cooking oats

Process the powdered milk and oats in blender until mixture is very fine. Store in airtight container, in cool place, for up to four weeks.

When washing face, sprinkle a small amount of the powder onto the palm of your hand and mix into a paste with warm water. Massage onto face and rinse.

"The lactic acids in the milk are a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids that help fight the signs of aging, and the oats soothe and manually exfoliate the skin. Together, these ingredients leave your skin soft and supple." (Beauty Secrets of the Bible, p. 74)

2) Nourish and Plump

One of the most ancient products known to women is honey. Women applied it to their skin, along with oils, as part of their bathing ritual.

Christopher Watt, a facial care expert, uses honey on celebrity's faces.

Apply 1-2 drops of honey to wet fingertips and massage onto wet face. Do not rinse. Pat dry.

Honey is not sticky when applied to damp skin. Honey gives the skin a beautiful glow, plumps up fine lines, it helps the skin attract and retain moisture and helps absorb the moisturizer you apply after cleansing. Packed with nutrients and enzymes, it helps counteract the harmful effects of the environment. Using honey as a routine step in your skin care regimen will help reduce wrinkles as well as aid in treating breakouts. Honey helps fight aging by helping the skin rebuild collagen and elastin and nourishes, rejuvenates and feeds skin. (p. 76 of BSB)

Buy raw honey because it has the most enzymes. The darker the honey the richer it is in mineral content.

3) Moisturize and Protect

Dryness is the leading cause of premature aging, according to experts. Skin needs moisture. Packed with nutrients and antioxidants, olive oil nourishes the skin without blocking pores. It has been used since biblical times.

Place 2-3 drops of extra-virgin, organic olive oil onto your palm. Rub palms together and pat face gently.

Science is catching up with God and now cosmetic companies are cashing in...for ex. you can buy a one ounce bottle of olive oil for $35 from a leading company...but save money and buy a twelve ounce bottle for ten bucks instead.

Your skin will not feel greasy...you will not use enough to saute yourself in but just a couple of drops. Your skin will be soft, radiant and nourished. (p. 79 BSB)

"Two notable women of the Bible relied on oil's benefits to prepare them to woo a man: Esther and Ruth. While we aren't told in scripture what kind of oil they used, olive oil is a likely candidate because of its availability in the region and its established cosmetic use. See Esther 2:12 and Ruth 3:3." (p.79)

To learn more, read Beauty Secrets of the Bible: the Ancient Arts of Beauty and Fragrance by Ginger Garrett.

I have just begun this regimen and am looking forward to the benefits I'm hoping it will reveal on my face!

As a side note, thought I'd also share the perfume I use. A while back, I accidentally found a perfume called "Virtuessence of Esther". About it is written: "Inspired by her integrity, strength and beauty, this one-of-a-kind floriental fragrance captures the heart and essence of Queen Esther." I ordered a sample, and, when I was able to afford it, ordered a bottle. It comes in a gorgeous bottle. The fragrance is soooo lovely...my hubby really likes it and I got a few compliments from others too. So I pretty much stick with this as my fragrance now. The lady who created this scent wants to create others based on biblical women. So you would also be helping her business. I spoke to her via email a little and she is a very sweet and helpful woman. You can order a free sample (just pay shipping). Here is the website: http://virtueandvalor.com/index.html