There must be millions of beauty and body care products on the market today. North Americans spend a ton of money yearly to care for their appearance and body, with an eye towards feeling good. That's what it boils down to. Because if you feel good, you look good.

Somewhere along the line, we as a nation have decided that the higher the cost of a product, the better it works. What if that is not true? What if you could get the same or similar effect of a product for cheap? Is you mind open to that concept?

This is another installment of articles based on the 'just pennies, just natural' premise, and offers up a few more ways to care for yourself and your outer beauty using convenient and inexpensive means.

BREATH - we all need it, have it, and SHARE it. To do so inoffensively, try using one tablespoon of allspice in a cup of hot water as a breath freshening gargle.

For a natural mouthwash, make a dried mixture of one tablespoon each of peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. Mix a teaspoon of this mixture to a cup of boiling water. After steeping for 15 minutes, it is ready to be strained and used as mouthwash.

NAILS - to correct splitting nails, eat plenty of cucumber or drink the juices.

HAIR - the following rinses are all made the same way. Pour four cups of boiling water over the chosen herb, cover and let stand for half an hour. Strain and use as a final rinse.

* Sage & fennel are each good hair conditioners.
* Parsley clears up dandruff.
* Chamomile lightens hair and promotes hair growth.
* Rosemary darkens hair and leaves a nice scent.
* Dried nettle leaves are another good dandruff cure.

If you're feeling doubtful about using your own homemade products, why not experiment? Try one or more for a month and formulate your own conclusions. Not only will you feel good from the effects of the natural treatments, but it will give you a boost to know that you're saving quite a bit of money. Add that to the satisfaction of having made the products yourself, and I'm sure that you will be a convert.

How can you go wrong when it's just pennies, just natural?

Learn more about this author, Shirley Anderson.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Natural homemade herbal beauty and body care products?
We want to hear your view. Write now!