With summer around the corner, you'll want to look and feel your best. As a professional makeup artist, I am addicted to all things beauty as well as love to cook and makeup.

Since the ripe old age of six I have been concocting mud masks after a rainy day and serving my friends some beauty for their skin. Little did I know this would be my career late in life.

These days it's all about going green and gorgeous and a holistic approach to beauty.

Not all beauty potions need to come from a jar. Creating your own facemasks can be lots of fun, simple and your skin will reflect your efforts. Here are a couple of recipes I know you'll love.

Fresh Blueberry and sweet Honey Facial mask

• ½ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries
• ½ cup plain yogurt (Vanilla or strawberry are fine too)
• ½ cup of pure honey

Rinse berries and place in a blender or food processor. Add the honey and yogurt. Blend until creamy. Using your clean fingers or a clean pastry brush apply the mask to your face and neck. Let is rest 10-15 minutes. Remove with a wet luke warm washcloth.

How can I exfoliate Let me count The Ways?

• ½ cup of oatmeal flakes
• ¼ cup of orange or lemon juice

Wisk together and place in a blender on a gentle pulse. Apply to clean face. Leave on at least 15 minutes.

(Esthetician Cheryl Ann Taylor shared this with me!)
My face felt amazing!

Key Lime Pie Body Scrub

• 2 cups of plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon of lime

Blend the above together. Rub all over your body sitting on the side of your tub. Leave on 10 or 15 minutes. Rinse well and enjoy the way your skin feels.

All of these recipes are cheap, unisex and good for your skin...naturally!

Creating a decadent Spa is just your kitchen away!

© Noreen Young

Citrus Soiree
Elbows and knees looking dry dirty and not so pretty?

1 fresh lemon
Cut lemon in half for an exfoliating and lightening blast to the skin. Simply smoosh the lemon cup halves (I call them) unto your elbow. Go back and forth with the inside of the lemon of course. Might be a little messy but worth it. Leave on a few minutes and rinse in shower or bath. Repeat to your knees. Moisturize afterwards.

Is you hair looking DULL or greasy?

1 lemon
Using a lemon. Take the lemon juice and pour over your scalp. Leave on 10 minutes or more. Scaly, oily dull hair will improve by this simple lemon rinse. Longer hair can use two lemons.
Rinse well and shampoo as usual if you wish or skip it.

Bathtub rendezvous is your answer to a long day in the sun or not!

Lemons are so cool and refreshing. Pour yourself a lemonade drink and run some bath water. Light some citrus scented candles to complete the mood. Take cut slices of lemons and some juice from a plastic lemon filled with lemon juice (found at the grocery store) into your bath. Float your cares of the day away and feel fabulous too!
Soak approximately 15 minutes in luke warm water with this lemony twist. Enjoy...fall is coming soon, I promise!

Say goodbye to dry tired skin and Hello to smooth, revitalized and sexy!

1 container of sea salt
Two lemons and some zest too

Mix the two together in a bowl. Pour enough for one treatment. You can make more and save it in the frig. It will last up to a week. Slather this on your body …legs, feet, hands, behind and tummy. Rub your tired skin and stress away gently in circular motions. This is a great escape to do for you on the weekend. Then do the bath rendezvous!

Lemon & Rosemary Steam Facial

Boil some water in a pot as if you were cooking pasta. Add a small bunch of rosemary and a couple of lemon slices. Shut off the flame after it boils. Make sure your face is clean and you have no makeup or skin care on it. Place your face near the steam at least 6 inches away from the pot. Place a towel over your head if you’d like to keep the aromatic steam vapors encased around your face.

Do this about five minutes. Rinse your face and moisturize as usual. Your makeup will glide on like silk and your pores tighter and clean.

When life gives you lemons…give yourself a LEMONY FUN DAY!

I’m American, however my background is Chinese and Polish. In honor of Chinese New year, which is a fifteen-day celebration, here is my recipe for Delightful Delicious Dumplings!

The Chinese eat these dumplings as snacks or accompanied with a bowl of rice and jasmine, oolong or green hot tea.

You’ll need:

• 1 package of wonton wrappers
• 1/2 or pound of ground pork or beef
• 1/4 cup scallions minced
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• Dash of salt
• * Small bowl of tap water (used for sealing the edges of the wrapper closed)

Next, fold them in a half moon shape. Pinch the edges closed. Then seal with a dash of water or you may seal with an egg wash. Continue to press the edges, tuck all of them, and plop down on a slightly flowered plate or parchment paper so the dumpling’s bottom will sit on the plate not stick.

Cook the dumplings by steaming in a bamboo or metal steamer. Place a slice of ginger in the boiling water; the kitchen will infuse with a wonderful aroma. Steam until the wonton wrappers are translucent and the meat look done.

Spatula them out unto a pretty plate and serve with a mix of the following as a dip for them

Sauce:

A dash of vinegar, a dash of Chinese chili oil and a ¼ cup of soy sauce. Garnished with slices of ginger. Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy New Year!