pamper your eyes: tips and a tutorial for taking care of your peepers

Don't miss out on our great Blog Spa giveaway and tutorials:
~a Basic Skin Care Set from Skin Journey
~a facial mask and headband
~a soothing prize pack from Barefoot Bath and Body
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Hello Ladies (and gents . . . no, I'm pretty sure just ladies are reading this)!

Let the pampering continue!!  Day two of blog spa started out at Bev's place with another great giveaway.  I hope you were able to stop by, say "HI!" to Bev and enter. 

Last week after I took my oldest daughter to the dentist for a check up, she asked me, "Mommy, why aren't your teeth as white as mine . . . and why do your eyes look so tired?"  True story.

Bah!  Yah, so that's not a good sign when my 5 year old thinks my eyes look tired! (And come on little girl, give me a break on the teeth!  You are a 5 year old with baby teeth.  I am 33 with about 26 or 27 years worth of wear and tear on mine . . . okay, so it's just a coincidence that the day after she told me this I found myself purchasing some white strips.) 

 So . . . I started researching ways to put a little spark and light back into that super tender eye area so that my little peepers don't scream, "I NEED MORE SLEEP!" to everyone I have a conversation with. 

These little tricks and tips have two HUGE things going for them:
1)  They are cheap . . . after all, we are going for cheap thirty ways we can pamper ourselves.
2)  Each tip can be done relatively easy with things you have on hand or can pick up at a local store.

Tip #1 - Tea Bags for Puffy Eyes

Now, I drink tea ALL THE TIME (uhh . . . I might be seeing a connection here between my love of tea and my less-than-sparkly-white teeth).  But I don't drink Chamomile Tea.  It tastes like dried grass, but that's not the point . . . the point is that I may not drink it, but I do have it in my cupboard because it's like magic for your eyes.

What to do:  Make tea as you normally would and drink it (or don't) as you are waiting for the tea bags to completely cool.  Then lay down.  (Yes, the world will not fall apart if you lay down for 15 minutes.  Trust me.)  Place cooled but still damp tea bags on your eyes.  The natural tannins of the tea will decrease puffiness and brighten up your eye area leaving you feeling refreshed and slightly more awake after 15 minutes.   

Tip #2 - Potatoes for Dark Circles

We've all heard that cucumbers are good for the eyes, but did you know that potatoes are even better? Plus, you are more likely to have them sitting in your cupboard somewhere.

What to do:  Finely grate one small potato.  Mush grated potato together with 1/8 of a cup of unsweetened applesauce until well blended.  Lay down.  (At some point, I am going to get you to relax and lay down, so you might as well just do it.)  Pat mixture under eyes.  Place hot towel (not too hot) over eyes and take a 5 minute snooze.  Gently wash off with warm water.

Tip #3 - Avocados for Wrinkles

Yummy . . . I'm not sure I can resist the temptation of having an avocado in the house because I LOVE me some fresh avocado slices.  But that rich little oval of yumminess has other beauty benefits.

What to do:  Run to your local health store and pick up some almond oil.  Now that you are back home, mush about 1/3 of your avocado up and mix in 4 to 6 drops of almond oil to make a rick cream.  You guessed it . . . lay down.  Gently dab all around your eye skin area.  (This goes without saying I hope, but don't put this in your eyes.)  Listen to your children fight over that one toy they both "have to have" for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Gently wash off with warm water. 

Tip #4 - Warm Rice and Dried Lavender for Rested Eyes

My eyes look tired because they are.  Lack of sleep, lots of computer time and just plain life add to the problem.  If you spend a tad too much time of the computer (like me), a warm compress is just the ticket for giving those weary eyes a rest.  And you can make your own so it can be warmed in the microwave or cooled in the freezer.  Ahhh . . . I feel more rested already!

Here's what you need:
~print out eye pillow template
~2 rectangles of fleece, flannel or other fabric
~1 15 inch strip of elastic (1/2 or 3/4 width will work perfectly)
~Rice
~Dried lavender or your choice of essential oil

Here's what you do:
1)  Use template to cut out two eye pillow pieces.

2)  Sandwich elastic in between fabric facing right sides together.  Pin in place.

3)  Sew around leaving a small hole for turning.

4)  Use funnel to add equal parts rice and dried lavender.  (Or mix a few drops of essential oils with rice and let it dry a bit before putting the rice into the eye mask.  You will obviously be using more rice with this method.)

5)  Fold in open turning hole and sew around mask to close up the hole. 

Here's how to use it:
1) Warm in the microwave for about a minute (or to desired warmth), lay down (don't roll your eyes at me) and enjoy 10 to 15 minutes of time to relax those tired eyes. 

2) OR . . . and here's the best part because this little eye pillow is multifunctional . . . stick it into the freezer for two hours to make a coldpress - also great for the eyes. 

3)  OR . . . this little aromatherapy eye pillow is magic for headaches as well.  I warmed mine up last night and just put it over my forehead and not my eye area because my husband is out of town and my children were a bit wild last night (which may have been the reason for the headache).  Anyway, I could still interact with them and play with them while this little warm pack did the job on vanishing my headache. 

Do you feel pampered?  Go grab your potatoes and get started! 

Spa on!

Blog Spa is sponsored by these great shops:

Skin Journey

Abbey James

Barefoot Bath and Body

Elegant Rose Boutique

Amber's Lemongrass Spa Shop

O.C. Styles

Sparetime Crafts