Treatment menu Body polish This skin toning treatment stimulates lymph glands and circulation to help move toxins towards elimination from your body. As a beauty bonus, regular dry brushing puts you on the road to soft, healthy skin. Using a long-handled, natural bristle brush, start at the soles of your feet and brush upward on your bare, dry skin in the direction of your heart. Try long, firm strokes or small circles, but cover each area only once. Brush across buttocks, and use a counter-clockwise motion on your stomach and abdomen. Finish with your arms and each hand, raised towards shoulders, remembering your palms. Apply gentle pressure, and as your skin becomes more fit and firm, you can work more vigorously. Follow with a rinse in the tub or shower.   Daily rejuvenating facial massage Warm a light-weight oil between fingertips for this anytime massage. Grape seed oil is perfect for sensitive skin and suitable for most people.

In firm, upward strokes, apply the oil to clean facial skin, always working from the inside to the outside of the face. Include the neck, under-eye area, and forehead. While working against gravity, be sure that you aren’t pulling the skin.  To release wrinkle-forming tension around eyes, use your thumb and forefinger to gently pinch along the length of the eyebrows.  To stimulate drainage of fluids trapped under eyes (bags), lightly press the area under the eyes from lower lid to cheekbone with ring finger, working from the inner to outer corners of the eye. To invigorate jawline and neck, use the same pinching technique you applied to the eyebrows, working from the middle of face outward. Finish with firm upward strokes over your entire face and neck. Simply rinse your skin for a fresh-faced start to the day. At bedtime, you can revitalize your skin by leaving the oil on overnight.

Sweet mini-pamperings from the cupboard

The wrinkle cure Combine an egg yolk with 2 Tbsp each of sesame oil and honey in a glass jar. Cover jar and shake vigorously. Apply at bedtime to dry or wrinkle-prone zones including eye area, forehead and throat.  Skin-nourishing breakfast mask Combine 1/4 cup plain yogurt and 2 Tbsp honey; add 1/2 cup whole large flake oatmeal to make a smooth paste. Apply to face and neck for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Mini-ice packs To soothe tired and puffy eyes, place cold, sliced cucumbers on closed eyes for several minutes. The mild, natural acids help reduce water retention. Sweet body scrub Mix together 1 cup raw sugar and 1/2 cup olive oil to make a paste. Gently apply to body skin with hands, loofah or wash-cloth, then rinse. Follow with over-night skin treatment (below), if desired. Soft skin over-night Combine 1/2 Tbsp almond oil with 1/2 cup soft butter. Before bed, massage mixture into hands, remembering fingers and nails. Pull on cotton gloves to wear while sleeping. A plus for your feet too; wear cotton socks to bed. Oil treatment for hair Apply a coin-sized amount of olive oil (for medium-length hair) to dry hair. Put on a plastic shower cap, and wrap a towel around your head. After 15 minutes, shampoo and condition as usual.  H&L For more health and beauty tips, see Living Beauty: Feel Great, Look Fabulous & Live Well by Lisa Petty. Available at bookstores.