HAIR AND SKIN ZINGERS

above: Make skincare part of your daily routine with a zesty, exfoliating citrus scrub.

Nowadays, there are many highly sophisticated products available for sale that will make your hair and skin glow, but far simpler, natural treatments can easily achieve the same results. Refreshing scents, such as lemon, grapefruit and cypress, have antiseptic and astringent properties, which make them ideal for treating greasy hair and oily skin problems.

If your hair is dull, lank and oily, add a few drops of grapefruit oil to an unperfumed shampoo base and use every second day. The result will be beautifully shiny, fragrant hair.

For hair that needs frequent washing don't be tempted to use harsh degreasing shampoos or to shampoo too often - the rubbing action on the scalp stimulated the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus worsening the problem.

If you have oily or combination skin, pay attention to your diet and drink plenty of water. It also helps to adopt a good skincare regime as open pores easily become clogged with dirt, causing blackheads, spots and pimples. For a clear, healthy skin, add a few drops of lemon and lime oils to an unperfumed cream base and cleanse twice a day. Tone the skin with a sprizter containing refreshing scents such as orange, grapefruit and cypress.

Citrus Face And Body Scrub
Orange peel is mixed with the slightly gritty texture of ground sunflower seeds, oatmeal and sea salt in this reviving scrub, helping to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the blood supply to the skin, leaving it feeling tingling and toned. The combination of aromatic orange peel and refreshing grapefruit oil gives it a lovely clean scent.

You will need:
45ml / 3 tbsp freshly ground sunflower seeds
45ml / 3 tbsp medium oatmeal
45ml / 3 tbsp flaked sea salt
45ml / 3 tbsp finely grated orange peel
3 drops of grapefruit essential oil
almond oil

Mix together well all the ingredients except the almond oil and store in a sealed glass jar. Using just a little at a time, mix with some almond oil to make a thick paste, then rub over the face and body, paying particular attention to areas of dry skin such as the elbows, knees and ankles. Wipe off any residue with a tissue before showering or bathing.