Who said vanilla and cinnamon were only great in ice cream? These two ingredients have gone far beyond what you put in your mouth. For years, people have been enjoying the beauty benefits of vanilla and cinnamon in everything from lotions to fragrant body sprays. Why not join in the fun by learning what makes vanilla and cinnamon special?

Vanilla is more than just a flavor of ice cream. Its popularity as an ingredient has caused it to be one of the most expensive spices in the world! America is the number one consumer of vanilla-based products in the world, with Europe following at a close second. Because of its wonderful natural scent, vanilla is a very common ingredient in beauty products, namely perfume and other types of fragrances. How many variations of vanilla body spray and perfume have you seen displayed on the shelf at your favorite department store?

Vanilla oil is an especially exotic and pampering ingredient when used in body and skincare. Vanilla oil can be purchased at any online beauty retailer or specialty store. You can purchase vanilla oil by itself or combined with other oils - Jojoba oil is a common mixture. This form of vanilla is widely used in lip balms, body butters, and massage products. Adding a few drops to your bath makes for a Heavenly experience. You can even add it to your favorite creams, lotions and moisturizers. If you love aromatherapy, putting a few drops into a scent ball or special fragrance dish will turn your entire living area into the perfect place for peace of mind.

Cinnamon has been around forever and was considered by ancient civilizations as being one of the most important spices in the world. Since then, cinnamon as an ingredient has continued to live up to its reputation. In beauty and skincare, cinnamon oil is heavily used. Because cinnamon does contain slight astringent properties, sensitive skin types may want to use caution when thinking about including cinnamon oil in their skincare. However, cinnamon combined with other ingredients is less likely to cause skin irritation. Because cinnamon oil produces a strong stimulating and warming effect when applied to the skin, the most popular use of cinnamon oil is in massage.

Surprisingly, cinnamon has also been used for many years for medicinal purposes. When it comes to medicine and health, cinnamon is known for its positive influence within the digestive system, as an aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant, tonic, and strengthening the body after overcoming illnesses like the flu.

One homemade recipe that uses vanilla and cinnamon in addition to other ingredients is the Supa Blueberry Skin Smoothie. In a bowl, combine one cup of plain yogurt, 10 mashed blueberries, half mashed avocado, and stir the ingredients together until smooth. Next, add one teaspoon vanilla extract and two teaspoons powdered cinnamon to the mixture and stir for five minutes. Using a food processor helps blend everything perfectly. Now take the mixture and gently massage it onto your face and neck for about three minutes. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and then rinse with a warm cloth. Sensitive skin types may want to leave out the cinnamon or substitute it for something gentler, as cinnamon can be slightly abrasive.

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