After reading about how to treat a nasty sunburn naturally, I got to thinking: What other fantastic natural beauty tips and DIY treatments do people have? I know some of the basics—vinegar rinse for hair, essential oil facial steams, olive oil cuticle treatment—but what about those vintage green, ancient-Chinese-secret tips?

Tell me: What are your best natural beauty tips?

Come on, Natural Home fans—tell me your favorite natural face mud mask concoction!  Photo By Neeta Lind/Courtesy Flickr

If you've got them, spill them! The best tipsters will receive an organic cotton Natural Home tote bag (rules apply—comment by Friday, July 10, 2009). Leave your tips in the comments section below.

The holidays bring many things—joy and celebration to name a couple. Unfortunately the season can also trigger stress and lower your immune system. With the season already upon us, here are a few herbs, fruits and foods to consider to help relieve your aches, pains and anxiety. 

Although headaches have a wide range of origins, a few are inflamed blood vessels in the head region and inflamed sinuses. The beta-carotene that is found in carrots and other fresh produce reduces inflammation. 

Whenever I think of a winter cold, the first thing that comes to mind is a painful sore throat. The dry, scratchy traits of a sore throat are usually the first sign of the cold or the flu. To alleviate any pain in your throat, mix hot green tea with a squeeze of honey. 

Between the pressures of finding the “right” gift and finding enough time to squeeze in holiday get togethers, it’s no wonder people lose sleep and gain additional anxieties during the holidays. A simple satchet of dried lavender or hops placed under your pillow can calm and soothe you.   

Sometimes the holiday season can take a toll on our stomachs (for me it’s the sweets). To cure any indigestion problems, simply sip some chamomile tea. 

Don’t let the flu, a cold or any aches, anxieties and pains get the best of you this season by preventing a lowered immune system. Keep your energy boosted with almonds, dried fruit and walnuts.

It's interesting how this is changing. We are going back to basics again: growing our own food, shopping locally and (aha!) mixing up our own beauty concoctions. In an effort to save a little and feed my skin a lot, I've been playing around in the kitchen some more. Here are my top three tips for detoxifying home beauty treats you can whip up in no time.

Nail Nourisher
Break out the olive oil, friends. This rich oil is loaded with moisturizing and skin soothing properties.

Fill a shot glass half full with olive oil. Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into the olive oil and smooth it onto your cuticles and nailbeds (don't forget your toes!). This will soften your cuticles and prevent them from getting hangnail-ish or irritated.

Use a wash cloth and gently push back your cuticles, but do not cut them with a cuticle trimmer! Your cuticles are there to protect you from bacteria, and removing them heightens germs' chances of getting into your system.

If you have any olive oil remaining, keep it to use on the ends of your hair to soften and seal split ends (just make sure to rinse throroughly with cold water!).

Mini Facial
All you need is a mixing bowl, hot water and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to get a fresh, steam cleaning for your face.

Fill a large mixing bowl with hot water. Quickly add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (I like tea tree) to the water. Grab a towel big enough to drape over your head and the bowl. Put your face (if you have long hair, pull it back into a ponytail and use a headband) over the bowl, about 2 inches away to avoid scalding, and drape the towel over your head to trap the heat. Relax, and breathe in the calming or invigorating scents of the hot oils. The steam helps open up pores, and the essential oils are comforting for your senses. Stay under for about 5-10 minutes, then come up for fresh air. Blot your skin with the towel, and enjoy your freshly steamed, flushed face! Remember, reuse the water in your garden.

Natural Hair Rinse
If you have product buildup in your hair, strip it clean of its commercial toxins with our favorite cleaning product: vinegar!

We've all hailed the cleaning powers of vinegar time and time again, but did you know it works wonders on your hair, too? There's no special recipe for this hair detox, so simply mix one part vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) with one or two parts warm water. At the end of your shower, pour the mix over your hair. Done! You should notice instant shine and bounciness.

What are your natural beauty secrets? Share them with other users here! The commenter with the best, most unusual beauty tips will receive an organic cotton Natural Home tote bag!