You may eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast, but you can also use it on your skin. Doctors and scientists have long known the power of oatmeal to treat minor skin inflammations and relieve very dry skin, and we often see colloidal oatmeal as an ingredient with facial products.

• For a bath soak, finely grind 1c. dry oats in a blender or food processor. Sprinkle in tub of warm water. Soak yourself for 15-20 minutes. I had to do this for a few days when I broke out in hives from a food allergy.
• I have seen oatmeal facials done two ways. The first method uses ½ c. dry oats that has been finely ground mixed with ¼ c. plain full fat yogurt and 2 Tbsp. honey. (We've already seen the beauty benefits of honey.) Apply to face, rest for 15 minutes, then rinse off.
• The 2nd oatmeal facial uses 1/3 c. instant oatmeal cooked with ½ c. water. Add 2 Tbsp honey, apply to face, rest for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off.
• The oatmeal by itself in a facial mask works as an exfoliator, but it can also physically slough off dead skin cells because of its texture when it is ground into a powder.

Previous spa foods not to eat, but to treat:
Avocados are moisturizing
Cleopatra's secret: honey
Miracle Whip and Mayo: Miracle moisturizer
Two in one: eggs
Go bananas!

I used to eat bananas like a monkey, but aside from being an ingredient in pancakes or other baked goods, I stopped in recent years because suddenly the texture was too slimy and mushy for me. However, I'm thinking about bananas again, this time for my skin, rather than my stomach.

Bananas have been used throughout history for their moisturizing and skin-nourishing properties. They contain minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, B and E. Even companies like the Body Shop, known for their naturally based beauty products use real bananas in their products.

For an exfoliating mask, mash together 1 barely ripe banana, 1 Tbsp. honey, and 1 egg yolk. Apply to face, rest for 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. To make it a "banana bread" facial, you can add a few Tbsp finely ground oats.

Previous spa foods not to eat, but to treat:
Avocados are moisturizing
Cleopatra's secret: honey
Miracle Whip and Mayo: Miracle moisturizer
Two in one: eggs

If natural food is good for the inside, it's certainly good for the outside as well. We've looked at a few food things that people can take right out of their kitchens and use as cleansers, exfoliators, facials, and for the hair.

Eggs are one of the best food products because both the white and the yolk can be used for different things. Save half a dozen for breakfast, and use the other half to:

• Mix together 3 Tbsp olive oil with one whole egg, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar for shampoo.
• To condition you hair after the shampoo, beat an egg yolk until creamy and frothy, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 c. water, massage into hair, then rise out with warm water.
• Egg white are great for oily skin. Beat an egg white with the juice from half a lemon, apply to face, and then rinse with warm water after 15 minutes. You can also add 1 tsp honey, which will help to tighten pores.

Previous spa foods not to eat, but to treat:
Avocados are moisturizing
Cleopatra's secret: honey
Miracle Whip and Mayo: Miracle moisturizer