Inner Peace, Outer Beauty: Natural Japanese Health and Beauty Secrets Revealed

This is a great book. I've had mild acne since my teens and I'm now in my twenties and the information in this book has made a huge difference in how I deal with my skin. My skin would probably be completely clear if I wasn't so lazy about it. (Sorry, I procrastinate a lot)But this doesn't mean that the recipes aren't effective. As it is I'm only getting pimples during PMS. I love the sesame oil. The adzuki bean & barley powder grain wash is amazing. You can feel a difference right from the first use. My skin used to feel very dry when I washed it and get very oily quickly. Now it's balanced most of the time and it doesn't feel tight or slick with oil. It's so soft too. I've seen huge results even with my inherent disinterest in doing this kind of thing for myself. So sad, love to research, hate to actually do it. If you have skin, this book is a necessity. The recipes are also very gentle. I also have sensitive skin which gets red at any excuse and I have had no problems at all. Get this book no matter what kind of skin type you have, it covers everything from hair, face, to body to diet. I love the washing bag idea. It keeps the skin very smooth and wrikle free since you exfoliate gently twice a day (at least it says you should) Very complete. Highly recommended.

Not one word of a lie- I have spent thousands of dollars on commercial products searching for the answer to my skin problems. Overly oily, acne, etc. On a whim I purchased this book, and will forever be grateful that I did! Within a week I had purchased the necessary items and will never look back! Think about it- what kind of skin do Japanese women usually have? Beautiful, smooth, white complexions! I can't say enough for this book of recipes. Her other book is wonderful also and is worth the purchase. People with oily skin- don't be afraid of the oil!!! These recipes work!!!

Leigh stumbled upon some unique folk beauty care methods in Japan and set out to research the ancient techniques traditionally used by women to care for their skin and hair. The results of her efforts is a lovely book of recipes for scrubs, rinses and tonics utilizing food as a means of cleansing and moisturizing.Ingredients include beans, vegetables and teas, most of which can ecomonically be found at grocery stores. With a small bit of devoted effort, these items are prepared to make facial scrubs, shampoo, moisturizers and other cleansing basics. As most ingredients can be found in organic forms, this would be a good book for those with sensitivities to commerical products that are laden with perfumes and dyes. Costs for these homemade preparations are a fraction of what you pay in a store for prepared products!After just a few days of using the Pearl Barley and Pink Bean Powder face wash, it became apparent how lovely these recipes are. A few friends were induced to also try the scrub and immediately everyone noticed how smooth and supple their freshly washed skin was. Dry skin was softer, oily skin less stimulated, and sensitive faces were clear and fresh without irritation. This book has easy to follow instructions for skin and body care routines for all skin types. For people who want to move away from commerical and animal-based cleansing products, or just switch to a more natural form of beauty care, this is THE book!

I cannot speak for this book is so amazing! AH! How refreshing! Read it if you want to be moved deeply!