From August 23 to September 1, our planet celebrated World Water Week. So, in honor of the element that keeps us alive, here are six ways you can use water in every area of your life to keep you pretty, healthy, and entertained!
Beauty/Skin Care: Rice Water
Rice water is one of the oldest and best-kept secrets of traditional skincare. It reduces acne, dulls scars, and gives your skin a bright glow. It also helps to depuff your face, whether from lack of sleep or stress, and makes your skin super soft and supple. Very rich in antioxidants, rice water also helps to delay signs of aging or wrinkles on your skin. To prepare rice water, simply let rice soak in water for two hours and then strain it.
The Cucumber Lemon Ginger Water is an excellent drink for quenching your thirst in the healthiest way possible. Not only does this mixture promote hydration, it also supports weight loss, helps with digestion and skin appearance, and improves your immune system. To make this drink, add mint leaves and chopped ginger to a pitcher and muddle it for it to release oils. Next, add sliced cucumber and lemon slices, and then pour about 8 cups of water into the pitcher. Refrigerate or let sit for at least two hours to let the flavors infuse and then enjoy!
One of the most popular mediums of art is watercolor paint. A lot of experienced artists choose to make their paints at home as a way to get more in touch with the properties of their ingredients and pigments, allowing the artists to thoroughly understand and relate to their artwork. Although the actual process of making watercolor paints does not use water, it cannot be used on paper without water. Gum Arabic, honey, glycerin, clove oil, and dry pigment are mixed together to create the paint and then used to create artistic designs with the help of water!
Manifestation, the practice of bringing something tangible into your life through attraction and belief is a popular occurrence these days. Water manifestation is one of the most effective and simple ways that spiritual gurus swear by. Charging water your intent imposes an energetic memory into its molecules and thus into the universe, so proves science. To practice this technique, write what you want to manifest on a piece of paper in present tense, as if you already have it. Take a glass or bottle of water and activate the energy flow by rubbing your palms together and holding it. Recite what you wrote on the paper, visualize achieving what you wrote, and then drink the water. The purpose is to set a goal, picture it and let the energy flow into the universe.
Everyone loves squishy water beads, but you never really seem to find them in stores when you want them, so here’s your chance to make some at home! All you need for this recipe is tapioca pearls (the size you’d like), water, and food coloring. Boil some water and add the tapioca pearls to the water, stirring till the outside becomes translucent. Once they seem properly cooked, take them out of the water and rinse them. Add food coloring to the tapioca pearls as you like and let the beads sit till the colors are absorbed. Rinse the beads once again to remove excess coloring and your water beads are ready! Not only oddly satisfying, these beads are edible as well so you don’t need to worry about your child swallowing a few!
I have never met anyone who doesn’t like slime. Soft, squishy, and satisfying, slime is the perfect stress reliever for all ages, and water slime is the easiest kind to make. Mix one-half cup of glue with one-fourth cup of water and stir to make the texture consistent. Stir in 1.5 tablespoons of saline solution (a simple mix of salt and water) and set aside. Add one-half cup of baking soda and a cup of warm water to a separate bowl and stir lightly with a spoon till consistent. Pull the slime out of the water to knead it. Keep in mind that there will be leftover water. Store the slime in an airtight container. You’ve got yourself slime for at least a week!
References
Nedeff, M. (2022, July 25). Lemon Cucumber Mint Ginger Water. Monica Nedeff. https://www.monicanedeff.com/lemon-cucumber-mint-ginger-water/#What_are_the_Benefits_of_Drinking_Water
Hatch, E. (2022, August 4). Making Handmade Watercolours with Jackson’s Artist Pigments. Jackson’s Art Blog. https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2020/09/25/making-handmade-watercolours-with-jacksons-artist-pigments/
Hazra, A. (2022, January 15). Here’s How You Can Drink Your Dreams To Reality! Grazia.Co.In. https://www.grazia.co.in/lifestyle/heres-how-you-can-drink-your-dreams-to-reality-8800.html
S. (2022, March 9). How to Make Edible Water Beads. The Craft-at-Home Family. https://thecraftathomefamily.com/edible-water-beads/
wikiHow. (2022, May 31). 4 Ways to Make Water Slime. https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Water-Slime#:%7E:text=Mix%201%E2%81%842%20cup%20(120%20mL)%20of%20clear%20glue,and%20the%20texture%20is%20consistent