In your quest for chemical-free, more natural products to use on your sensitive, compromised skin, you don’t always have to search online or at the far corners of the skin-care shelves. Sometimes, you can find the best products right in your own kitchen!
Following are several homemade remedies you can try. Be sure to test each one on a small area of skin first, to prevent any allergic reactions.
Makeup Remover/Dry Cuticles: Try a little olive, sesame, or jojoba oil on a cotton swab, or use one of these recipes. These oils also work great as a finger soak to soften cuticles. For another option, put a third cup of water in a jar, add 3 Tbsp powdered milk, and shake. (Result should be the consistency of cream-if not, add more water or more powder.) Take a washcloth, wet it with warm water, put some of the makeup remover on the cloth, and gently wipe your face.
Puffy Eyes: Apply egg whites underneath eyes, allow them to dry, and then rinse off. Other options include daisy extract, cold milk, or chrysanthemum tea for allergy-related puffiness.
Facial Moisturizer: Rub the inside of an avocado peel on your face, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse dry. Or smash an avocado in a bowl, add a squeeze of lemon, and leave on your face for 20 minutes. Mashed ripe bananas mixed with honey also help moisturize skin. For more facials and moisturizer recipes, see these homemade solutions.
Very Dry Skin: Many natural oils work to soften skin. Try olive, almond, or sesame oil anywhere on your body. Many aromatherapy shops have great natural massage oils that work perfectly. Choose organic varieties like those from Northern Naturals or Mountain Rose Herbs. Another option: combine 5 grapes, 2 tsp lemon or lime juice, and 1 Tbsp castor oil. This mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cleanser: For a mild, gentle facial cleanser, try this: combine 2 oz. plain yogurt, 2 tsp honey, ¾ tsp wheat-germ oil, 1 oz finely peeled and sliced apple, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1-1/2 Tbsp instant mashed potatoes, and 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate, and use as needed. The mixture usually lasts from two to three days.
Moisturizing Face Mask: Touted as the easiest product to make at home, recipes abound for moisturizing masks. One of the most popular is oatmeal-simply blend with a little water, spread over skin, wait, then rinse. You can also try blending a handful of almonds, plain full-fat yogurt, and honey until smooth, and applying the resulting paste on your skin. For a tastier option, try the chocolate mask (amazing antioxidant properties!): mix 1 Tbsp cocoa powder, 1 Tbsp heavy cream, 1 tsp cottage cheese, 4 tsp honey, and 1 tsp oatmeal in a blender. Apply to face and leave on 10 minutes, then rinse. Yummy! Find other mask recipes here.
Discoloration/Hyperpigmentation (usually after chemotherapy is over): Fade age spots by rubbing papaya or pineapple on the skin. Or, try this: chop an onion, squeeze the juice out (with cheese cloth), then take one part apple cider vinegar and one part of the onion juice, mix together, dab a cotton pad into the solution and apply it to the age spots. Repeat once a day for 6 weeks and see if you notice a gradual improvement.
Dry/Chapped Lips: Mix olive oil and sugar together (equal amounts) and rub gently on lips to exfoliate and make them smooth. For soft lips, apply tomato paste and milk cream. To prepare your own balm, mix 2 tsps coconut oil, lemon juice, 3 drops of lemon oil and 1 tsp bee wax. Warm it on a low flame. After melting, pour into a glass jar.
If you have an effective homemade skin-care idea, tell us about it!
Photo courtesy of you can count on me, via Flickr.com.
