Homemade Skin Care Recipes For Vibrant Natural Beauty
Homemade Skin Care Products . . . Good For You and the Environment!
Are you wondering whether you should seriously consider homemade skin care products?
With billions of dollars in product sales each year, "Beauty" is a thriving industry. Let's face it, people spend lots of money in an attempt to look their best. On average women and men use a half dozen (or more) personal care products each day. In so doing, they usually subject their bodies to numerous chemicals. While these chemicals may not have any immediate ill effects, they can cause or contribute to health problems when used regularly for many years. Not to mention the environmental toll of aerosols, discarded manufacturing chemicals and non-biodegradable packaging.
So what's a health-aware, green-conscious consumer to do?
Well, we could abandon beauty treatments altogether, but most of us would probably say, "Uhh . . . I don't think so." Fortunately, we don't have to go that far. There are natural options that are much safer.
While it's possible to find all natural skin care, many folks are willing to go a step further and create their own homemade skin care treatments.
Homemade Skin Care Products. . . Gives You Control
Do-It-Yourself, All Natural Skin Care That's Just Right for You!
Making your own natural skin care products is often much less expensive than buying them in a store. And guess what? It gives you complete control over what goes into them. You don't have to worry about unknowingly using a product that contains something that triggers an allergic reaction or outbreak.
It takes longer to create your own beauty concoctions than it does to pick them up off the shelves, but with some practice, you can make effective skin and hair treatments in a snap.
Assess Your Facial Skin Care Needs
Oily Skin? . . . Dry Skin? . . . Sensitive Skin?
Most of us use facial skin care products on a regular basis, and we use them to do more than just clean the skin on our faces. The best ones are designed for a specific skin type. They can help moisturize dry skin, reduce shine on oily skin, help fight acne, combat wrinkles and more. But we can get similar results with homemade skin treatments.
When making your own skin care treatments, the first step is to assess your skin's needs.
- Is it oily or dry?
- Is it prone to outbreaks?
- Are you concerned about preventing or minimizing the appearance of wrinkles?
The answers to these questions will help determine which natural ingredients will provide the greatest benefit.
Natural Ingredients Used In Homemade Skin Care Products - You Can Create Natural Beauty Treatments From Ordinary Household Ingredients
Here's a partial list of basic ingredients most often used in homemade facial skin care along with which types of skin they are good for:
Witch Hazel
- You can find witch hazel at most drugstores. It is often used alone as a gentle yet powerful astringent for oily skin , and it also makes a good ingredient in skin care recipes.
Cocoa Butter
- Cocoa butter leaves skin soft and supple. It may be used in dry skin or wrinkle treatments.
Olive Oil
- Olive oil provides moisture without being too greasy. It is most often used on dry or combination skin, but may also be used in small amounts in treatments for oily skin. It contains antioxidants that help protect your skin from the effects of aging.
Yogurt
- Those with dry or sensitive skin will find a yogurt mask very soothing. It aids in sloughing off dead skin cell and leaves the skin nice and soft.
Honey
- Honey is used in treatments for every skin type . It adds moisture without being greasy and makes the skin super soft. It is also effective against wrinkles and fine lines.
Tea Tree Oil
- This essential oil works very well against acne . A small dab works well as an acne spot treatment. Use sparingly in cleansers and toners, because tea tree oil is highly potent and may dry the skin.
Oats
- Oatmeal is good for dry or sensitive skin . You can also use raw oats to make an exfoliant to remove dead skin.
Super-Simple Sugar Scrub
Dry Skin: Facial Skin Care Recipe
Super-Simple Sugar Scrub (for Dry Skin)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- A few drops of olive oil
Put sugar in a small bowl. Mix in a few drops of olive oil at a time until a paste is formed. Massage into skin and rinse with warm water. Kosher salt may be substituted for the sugar to make a salt scrub.
Rosey Rose Facial
Combination Skin: Facial Skin Care Recipe
Rosey Rose Mask (for Combination Skin)
- 1 rose
- 1 tablespoon rose water
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
Tear off rose petals, wash in water and soak for a few minutes, then crush them in a bowl. Add rose water, yogurt and honey. Mix well. Use immediately.
Oatmeal Scrub
Sensitive Skin: Facial Skin Care Recipe
Oatmeal Scrub (for Sensitive Skin)
- 1/2 cup uncooked oats
- 1 tablespoons honey
Mix oats and honey to form a paste. Massage into face and neck. Leave on face for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse off.
Honey & Apple Facial
Oily Skin: Facial Skin Care Recipe
Honey & Apple Mask (for Oily Skin)
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 apple
Grate apple into a fine pulp. Stir in honey. Use immediately.
"The Firm" Facial
Aging Skin: Facial Skin Care Recipe
"The Firm" Firming Mask (for Aging Skin)
- 1/2 tablespoon Vitamin E oil
- 1 tablespoon yogurt
- 1 egg
Beat egg lightly. Gently mix in other ingredients. Massage into face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Use immediately.
© 2009 Dee Gallemore