We often dream of having the healthiest lifestyle, body and skin possible. However it’s difficult to achieve these things due to expense, effort and if you’re an utter foodie like myself…refusing to sacrifice a good greasy burger (or two). Fear not, as a health and beauty enthusiast, I am here to guide you on how to achieve the perfect healthy and luminous skin, without sacrificing your favourite cravings or draining your bank account. Instead, here’s 5 of my most wonderful natural recipes for flawless skin, using only the ingredients you’ll find in your kitchen.
Maintaining a healthy skincare routine is tricky, especially if you refuse to alter your diet, are unable to afford high end products or you are conscious of the ingredients contained in the products used on your skin. With determination (and the help of the ingredients in my mother’s kitchen, thanks mum), I was able to create skincare products that are 100% natural, cheap and effective. These homemade products have helped me improve the healthy state of my skin. So, without further ado, I introduce to you my top 5 natural recipes to give you a new way to achieve healthy skin.
1. Avocado-Honey Moisturiser
Purpose: To achieve dewy and youthful looking skin, applying moisturiser to your skin helps your skin to retain moisture. It acts as a temporary filler for wrinkles and in return presents your skin with a smooth looking complexion.
Ingredients: 1/2 avocado, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1/2 tablespoon of fresh orange juice.
Directions: Place all three ingredients in a blender and puree into a smooth cream. Apply it to your skin and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Top Tip: Lengthy, hot showers deprive skin of its moisture and wash away its necessary protective oils. Having short and cool showers (it’s brutal, but you’re worth it) can can help limit the loss and protect your skin.
2. Lemon-Yeast Acne Treatment
Purpose: To get rid of blemishes, or harsh and sore spots, yeast and lemon will become your best friends. The yeast fights bacteria, the lemon helps dry the blemish.
Ingredients: Yeast (any brand), a squeeze of lemon juice and water.
Directions: Make a paste using a small amount of your chosen brand of yeast, a squeeze of lemon juice and a bit of water. Apply directly on your blemish cover with a bandage or firm towel and remove after 15 minutes.
Top Tip: During a breakout, try avoid wearing foundation. If you do wear makeup, try to choose oil-free cosmetics without added dyes and chemicals (choose makeup that is labeled as “noncomedogenic” meaning it should not cause acne).
3. Almond-Sugar Facial Scrub
Purpose: To smoothen and brighten skin. Regularly exfoliating your face helps get rid of dead skin cells which dull your complexion.
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons of fresh cream, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of ground almonds and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Directions: Mix all ingredients well. Apply to dry face in a circular motion. Wash your face off with warm water, followed by cold water and pat your face dry. Place in a jar and store in your refrigerator for future use.
Top Tip: Skin is extremely tender after scrubbing, therefore it’s beneficial (and recommended) to scrub in the evening as we are able to avoid sun-exposure.
4. Sugar-Lip Exfoliating Scrub
Purpose: To rid dead peeling skin and reveal the soft skin underneath by locking in natural moisture. As the air gets dry, our lips suffer for it. They get chapped and often get covered in a layer of crusty and peeling dead skin, resulting in sore and bleeding lips.
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or white sugar, 1 tea spoon of honey (enough to make the sugar stick together) OR a tea spoon of olive oil/coconut oil and a tiny little drop of vanilla (simply because it smells uh-maze-ing).
Directions: Mix the sugar with just enough honey (or olive/coconut oil) to make it to stick together. Rub the scrub onto your lips vigorously enough to loosen the dead skin twice a week. Let it sit for 1 minute, and then wipe off with a damp towel. Apply lip balm or vaseline after use.
Top Tip: Take an old toothbrush (preferably one with very soft straight bristles) and apply the sugar scrub to it and gently rub onto your lips.
5. Green-Tea Toner
Purpose: To shrink pores, refresh oily/acne-prone skin and cleanse and energise skin after wearing make up and heavy skin products such as sun cream.
Ingredients: 2 cups of brewed green tea (cooled, not hot, I repeat NOT hot), a few drops of a form of essential oil (lavender oil is relaxing and suitable for all skin types, it’s my personal favourite) and a clean spray bottle.
Directions: Brew your green tea and allow it cool for a while. Then, water it down a bit, pour it into the spray bottle and mix it with a few drops of your favourite essential oil (if suffering from breakouts try tea tree oil, if you have oily skin I’d recommend peppermint or rosemary oil, but this stage is optional). From a distance, close your eyes and spray the toner onto your face and allow to soak in and work it’s magic for 15 minutes before washing off with cool water.
Top Tip: Store the spray bottle in the fridge (the cool green tea refreshes and soothes skin gently).
