Natural Beauty Tricks for Great Skin

By Rachel Guerrier

With a wide range of skin-care products in department and drug stores these days, it’s sometimes overwhelming when deciding which product to go with. No longer is it a simple choice of which cleanser, toner and moisturizer to choose. With various selections of facials, masks, scrubs to enzyme peels at your disposal the decision becomes more difficult. Not to mention having to select from the multitudes of brands suggesting their beauty-in-a-bottle concoction will do the job.

So, why spend a half hour in the skin-care aisle contemplating what to buy? There are lots of options, right in your home that can help you achieve great skin. What you put in your body shows on your skin, so why not use these foods on your skin? At-home options offer a peace of mind because you’re using food in its raw form and there’s no need to worry about allergic reactions to certain ingredients. Understanding your skin type is all you need to determine which of the following recipes will work best for you.

NORMAL SKIN

Blemishes rarely occur with this skin-type. Just a simple boost to your complexion here and there is required. At home treatments to refresh your skin is sometimes all you need.

One mask calls for- one blended egg, juice of one lemon, four tablespoons of non-fat dry powder milk and one table spoon of witch hazel. Apply to face, neck, and chest for fifteen to twenty minutes. Use the remaining mask to cleanse your face. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

A strawberry butter mask calls for one tablespoon of unsalted butter and one mashed strawberry. Beat together and leave on for ten minutes. Finish off by rinsing with lukewarm water and patting your face dry.

Rose water and cucumber make wonderful toners for normal skin. Rose water hydrates the skin while increasing circulation. Fresh cucumber mixed with plain yogurt refreshes. Mix one small cucumber with the yogurt and apply for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands that produces more oil than your skin actually needs. This can leave your skin looking and feeling greasy. Your pores are enlarged and it also causes blemish problems. The following recipes are recommended for you.

A quick mask for oily skin is a banana mask. This mask calls for 1/2 banana, preferably ripe, 1/2 tablespoon of honey and an orange or lemon. Mix the banana and honey together, add only a few drops from the orange or lemon. Apply to face and leave on for fifteen minutes and rinse off with a cool washcloth or steaming warm washcloth.

Also, just because you have oily skin does not mean you should stay away from all oil-based products. Bergamot, lavender, lemon and sage oil, to name a few, are great for oily skin. Lavender water, especially, can be spritzed all over your face throughout the day.

To create a sauna experience, gather some lemon grass, licorice roots, and rosebuds. Two to three times a week simmer two to four tablespoons of the dried or fresh herbs in two quarts of water. When it starts to steam, place on a table. Cover the pot with your face at a comfortable distance for about fifteen minutes. Rinse off with cool water and allow face to air dry or pat dry. This mixture can be used later as a toner lotion once it’s cooled down. Just moisten a cotton ball and apply.

DRY SKIN

Dry skin is caused by an underdevelopment of oil produced from the oil glands. This can be a serious problem, especially in the winter. In the face it affects the eye and cheek area the most…causing cracks and scaliness.

A great mask for dry skin simply calls for applying a mashed ripe banana to the face and leaving it on for few minutes. When ready, rinse off with lukewarm water.

Oils are also essential for dry skin-care. Grape seed oil is recommended, but for more severe cases, castor oil or avocado oil should be used.

Yogurt with orange-peels makes a great moisturizing exfoliant for dry skin. Leave a few orange peels in a windowsill in the sun to dry. Grind the peels to a powder and mix with yogurt. Leave on for about fifteen minutes and rinse off.

COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is just that, it’s a combination of oily and dry skin. Usually the forehead, chin and nose are oily. While the cheeks, mouth, and eye areas are dry. This skin type can be treated using the same treatments above in the respective facial areas.

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These recipes are simple and do not require much time. They are relaxing, refreshing and naturally help you look good. Next time you decide on trying another skin care treatment, skip the trip to the drugstore and go straight to your kitchen!