After having my first child, I became concerned about the products that came into contact with my baby’s (and my) skin. Since then I’ve learned a lot about the questionable ingredients in many skin care products and do my best to avoid them.
Unlike foods and medications, the ingredients that go into cosmetics and personal care products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. There are no requirements for safety testing, and labeling requirements are not very strict. Even chemicals that have been proven to cause health problems through studies are not required to be accompanied by warnings. And some dangerous chemicals are obscured under general terms such as “fragrance.”
The trouble is, many natural and organic skin care and makeup products are very pricey. What’s a frugal natural gal to do? One suggestion is to make your own! Making your own natural skin care products is inexpensive and fun. It’s also a way to green your beauty routine, since making your own products involves little packaging and it’s easy to create products in bulk. Homemade skin care products are also great for gift giving, especially for your more crunchy friends.
Here are a few easy recipes to get you started. For more, search my blog or download my free ebook at http://naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/be-an-earthy-beauty/
Papaya Peel
(Fruit acids exfoliate and reduce fine lines and wrinkles)
* 1 cup fresh pineapple
* 1/2 cup fresh papaya
* 1 tbsp. honey
Puree pineapple and papaya together in blender. Add honey and mix to create a paste. Apply to the face and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse
Firming Mask
(Achieves a temporary tightening affect like those “facelift in a jar” products)
* 1/2 tbsp. Vitamin E oil
* 1 tbsp. 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 – this recipe does not store well.
Oatmeal Mask/Scrub
(Oats are soothing for sensitive skin, and the honey is a powerful humectant – it pulls moisture from the air)
* 1/2 cup uncooked oats
* 1 tbsp. 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.
For an exfoliating mask, grind the oats finely in a blender, food processor or spice grinder. Mix with water to make a paste, apply and gently scrub. Rinse and moisturize.
Simple Sugar Scrub
(Great for especially dry areas like your feet. In a pretty jar with a ribbon, sugar or salt scrubs are awesome as gifts)
* 1 tbsp. 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.
Under Eye Circle Eraser
(Potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase. It’s actually used as a skin lightener in cosmetics, so why not skip the expense and extra ingredients make it yourself?)
* 1 potato
* Piece of cheesecloth
Peel the potato and mash thoroughly in a food processor. Place in cheesecloth and hold under each eye for 15 to 20 minutes, taking care to keep juice out of eyes. Rinse away residue.
Some of my favorite natural beauty treatments involve no recipe at all. For example, coconut oil is my favorite moisturizer and hair conditioner. It’s also antifungal and antibacterial. A dab of coconut oil (believe it or not!) on a blemish can dry it up quickly.
From Cleopatra’s milk baths to Sophia Loren’s olive oil treatments, natural beauty ingredients have been used for thousands of years by women all over the world. Why not try some of them out for yourself?
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