Your Ultimate Guide For Natural Skin Care Routine For Clear Skin

Table of Contents

The Importance of a Good Skin Care Routine

Known as your biggest organ, the epidermis^(*) is incredibly large, highly important, and in need of a lot of care. As the first line of defense for your body, this protective shield is tough but thin, waterproof but able to absorb moisture, strong but soft and in some cases, highly sensitive. Your skin needs proper care and attention in order to fight against outside intruders such as bugs, germs, scratches, abrasions, and other wounds, and of course the different elements such as extreme cold and heat.

The epidermis is also the main protector of the second layer of skin, or the dermis, where many important physical structures such as sweat glands^(*) and hair follicles^(*) are kept. When kept healthy, your skin will be beautiful, strong, and durable, able to keep you safe from harmful outside agents and healthy both inside and out.

Different Duties Of Your Skin

While you know that your skin protects your body from the outside world, this is a general phrase to cover all that the skin actually does. In addition to protecting the dermis and keeping you safe from the elements and outside intruders, your skin also protects against harmful UV rays from the sun, works to repel harmful bacteria and viruses, and even contains a number of cells that support your immune system by constantly fighting unknown substances from entering your body.

The body is assaulted by germs and viruses all day long; while we can still get sick, it is no doubt how much the skin fights off and protects the body from on a daily basis.

How Skin Changes Over Time

When first born, your skin is incredibly soft, pliable, and stretchy. It acts as a plush covering around your entire body that grows and stretches with you. Baby skin heals well, doesn’t leave dark or tough scars, and contains a healthy glow. This is because the skin is fresh and new, free from damage from the elements, manmade products, and activities such as shaving or waxing. While things like sunshine, wind, makeup, and shaving are not bad, there is no doubt that they change your skin, causing it to lose its youthful elasticity and softness.

As you grow, your years in the sun, wind, water, and other elements will change your skin, perhaps making it tougher, dryer, or even more sensitive. The elderly often have very delicate skin that is prone to wrinkles, bruises, and tear or cuts. While this is the natural progression of the epidermis, you can combat this decline by actively taking care of your skin throughout your life.

When well taken care of, people have found that their skin has few wrinkles, remains soft, and even keeps its youthful glow over time. Though you cannot stop your skin from aging, you can slow the damaging effects of age with regular skincare routines.

Regardless of the type of skin you have, you need to know what kinds of skin care products are good for you. Some people focus exclusively focus on their face when, in actuality, all the skin on the body needs to be cared for. Skin care is important at any age. The earlier you start cleaning, toning, and moisturizing skin, the less your skin will age over time.

Whether you prefer a clean, classic appearance or an elaborate makeup look, being beautiful starts from the inside, it is therefore very important to nourish the skin to make the most of your natural beauty. This makes make-up look better and even if you don’t wear a drop of foundation, lipstick, or eyeliner, you can still maintain a fresh and glowing complexion.

What Is Your Skin Type

The products you use for your skin depend on your skin type. How do you know what type of skin you have? There are actually nine different skin types, each of which needs a unique treatment. These are the skin types you may have:

Type 1: You have oily skin with many acne breakouts and many clogged pores.
Type 2: You have oily or combination skin with occasional breakouts.
Type 3: You have oily or combination skin with frequent breakouts. The skin is overly sensitive to skin care products.
Type 4: you have oily or combination skin that occasionally breaks out and is overly sensitive to skin care products.
Type 5: You have normal amounts of oil but the skin is red and sensitive to signs of aging.
Type 6: You have normal skin that needs anti-aging protection.
Type 7: You have dry skin that is tired-appearing and already showing signs of aging.
Type 8: You have dry skin that has been exposed to too much sun and is aging
Type 9: You have sensitive, dry skin that is red and showing signs of aging.

Skin Care Steps

Regardless of the type of skin you have, there are some skin care steps you need to consider. These include the following:

Cleansing: Every type of skin needs cleanser. You should cleanse your skin every morning, particularly if you are going to put makeup on it. Cleansing at night is necessary as it gets rid of the oil, dirt, and makeup that can clog your pores and can contribute to breakouts. Choose a moisturizing cleanser if you have dry skin and a pure cleansing product if you want to remove oil and don’t want to add to the oil in your skin by moisturizing it during the cleansing process.
Moisturizing: All skin types need daily moisturizing. Ideally, the moisturizer will not contain alcohol but will contain soothing emollients that can get to the dermis of the skin, replacing any moisture lost during the cleansing process. There are moisturizer options available for all skin types.
Toner: Toners keep your skin firm and help prevent signs of aging. You can apply toner before moisturizing to tighten skin and reduce the size of your pores. Skin toner is important for all ages but is especially important in your older years. There are several natural toners available, including elderberry toner, aloe vera toner, and witch hazel.
Eye creams: Those who have tired looking eyes need eye creams under and above the eyes. Eye creams are also good to hydrate the skin around your eyes because this is perhaps the driest part of the skin. Eye creams often contain antioxidants that prevent skin damage and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Antioxidant formulas: Any style of skin care product can be infused with antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent the signs of aging by giving you the ability to fight off oxygen free radicals that can damage skin and cause premature skin death. Antioxidants are important at any age, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun or are starting to show signs of crow’s feet or other types of wrinkles.
Anti-wrinkle formulas: These skin formulas contain collagen that reduces the signs of wrinkles by filling in the wrinkles with collagen. You can use anti-wrinkle formula at any age but it is more important as one ages.

You might use just some of these skin care products or all of them, depending on your skin care concerns. As a minimum, you should use cleanser, toner, and some kind of moisturizer, particularly in the T-zone and around the eyes, where skin is dryer.

You could add scrubs, masks, and other regimens into your routine, one of the most useful is a gentle exfoliant that helps clear away dead skin cells and bring out a fresh, glowing layer of skin. Of course, eating a healthy diet will heal and maintain skin health from the inside out and is one of the essential methods to beautiful skin.

Nutrients That Promote Skin Health

Skin care is more than just washing your face every day. Even if you use all the various skin care products, you can do a lot for your skin just by eating healthy and taking in the nutrients from food that are skin-friendly and can help stop the aging process.

Nutrients For Skin Health

The best foods for your skin health are those that contain antioxidants. Antioxidants fight off oxygen free radicals in your body, including your skin, that can damage cells and increase the signs of aging. There are certain foods that are high in antioxidants. Focusing on these foods can help your skin look nice, slow the aging process, and decrease the signs of aging.

Vitamin C: Oranges, other citrus fruit, kiwi, and berries are good fruit sources of vitamin C, and vegetables like tomatoes, peas, dark leafy greens, broccoli, and bell peppers are also high in vitamin C. This is a vitamin that not only fights the signs of aging; it keeps skin healthy and free of damage from free radicals.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a great antioxidant that can reduce cellular damage and can prevent certain cancers. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, avocadoes, tofu, spinach, and seeds (like sunflower seeds). Other foods you might consider include shellfish, olive oil, squash, pumpkin, and broccoli.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A provides your skin with what it needs for cellular repair when it becomes damaged by the sun and wind. Tropical fruit, dark leafy greens, winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe along with fresh fish contain this important nutrient.
Zinc: Dietary zinc reduces sebum production to help prevent acne breakouts. Zinc also assists in protein and cell membrane functions in the skin, has anti-inflammatory effects, and protects against UV rays. Get your zinc from oysters and other shellfish along with organ and beef.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Consuming a healthy amount of omega-3 fatty acids helps to stimulate natural skin moisture to battle dry or itchy skin year-round. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, as are walnuts and flaxseed oil. Coincidentally, fatty acids also help to strengthen thin, brittle fingernails.

Boost Skin Health With Color

Notice that many of these healthy foods are fruits and vegetables. The more colorful fruits and vegetables you eat, the better your skin will look and feel. Take a look at your plate with each meal or snack. If you see many different colors on it, you are likely getting the antioxidant vitamins your skin needs to stay young and free of damage.

There are many different antioxidants found in foods that are not technically vitamins. For example, tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is a natural antioxidant that can keep the skin and body healthy.

Make up a nice stir-fry with broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers, and fresh, dark greens for a healthy meal that is good for your skin. Salads with colorful vegetables, lettuce, and other greens are healthy, too.

You can keep toxins away from the internal layers of your skin by strengthening your epidermis (the outer layer) with foods high in omega 3 fatty acids. These foods include eggs fortified with omega 3 fatty acids, sardines, walnuts, salmon, and other fatty fish like tuna and mackerel.

If you can’t get enough nutrients in your diet or if diet is just not your thing, consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. Just about any complete one a day vitamin will work; however, many health food specialists prefer whole food vitamins that contain no synthetic vitamins and have nutrients, as close to the possible nutrients you’d get from food. If you are outdoors a lot or are exposed to such things like secondhand smoke and air pollution, you may not get enough antioxidants and other healthful vitamins and will need to supplement even the best of diets.

Be wary of taking too many fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A and E. It is possible to get too much of these vitamins because your body can’t get rid of them as easily as water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C, which can simply pass through your urine if you get too much.

Besides eating these skin health promoting foods, you should not smoke, get enough sleep every night, drink plenty of water (to hydrate your skin), and wear sunscreen whenever you are out in the sunshine.

Your skin is technically the largest “organ” in your body and taking care of it through proper diet, exercise, and healthy skin care products is about the most important thing you can do every day to stay looking young and healthy.

12 Homemade Skin Remedies

Many of our grandmas, and definitely none of our great grandmas had Oil Of Olay to run to for their skin care needs. You can bet that they used homemade, all natural skin care recipes to take care of their skin health and other beauty needs.

Today, women spend a lot of money on commercial products to treat wrinkles, fix swollen eyes, and maintain skin health, and unfortunately, the prices for these products continue to rise.

Skin care products can be very expensive, depending on the label of products, you choose, and on the number of products, you think your skin needs. You can easily spend more than $100 or more a month on skin care products unless you remember that these skin care products weren’t around forever and, back in the days when skin care salons weren’t available, our ancestors used completely natural products for healthy skin care. These are remedies you can use today to keep your skin young and healthy-looking without having to spend a lot of money.

Great Natural Skin Care Remedies…

Regardless of the skin care problems, you have or the type of skin you live with, there is a natural product that will work for you. Let’s see what products you might already have in your cupboard, garden, or refrigerator.

Cucumbers: Place a couple of cucumber slices over your eyes and rest a bit on the bed or couch. The cucumber juices will moisturize the eyes around the skin and decrease puffiness. In a few minutes, you will have younger and healthier appearing eyes. Cucumbers also help oily skin.
Tea Bags: Dip in hot water, let cool and place warm wet tea bags on the eyes to ease swelling and puffiness.
Apple cider vinegar: While apple cider vinegar is used in many recipes for skin care, it can be used directly on the skin in order to cut down on pimples and other blemishes. Use it just before bedtime and let your skin heal itself during the night. If your skin seems too sensitive for full-strength apple juice, try diluting it with one part water and one part apple cider vinegar. You’ll heal as you sleep.
Tomatoes and yogurt: Make a paste out of pureed tomatoes and a tablespoon of regular yogurt per half tomato used. Apply it to areas of the skin that have large pores. Leave it on your skin for up to ten minutes and then rinse off and apply a natural moisturizer. Your pores will be less visible. Try this in the morning before you put on makeup in order to keep makeup out of your pores.
Avocado mask: Avocadoes make a great mask for beautiful skin. It acts like a natural moisturizer for rough and dry skin. Use half an avocado mixed with a quarter cup of honey. Apply directly to the skin for about ten minutes. Rinse it off using a moist, cool washcloth, wrung out with water. This is a good remedy for moisturizing your hair too although you use one avocado mixed with just a couple of tablespoons of honey for a half hour before rinsing the hair clean with warm water.
Salt scrub for cleansing and exfoliating: Before there were fancy exfoliating products, our ancestors used pure sea salt along with baby oil to clean the skin. It takes about a cup of sea salt mixed with half that amount of baby oil. Mix these two ingredients and set them aside for a full day. Scrub your skin with the mixture to clean and exfoliate the skin so that dead skin cells won’t be a problem.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a must for healthy skin. Not only does it help sunburned skin but also it relieves the skin of acne and acts as a healthful moisturizer. Eczema is made better by applying aloe vera. Just cut open a plump aloe vera leaf and apply the gel to any areas of the skin that need moisturizing or that is affected by blemishes or eczema. Do this every day and soon you’ll see healthier skin that is moist without being oily and free of blemishes.
Baking soda for oily skin: People with oily skin are often reluctant to use moisturizing cleansers as they add oil to the skin. One remedy for cleansing that helps those with oily skin is baking soda. Just mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Put this paste on your skin, gently rubbing away grime and makeup. Then wash it off. Baking soda has the added benefit of neutralizing the pH of the skin so that bacteria won’t grow and blackheads are minimized.
Banana peel for dry skin: You can moisturize dry skin by rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the skin until the banana peel turns brownish in color. You can soothe areas of dry skin along with treating any acne spots you may have. This remedy is best used at least a couple of times per day.
Brown sugar scrub: Take a quarter cup of brown sugar and mix with enough baby oil so that you can create a coarse paste. Use this to soften the skin and cleanse it before washing off and adding a moisturizer. It is useful for facial and body skin cleansing.
Skin brightener recipe: This simple recipe will clean the skin of blemishes and make it look younger and brighter right after application. Take a couple of tablespoons of honey and mix with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of sour cream. Apply to the skin after cleansing, keep it on your skin for about 20 minutes and rinse it off first with warm water and then with cool water to seal the pores. This can be a brightening facial you can use up to twice weekly.
Oily skin recipe: A great facial for oily skin is to mix some egg whites, shredded cucumber, and yogurt.

Herbal Remedies For Skin Health

Many herbs and spices are high in anti-inflammatory components, nutrients, and antioxidants. Here are a few herbal remedies that can help all sorts of skin problems:

Chamomile: Chamomile steeped in warm water can create a rinse that soothes inflammation and red patches on the skin. Men can use it after shaving to reduce the inflammation of sensitive skin and anyone with skin itchiness and swelling can have relief without using harsh cortisone cream. Apply a steeped chamomile tea bag directly to inflamed areas of the skin.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is high in antioxidants and can be added to dry coffee grounds before brewing your morning coffee. Just a half teaspoon will make the difference and you will enjoy healthier skin that resists aging.
Green tea: Green tea is high in anti-inflammatory catechins, which make it a good source of skin health for those who want to decrease the effects of aging. Just steep up a batch of green tea and put it on the skin for up to 30 minutes before rinsing off. You can also apply it on top of your regular sunscreen to prevent sun damage and uneven pigmentation. Sunburn can be prevented when you wear green tea on your skin.
Hot peppers: Any kind of hot pepper, such as jalapeno peppers, cayenne peppers, and chili peppers can prevent collagen breakdown in your skin so that there are fewer wrinkles and younger looking skin. Capsaicin, which is made from hot peppers as a cream, can act similar to sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. You can also eat these foods for better skin health.
Red clover: Red clover exists everywhere in the summer time. It happens to reduce inflammation caused by red, itchy skin or eczema. It can be compounded with petroleum jelly to make an ointment that decreases skin inflammation on contact.
Turmeric: This ubiquitous herb is significantly anti-inflammatory. In East Indian medicine, it is used to prevent skin cancer formation in sun-damaged skin. It can be used topically, mixed with an ointment, or drunk as a tea.

4 Homemade Honey Facials

Your typical spa facial treatment will run you about $150, and that is on the conservative side. Of course, it is great to be pampered at the spa, but when this is not possible or you simply want to use 100% natural ingredients, then homemade is the way to go! There are many homemade beauty tricks, but one of the greatest basic ingredients for homemade facials and masques is honey.

Raw honey…

Has anti-bacterial properties
Is an anti-viral
Has anti-fungal properties
Kills skin infections, including acne
Reduces inflammation and hydrates the skin to provide moisture due to its humectant qualities
Is loaded with antioxidants to protect and nourish the skin, promoting it to repair itself

Make sure to use the highest quality raw honey, organic is best, and one jar will cost you much less than just one spa facial and will last for months to come.

Moisture: Add a cup of honey to your bubble bath to make your skin soft and smooth. Use a loofah to exfoliate for an extra glow. Adding 4 tablespoons of whole milk powder will clarify the skin, as it did for Cleopatra, who loved milk baths.
Anti-Aging Egg and Honey Facial Mask: To make this wonderful homemade mask, simply whip 2 egg whites and 1 tablespoon of honey and a dash of flour or unsweetened cocoa together to make a thick paste. Open up your pores first by putting a hot cloth on your face for about 3 minutes. Smooth the mask all over your face, let sit for 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
Homemade Skin Toner with Honey: Make your own all-natural toner by blending honey, buttermilk, and rosewater. Use a container with a secure lid to shake the mixture until it is well blended. Apply it with a cotton ball.
Dry To Normal Skin: Mix two egg yolks with a little honey and apply to the face, let dry and rinse with warm water. This homemade treatment creates a great deal of moisture.

13 Homemade Masks And Facials

Here are some wonderful homemade masks for dry, flaky skin, acne prone skin, and anti-aging. Experiment with these to find the ones you love and that work best for your skin and your needs.

Moisturizing Masks

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is gentle to the skin and is perfect for those with sensitive skin that gets easily irritated from store bought products and harsh abrasives. Natural oats have anti-inflammatory properties and are very effective in moisturizing the skin so they are ideal to use as in moisturizing mask. Here is a perfect oatmeal exfoliating and moisturizing recipe that will cost you about $100 at the spa.

How To:

Mix 1 cup of finely ground natural oats (use a blender to grind) with 1 cup of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of honey
Mix thoroughly create a fine paste
Apply to the face
Let sit for 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water and pat dry

Kefir

Kefir is very much like yogurt, but contains about 40 times more beneficial bacteria. Kefir is made from gelatinous white or yellow particles called “grains,” and it has its origins in the north Caucasus Mountains. Kefir is unique as no other milk culture forms grains. The grains contain the bacteria that is clumped with milk proteins and complex sugars. In its natural state, it looks like clumps of cauliflower.

Kefir contains lactic acid that hydrates and soothes the skin. Use plain (unflavored) Kefir for lasting moisture and to soothe stressed out skin.

How To:

Apply it to the face and let it sit for about 20 minutes, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.

Banana Oatmeal Mask

This quick and easy to make mask is perfect for dry skin as it is highly moisturizing and exfoliating made from ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

How To:

Mix 2 teaspoons of mashed bananas with, 2 teaspoons of oatmeal (not instant), 1 teaspoon of milk and 1 teaspoon of honey
Apply to the face
Let sit for 20 minutes
Rinse with warm water and pay face dry

Egg Yolk Mask

Egg yolks are pure magic for skin and one of the best options for dry, flaky, and stressed out skin. They contain a lot of fat, which is a water-binding agent that traps moisture into the skin cells for ultra softness.

Key Nutrients In Egg Yolks:

Protein, the building block of skin tissue that promotes elasticity and repair
Vitamin B3, an anti-inflammatory and humectant (hydrating) for moisture
Vitamin B2, an antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage
Zinc that slows the aging process and heals acne
Vitamin A that heals itchy, and dry skin

How:

Separate the yolk of a large egg from the whites into a bowl.
Spread the yolk on your face
Let dry completely (15 to 20 minutes) and do not laugh or talk, hold the face very still to prevent the drying egg from cracking while it’s on your face
Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel
Enjoy the softness!

Anti Acne Masks

Egg Whites And Lemon Juice

Lemon is a natural astringent and egg yolks are loaded with healing nutrients to promote acne free skin.

How To:

Separate the yolk from the white of a large egg
Beat egg whites in a food processor or stand mixer with the juice of 1/2 a lemon to form semi-stiff peaks
Put a hot towel on your face or rinse it with warm water to open the pores
Apply the egg whites
Let dry completely for about 25 to 30 minutes
Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel
Enjoy acne free skin!

Egg Yolk, Honey, And Almond Oil Mask

The honey in this homemade mask contains natural antibacterial properties to fight acne, and moisturize dry skin, and the almond oil is non-greasy so it won’t promote oil production in acne prone skin but will heal dry flakes and rejuvenate. This recipe keeps well in the fridge for about 5 days.

How To:

Mix 1 egg yolk, with 1 teaspoon of raw organic honey and 1 teaspoon of almond oil with a whisk to form a frothy mixture
Apply to the face
Let sit for about 15 minutes, do your best to mot move your face or smile while the mask dries
Take a shower to make the removal process easier
Pat face dry with a clean towel

Heavy Cream Mask

This quick and simple mask will blast pimples in no time.

How To:

Mix 1 tablespoon of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 gram of all natural baking soda to form a pasty texture
Apply to the skin and let sit for about 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water
Pat face dry with a clean towel

Carrot Acne Mask

Carrots contain Vitamin A, which helps to reduce redness and scarring that is often the result of acne.

How To:

Clean, and shred one large carrot
Blend in a food processor to make a sticky paste (add a little flour or almond flour to thicken if needed)
Apply to the face and let sit for 10 minutes
Rinse with warm water
Pat face dry with a clean towel

Anti Aging Masks

Rice Milk Facial Wash

Rice is rich in vitamin E that promotes moisture and exfoliates for smooth skin. Rice milk contains vitamin A, which helps to build retinol that fights acne, reduces signs of aging and wrinkles, and builds collagen Rice milk also provides calcium that protects the skin.

How To:

Mix ¼ cup of brown rice flour with 3 tablespoons of unsweetened organic rice milk to form a paste
Massage into the face using slow circular motions
Rinse with warm water
Pat dry with a towel
Moisturize

Yogurt And Honey

Yogurt is loaded with lactic acid, a common ingredient in $500 spa chemical peels that helps to reduce fine wrinkles, discoloration, and blemishes. Plain Greek yogurt purifies the skin and moisturizes.

How To:

Mix 1 cup of Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil
Apply to the face and neck
Let sit for 25 minutes
Rinse with warm water to remove mask completely
Pat dry with a towel

Cucumber, Aloe And Honey Skin Cream

Hydration is one of the key elements in anti-aging measures for your skin. Aloe, yogurt, and cucumber all promote hydration to keep the skin soft, and radiant. The lactic acid in the lemon provides a gentle exfoliant to clear away dead skin cells, and allow a fresh layer of skin to shine through. This recipe takes a bit longer to prepare than others, but it is well worth it.

How To:

Prepare The Ingredients

½ cup plain organic yogurt
¼ cup of cucumber (chopped and seeded)
¼ cup fresh aloe vera (peeled and chopped); Aloe vera plants are available in any nursery, and it’s great to have around the house for its many medicinal benefits
½ lemon (juiced)

Directions

Place a cheesecloth over a strainer
Puree all the ingredients in a blender or food processor
Pour into the strainer
Cover and refrigerate for several hours, preferably overnight
When ready to use transfer the mixture to a clean bowl (the leftover liquid at the bottom of the bowl can be mixed with almond meal to create an exfoliating facial scrub)
Apply to the skin
Leave on for about 30 minutes
Rinse with warm water to remove mask completely
Pat dry with a towel

Cranberry Mask

Ah, the benefits of berries never end. They are good to eat and good for your skin, as cranberries naturally exfoliate dead skin and contain vital antioxidants to promote anti-aging skin health. Use this mask twice a month.

How To:

Add 1 cup fresh cranberries with 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 cup seedless red or green grapes, 1 envelope unflavored gelatin to a blender and blend at medium speed for 20 seconds to create a pasty consistency
Cover and put into the fridge for 45 minutes to create a thick paste
Remove from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Apply to the face, but avoid the eyes
Let sit for 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water to remove mask completely
Pat dry with a towel

Pumpkin Facial

Pumpkins are loaded with anti-aging antioxidants like vitamins C and A and make for one of the best 100% natural anti-aging skin masks.

How To:

Blend 2 cups of canned pumpkin (no sugar added), 4 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt or Kefir, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice in a blender or food processor.

Apply to the face and neck
Let sit for 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water to remove mask completely
Pat dry with a towel

The Berry Mask

The antioxidant vitamin C is not only good for immunity health, it’s also a highly effective all natural anti-aging compound that protects skin cells from damage and promotes collagen health, and once again, it’s berries to the rescue as they are chock full of vitamin C!

How To:

Blend 1 cup of fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries (or just one or two of those) in a food processor or blender to make a puree
Add 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt and 11/2 tablespoons of honey and blend
Apply to the face and neck
Let sit for 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water to remove mask completely
Pat dry with a towel
Use this mask once or twice a week
You can also make enough to drink!

3 Essential Oils For An Added Boost Of Anti-Aging Pizzazz

Essential oils are 100% pure oils extracted from plants, flowers, bark, and other botanicals that have various uses in health and wellness. In skin care, essential oils make a great anti-aging addition to masks, facials, and creams. Here are three of the best ones that you can add to any of the recipes above, or any others you may use.

Neroli: Neroli helps revive mature skin, smooths fine lines, and tones sagging skin. It’s great for both oily and sensitive skin. The citral it contains helps to regenerate cells to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Pomegranate Seed Oil: This oil is highly rich in antioxidants that help prevent cell damage that causes premature aging. Pomegranate oil also contains Ellagic and punicic acids that improve skin elasticity, and encourage cell regeneration. It heals dry and irritated skin and is used for conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Clary Sage Oil: One of the best oils for mature skin, it reduces dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and encourages cell regeneration for younger looking skin.

Blackhead Removal Masks

Honey and lemon help control black heads naturally.

How To:

Place a few drops of honey on an open lemon wedge and rub on the face where blackheads appear.
Leave on for about 5 minutes
Rinse with cool water

31 All Natural Exfoliants

Getting rid of layers of dead skin cell that build up on the upper epidermis, a process known as exfoliation is one of the most important regimens for your skin. As the skin sheds dead cells, there are always leftovers, and those dead cells make the complexion look dull and rough, and can interfere with oil secretion from the pores, which results in blemishes.

Benefits Of Exfoliation

Clears away the dead cell debris and allows a fresh layer of skin to shine through
Clean pores
Improves blood circulation
Allows other treatments and moisturizer to absorb better
Results in a healthy, much more youthful glow

Professional exfoliation treatments cost at least $100 or more. The designer products in stores are also expensive and have chemicals in them that you do not necessarily need or want. Homemade exfoliants work great and some of the ingredients used in them are the same ones used in the expensive commercial products.

Keep in mind that you can use these on your face and on your body for better skin health and appearance.

Lemon Juice Recipe

Lemons contain alpha hydroxy acid that works to remove the protein glue that causes dead skin cells to stick to your epidermis. Sophie Uliano, skincare advisor to actress Julia Roberts recommends this homemade exfoliant.

How To:

Mix ¼ cup each of apple, lemon, and grape juices and cane sugar in a glass jar. Make sure the sugar dissolves completely.
Apple to the face with a cotton ball
Leave it on for 10 minutes
Rinse with warn water and pat dace dry with a towel

Baking Soda Recipe

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is the main ingredient in many commercial exfoliant products.

How To:

Simply rub it on your face in a circular motion while in the shower, and then rinse with a gentle natural soap.

Use A Natural Baking Soda

Baking Soda brands like Bob’s Red Mill or Frontier do differ from your Arm And Hammer varieties, which is why the cost so much more. Natural baking soda products are mined directly from the ground in their natural sodium bicarbonate state and include no chemical reactions, and nothing added, just pure sodium bicarbonate made naturally by the earth. Conversely, Arm & Hammer baking soda does use a chemical reaction process in its production, specifically the mining of trona ore that is then heated and turned into soda ash, which is then treated with carbon dioxide to make the baking soda.

The natural products are best for skin exfoliation, and while they cost more, they will last for months.

Java Anyone?

Ground coffee is a wonderful all natural exfoliant that also makes for a great skin toner.

How To:

Mix 2 cups of coarsely ground coffee beans with 1 cup of sea salt and 2/3 tablespoons of massage oil
Place a hot cloth on the face or take a hot shower to open the pores and moisten the skin
Rub the mixture into your face in slow circular motions
Rinse and pat dry with a towel
Moisturize

Sugar

Finally sugar becomes useful! Sugar contains glycolic acid, which promotes new cell production and breaks down proteins that prevent shedding on dead skin cells on the skin.

Surely, you have seen the many sugar scrub products at the beauty stores and now you can make your own! Note: Use only pure cane sugar crystals to make this homemade exfoliant.

How To:

Mix sugar crystals with a good carrier massage oil, such as, jojoba, almond, or olive oil, which will create a paste.
Apply to the face and body (if you wish) in a slow circular motion
Rinse with warm water
Moisturize

Sea Salt

Sea salt has many healing properties, and it is great for the skin because it contains trace minerals that rejuvenate, promote cell growth and helps the skin to retain moisture, making this homemade option ideal for dry skin.

How To:

Mix sea salt with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or olive oil to make a paste
Apply to face in a circular motion
Rinse with warm water, and pat dry with a towel
Moisturize
Add a drop or two of lavender essential oil for a wonderful scent

Honey

Honey can be added to any of the above exfoliant recipes for an added boost of skin nourishing goodness. Raw honey contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-bacterial benefits for the skin. It’s loaded with antioxidants to protect and nourish the skin promoting it to repair itself.

Honey works in speeding up the exfoliation process and since it is also a humectant, it will add moisture to dry skin.

Ground Nuts And Seeds From Fruit

Instead of ungluing the proteins that hold dead skin cells in place, ground fruit seeds and nuts actually loosen and remove them manually. This is a friction based method, so it is important to avoid jagged edged seeds, like those found in pitted fruit like apricots and the shells of walnuts that can cause micro tears in the skin.

Seeds from raspberries and blackberries and finely ground almonds are best. You can purchase natural fruit seeds online and in specialty stores. These can be added to homemade soaps and skin recipes for an added boost of exfoliating power.

Typically, ground nuts and seeds from fruit are too harsh to use on the face, but make a great body and foot scrub.

More Natural Exfoliants

Many of these are specifically “made for skin” products that are safe and available online and in specialty stores.

Very Mild Exfoliants

These non-abrasive options loosen dead skin cells naturally and are ideal for facial skin.

Coconut Milk Powder
Fresh berry puree (mash up berries and go)
Whole Milk Powder
Buttermilk Powder
Yogurt Powder

Non Abrasive Mild Exfoliants

Great for the face and sensitive skin types.

Almond Flour
Milk powder
Fruit powder
Whole oatmeal
White Kaolin Clay
Rose Clay
Fruit Seed Powders
Coral Calcium Powder

Body Scrub Exfoliants

These are too harsh for the face, but make great body scrubs to exfoliate the skin and produce a natural fresh glow and intense softness.

Bolivian Pink Salt
Shredded coconut
Himalayan Pink Salt
Brown Sugar
Rice Bran Powder
Rosehip Seed Powder
Poppy Seeds

Foot Exfoliants And Scrubs

These are extra strength ingredients too rough for the face and even the body, but make great foot scrubs.

Pumice Powder
White Sand
Volcanic Sand
Dead Sea Salt

10 Uses For Coconut Oil For Skin Care

Coconut oil is a plant-based natural oil that is high in polyunsaturated fat. Not only is it helpful for your arteries and high in omega 6 fatty acids but it is great for your skin. Coconut oil has been shown to be an excellent option for skin and hair care so you can’t afford not to include it as part of your beauty regimen.

It is great for moisturizing the skin and has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties! Additionally, coconut oil contains lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid that soaks into the hair shaft and bonds to proteins helping to heal damaged hair, and supporting eyebrow and eyelash luster and health, while fortifying them against breakage.

Easy, efficient, inexpensive and totally natural, oh and it smells fantastic!

Here are some excellent ways you can use coconut oil as a part of skin care treatments:

Rub it into your dry hands: Coconut oil, especially when extra-virgin and raw in nature is known to keep dry, dishwater-ragged hands soft and smooth. It is solid at room temperature so you can simply scoop out a bit from a tin and rub it into your hands. It protects your hands from water damage when you have to get them wet, such as with handling wet dishes.
For shaving your legs: Coconut oil is a cheap way of moisturizing and protecting the skin when you need to shave them. It has a great coconut smell and will give you a nice, smooth shave. It is much cheaper to use coconut oil than it is to buy shaving cream and they do basically the same thing.
For hair conditioning: If you look at the ingredients of many hair conditioners, you’ll find coconut oil. It really gets into dry hair and prevents loss of protein from the hair shaft itself. This is the exact reason that Bobbi Brown, one of the major beauty powerhouses in the world and owner of Bobbi Brown cosmetics recommends coconut oil as a deep conditioner for the hair. You need a small amount of coconut oil applied to wet or dry hair. Cover the hair with a towel and sleep on it while it is covered. Wash it out with shampoo the next day and your hair will be silky smooth and soft.
To lighten your cheekbones: Put the coconut oil right over your makeup on your cheekbones and gently rub it in. Then just leave it there. Your skin will glow and will reflect light, making the cheekbones seem lighter. It is an ingredient in many natural makeups but you don’t need to invest in them in order to achieve the same cheek lightening effect.
For eye makeup removal: Coconut oil is great for removing even the most stubborn makeup, including waterproof mascara. Apply the oil as a solid, semi-solid or liquid to a cotton ball and wipe on your eyes. It gets rid of the excess makeup while at the same time, it moisturizes your skin. You can wash you face after using this special eye treatment.
For facial cleaning: Coconut oil can clean and moisturize the dry skin of your face. You apply it at night and allow it to moisturize overnight. It can help prevent acne in some people because it kills the bacteria that cause these blemishes. Wash your face in the morning and start afresh with smoother, cleaner, and moist facial skin. It can worsen acne if you are an adult and have sensitive skin so try it out on a limited basis at first.
To shine dark hair: A bit of coconut oil on the hair will remove flyaway hair and give shine when applied to the ends. Be sure to use only a little bit. Try moisturizing your hands first and then, before washing it off your hands, rub the moisturized hands into the ends of the hair for a nicer shine and to moisturize dry hair.
To moisturize your body: Coconut oil can not only clean your body but it can moisturize it and prevent delayed wound healing with its antibacterial properties. It keeps skin healthy and prevents loss of moisture in the skin, especially if it is very dry.
As part of a body scrub: You can scrub and exfoliate the skin using this simple recipe: mix a half cup of coconut oil with a full cup of brown sugar. Use it as a total body scrub and wash it off in the bath. Your skin will smell good all over, especially if you add some vanilla or an essential oil like lavender to the mixture.
As a massage oil: Coconut oil is safe for your skin and very soothing when used as part of a deep body massage. Note that many expensive massage oils have coconut oil as their primary ingredient.

27 Skin Care Tips

Good skin care starts at an early age. The truth of the matter is that restorative measures are much less effective than preventative ones. Women want to maintain a youthful appearance and age gracefully without losing the youthful glow for their skin.

While the phrase “laugh lines” is mean to be endearing, most women would rather not be reminded of good times with wrinkles.

The beauty industry is filled with thousands and thousands of products, often promoted by celebrities aimed to lure women to the latest and greatest product. Often this results in forgetting the simple things that we can do every single day to take care of our skin.

1| Get your nutrients.

As we get older, skin naturally loses its youthful ability to maintain moisture and resist environmental damage that comes from the wind, sun, and free radicals. A daily multi vitamin not only serves your body it also serves your skin. Vitamins provide the nutrition it needs to remain supple, healthy and better resist the aging process.

2| Wear makeup less often.

Excessive makeup use does affect our skin, and women who wear it less often find that they look younger as they get older.

3| Use a good moisturizer.

Hydration is key to skin health, slowing down wrinkles and is in general key in anti-aging. High quality skin creams allows us to replenish the moisture lost in the skin on a daily basis. Be mindful of season changes, as hot and cold weather may require extra moisturizing for your skin.

4| Have a consistent skin care regimen.

Make sure to have and follow a nightly regimen that includes cleansing and moisturizing. This helps to keep the pores clean and remove debris that can cause common issues like acne, and blackheads. This means never going to bed with make up on your face.

5| Take a steam.

Go to your bathroom, close the door, and let the shower run on hot water. Hang out for a while and let the hot steam open the pores on your face.

6| Protect your skin from the sun.

Nothing ages you more than the damage from the sun, and there is also the risk of skin cancer. This is why you need to always wear sunscreen on your face. A daily moisturizer with a sunscreen helps prevent damage from UV rays.

7| Don’t smoke.

Cigarettes slow blood circulation, dehydrate the skin, block pores, mutate cells, and block pores. Smoking also causes lines around the lips that are quite unsightly.

8| Reduce stress.

Stress really shows on the face. Stress induces the production of stress hormones (cortisol) that gravely impact skin health and appearance.

9| Get your sleep.

Fatigue also shows on the face, and quite quickly. Let sleep naturally rejuvenate you and your facial skin.

10| Use almond oil to hydrate the body.

Sometimes we focus so much on our face, we forget the body. Add a few tablespoons of sweet almond oil to a warm bath for a relaxing soak that will hydrate your body all over.

11| Use vitamin E oil to hydrate.

Vitamin E is a natural hydrator, and it not only keeps the skin soft, it is great for treating rough spots, like those on the elbows.

12| Exfoliate at least once per week.

Use a gentle exfoliant regularly to remove dead skin cells and let a fresh layer of new skin shine through. The results are quite noticeable and amazing.

13| Get rid of dark circles around the eyes.

First, it is important to keep the skin around the eyes as hydrated as possible. Vitamin E oil works great and is very gentle. It is also important to drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated and eat a healthy diet to get the proper nutrients. Good sleep is also essential for healthy skin around the eyes.

Cucumbers help lighten skin, they have mild astringent properties and they soothe and refresh the skin. Cut a cucumber into slices, refrigerate for 30 minutes, and place the slices over your eyes for 7 minutes, repeat daily.
Potatoes have natural bleaching agents that reduce dark circles and puffiness, slice raw potatoes and place over the eyes. Almond oil is all-natural and helps dark circles, apple it around the eyes at bedtime.
Rose Water is another option as it sooths and hydrates the eyes, it’s also a great all natural skin toner. Simply soak rose water into cotton balls, and place over the eyes for 7 to 10 minutes, repeat daily.

14| Exfoliate with a dry brush.

Many alternative medicine practitioners recommend exfoliating with a natural bristle brush to remove dead skin cells and detoxify. This method also improves blood circulation and reduces puffiness. It also feels good and reduces stress, as it is very calming. Simply apply the strokes in a slow circular motion using the brush all over the face (and body).

15| Stop running.

Many dermatologists advise that high-impact cardio like running can weaken collagen production and cause sagging.

16| Quit the sugar habit.

Sugar is linked to inflammation through a process known as glycation, where protein molecules are damaged because sugar molecules adhere to them, causing the formation of new molecules known as advanced glycation products, or AGEs.

17| Use Jasmin extract to moisturize.

Jasmine extract is a soothing oil loaded with antioxidants.

18| Drink less alcohol.

More than one alcoholic drink daily increases oil production in the skin and enlarges pores.

19| Stay cool.

Intense heat can exacerbate redness, and cause broken capillaries, so it’s best to avoid steam rooms, saunas, and even excessively spicy foods.

20| Moisturize EVERY time you wash.

If you wash or mist your face, you must moisturize right after because water evaporates on the skin, creating dryness.

21| Do yoga.

Yes, another benefit to yoga to add the long list that already exists. Yoga poses, such as the Sun Salutation, the Child’s Pose, and the Downward-Facing Dog and improves blood circulation, which sends surges of healthy oxygen to the skin. There is also research that showed yoga to inflammation and stress that speeds the aging the process.

22| Eat good fats.

Essential fatty acids and other healthy fats help the skin absorb essential vitamins, like E, D, and A that ensure sound skin health. Get your good fats from fatty fish, like salmon, avocados, cold pressed olive oil, canola oil, walnut oil, walnuts, almonds, and peanut butter.

23| Take fish oil supplements.

Fish oil, besides being heart healthy is believed to reduce photo-aging, wrinkles and thinning of the skin that occurs with age.

24| Drink black and green tea.

Research shows that green and black teas provide protective compounds called EGCG and theaflavins that prevents the breakdown of collagen that causes wrinkles and they also may help prevent skin cancer.

25| Eat fiber.

Alternative medicine believes that poor skin health is indicative of poor digestion. In addition, skin problems, such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis correlates with sufferers also having constipation and other digestive conditions. Fiber can help. Women aged 19 to 50 years need 25 grams fiber daily and women over 50 need 21 grams daily. Whole grains, apples, greens, kale, beans, legumes, and flaxseeds are all good sources.

26| Avoid tanning at all costs!

Tanning ages the skin by decades and can cause skin cancer. If you want a glowing bronze look, use a glowing moisturizer that is safe and will add a bronze sparkle to your skin.

27| Last but not least, love yourself and how you look no matter your age, nothing shows better externally, than the confidence we feel inside!