Many commercial skin care products contain minimal amounts of beneficial ingredients.
But even more importantly, these products contain harmful ingredients too.
In fact, these harmful ingredients actually negate the healthful properties contained in these products.
By making your own healthy skin-care remedies, you can maintain quality control and save a small fortune.
Before giving you the recipes for a natural skin-care routine, let's take a look at some of the less desirable ingredients you should avoid: 1.
Mineral Oil is a derivative of petroleum and is found in many beauty products.
It actually dries the skin,which is the last thing you want.
Mineral oil coats the skin and prevents its "breathability".
It's comparable to putting a plastic covering on your skin.
Mineral oil prevents the absorption of Vitamin D and it prevents the release of toxins from the skin through sweat.
2.
Dioxane which is a synthetic derivative from coconut has been shown to be carcinogenic.
3.
Fragrances have been shown to be problematic, too.
4.
Parabens which are used as preservatives have been implicated in problems with the endocrine system.
5.
Alcohols are drying and irritating to the skin and strip away the skin's protective acid mantle making it susceptible to bacteria, mold and viruses.
Okay, now that I've given you the heebie-jeebies about those bad-boy ingredients, let's get started on those home remedies for restoring and maintaining healthy skin: Makeup Remover: Don't use soap and water, since they dehydrate the skin, leaving a soapy residue and hard water deposits.
Instead, use 2 or 3 tablespoons of warm milk mixed with a 1/2 teaspoon of castor oil.
Shake the mixture, and using a cotton ball, apply the solution in upward and outward strokes.
Be careful to avoid too close to the eyes, though.
This is supposed to more effective at removing dirt and grime than standard soap and water.
You can complete the routine by applying a thin layer of castor oil to your face to seal in moisture.
Be sure to purchase castor oil from a health food store to ensure that you are using a cold pressed virgin grade of castor oil, instead of an industrial grade.
Beauty Mask: Puree 1 cup of fresh pineapple with a 1/2 cup of fresh papaya.
Pour the mixture into a bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons of honey.
Apply to your just washed face and neck.
Leave the mixture on for exactly 5 minutes and then rinse with cool water.
There, you've just given yourself an alpha hydroxy facial.
The bromelain enzymes in pineapple and the papain enzymes in papaya do the heavy work of making your face firmer through collagen production.
This mask sloughs off the dead skin cells, evens out skin tone and makes those tiny little lines less apparent.
The honey hydrates the skin.
By the way, it is not necessary to apply this mask more than once a week.
Avocado Treatment: Take the inside of an avocado skin and massage your just cleaned face and neck in gentle upward and outward sweeps.
This a great treatment for dry skin! Apple Cider Vinegar Rejuvenator: 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon of boiled water restores the acid mantle covering your skin.
Let the mixture cool before applying with cotton balls.
Again, you want to avoid the area near the eyes.
You can leave this mixture on for about 10 minutes.
Use this treatment every other day.
Very refreshing; although somewhat stinky! I discovered some of these recipes in an old Bottom Line book and I find them to be very effective..
I guess I've developed a rule about what I put on my face.
If an ingredient is something I would feel safe about eating, then it's safe enough to put on my face.
If not, then I won't.
Remember, your skin is your largest organ, so you need to support it, so it can support you.