Every morning and evening we wash our faces, hoping to rid ourselves of any potentially harmful substances that have come in contact with the surface of our precious skin. We want to know that we’re cleansing our skin with the best possible ingredients, which is one of the main reasons why I love making my own beauty products.
Not all skin is created equal though, so I’ve come up with recipes for three different cleansing concoctions: one for dry skin, one for oily skin and one for normal skin. Protecting and caring for your skin — especially facial skin is important. This can work for both men and women as it gets colder in the Northwest and Northeast. As my grandma always says, it’s never too early to start protecting your skin from aging.
Homemade facial cleanser is easy and a lot cheaper, lasts longer and does more for your skin than the commercial cleansers. When you create your own facial cleanser, they do not contain chemical additives and aggressive preservatives, which are in traditional products. Store-bought cleansers are formulated to strip the skin of its natural oils can end up leaving your skin tight and dry because of the harsh ingredients.
In each of these recipes (except normal skin) you will notice that honey is a main component. Honey has been a beauty secret for thousands of years. It dates all the way back to Cleopatra who used to take baths filled with it. This sticky, but yummy stuff is incredibly good for your skin. It’s understandable that the whole idea of slathering your face with something super sticky may not seem appealing, once you discover all the wonderful benefits of raw honey you are going to want to put it in everything. Honey is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. It acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent and helps disinfect and speed the healing process of acne. It soaks up impurities and helps detoxify your skin, so say goodbye to all the germs! Honey is loaded with antioxidants (the good stuff your face needs and wants) and it helps restore damaged and wrinkled skin.
Dry Skin: During these colder seasons, the skin lacks moisture. The most important part of this cleanser is the base is plain yogurt. Yogurt is full of protein to soften your skin. But at the same time, it’s acidic so it will exfoliate your skin, removing unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin. That’s where the honey comes in. It will draw moisture into your skin and keep it there, plus olive oil with add more moisture. Last but not least, apples give your skin vitamins A, B and C plus a dash of antioxidants to keep you looking fresh.
Homemade Facial Cleanser for dry skin:
– 2 apple slices, peeled
– ½ cup plain yogurt
– ½ tablespoon olive oil
– ½ tablespoon honey
– Now blend in food processor until smooth
– Massage onto skin and leave on five minutes
– Rinse with lukewarm water
– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day
Let’s talk about why yogurt is good for your skin. Yogurt is full of protein, enzymes and zinc. It does a really good job cleaning up and softening your skin at the same time. Yogurt also lightens dark spots and blemishes, which can also help protect your face with its antioxidant. Yogurt is a great buddy to have in your fridge because it’s not afraid of working hard to bring back the skin’s youthful glow. Best of all, it’s not harsh and pretty much all skin types can benefit from a slathering of yogurt. Other ways yogurt comes in handy is by dabbing a little bit on your blemishes. Leave it on no longer than 10 minutes. This can help reduce the redness. You can smear yogurt on sunburns by applying it to areas that hurt for half an hour before showering. It’ll cool you down and help lessen your glowing redness.
Oily Skin: For those whose skin tends to always look shiny, let oatmeal and lemons be your new cherished friends. Lemon acts as an astringent as well as disinfectant. It kills any bacteria that may cause breakouts, while oatmeal exfoliates the skin, soaking up excess oils in the process. Don’t forget the honey. Honey will restore moisture into your skin, balancing out any dryness that has been caused by the lemon.
Homemade Facial Cleanser for oily skin:
– ½ cup rolled oats
– ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
– ¼ cup water
– ½ tablespoon honey
– Combine all ingredients in bowl
– Massage onto skin for 30 seconds
– Rinse with lukewarm water.
– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day
Normal Skin: If your skin is a combination of dry and oily, this cleanser is for you. The yogurt and cucumber nourish and clear your skin without drying it, while mint adds a pleasant soothing experience.
Homemade Facial Cleanser for normal skin:
– ½ cup plain yogurt
– ½ medium cucumber, peeled
– 5 medium mint leaves
– Now blend in food processor until smooth
– Massage onto skin and leave on five minutes
– Rinse with lukewarm water
– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day
Making facial cleansers is easier than you think. The neat part of making your own products is that it’s easy to customize, so if you have specific needs for your skin, you can be your own mastermind behind the most awesome facial cleanser for you. Cleanse gently, prevent acne and heal breakouts by incorporating these homemade recipes into your mornings and nights. There is always room for more, so feel free to add your own ingredients to these basic ones.