Homemade Skin Care Products
I admit that I use products that I buy at the drug store
(or online if it's cheaper) for most of my skin care needs, but in a pinch
(and sometimes just during my weekly "spa day at home") I use
these homemade versions. Concentrations of ingredients in many
quality store-bought skin care products usually exceed the amount
naturally found in nature's products (fruits, vegetables, etc.), so if you
exclusively use natural products, you may not see results for months, so
consider whether it's more important you to have natural, gentle
products that take awhile or more faster acting cosmetic industry products.
Make sure you're not allergic to anything before you use
it.
Exfoliating Scrub (also breaks through heavy grime,
like grease)
- Mix baking soda with glycerin (or vegetable oil if
you don't have glycerin; I like sunflower oil; or your body wash if
you don't want to use oil) to make a paste that is moist enough to rub on your
skin. Rub the paste gently on your skin with your hand or a
washcloth and rinse off.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Everyone seems to have "alpha hydroxy acid" on
their skin care labels, but you probably already have it in your
home. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are currently being tested by the
FDA, and there are results that show that it may indeed help reduce
wrinkles, skin aging effects, and sun damage, but there have also been
studies that have shown that they can cause damage if used long term and
easily trigger skin allergies and irritation in some people. If you
use an AHA, pay attention to any reactions you have, and stop using the
product immediately if you have any irritation at all. It may also
increase sensitivity to the sun and increase your chances of getting skin
cancer from sun exposure, so always wear sunscreen, cover up, and avoid
direct sunlight when possible. There are a variety of AHA's,
including glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid.
Products that contain AHA include:
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Oranges
- Limes
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Sugar Cane
- Milk and milk based products
You can simply puree the fruit or make a mixture or
sugar and milk and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30
minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also
put milk (powdered is cheapest) or juice in your bath.
Vitamin C (a.k.a. asorbic acid)
Everybody knows that Vitamin C is necessary for a
variety of biological functions, but it can also be great for your
skin. When use topically, it may help reduce lines and wrinkles,
promote healing, aid in the development of collagen, and can even increase
your natural sun protection factor (SPF) to decrease sun damage. It
is also an anti-oxidant, so it may help to reduce free-radicals in your
skin.
- Vitamin C powder (in the vitamin section of many
stores, higher concentration than food sources)
- Oranges
- Peppers
- Grapefruit
- Peaches
- Papaya
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Broccoli
- Pineapple
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Cranberries
- Kiwis
- Peas
- Sweet potatoes
- Lemons
- Mangos
- Tangerines
- Cantaloupe melons
- Honeydew melons
Puree fruit or mix vitamin C powder with water into a
smooth paste and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30
minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also
put powders and juices in your bath water. Don't forget
to eat lots of foods with vitamin C to help your skin get healthy from the
inside out.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also an anti-oxidant, and it is anti-inflammatory.
It also improve skin moisture levels and promotes a smooth skin
texture. Some studies have shown that it may increase your natural
SPF to decrease sun damage and help repair sun damaged skin.
- Vitamin E oil (found in the vitamin section of many
stores, higher concentration than food sources)
- Sunflower seeds
- Tomatoes
- Almonds
- Safflower oil
- Sunflower oil
You can puree tomatoes or almonds (or buy almond flour) with oil to produce a
moisturizing mask that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, or use the
oils alone as a night time moisturizer (make sure you test it on a small
area of your skin overnight before doing your entire face just in case it
causes breakouts or rashes). You can also put juices, oils, or
almond flour in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with
vitamin E to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (retinol) can help reduce wrinkles and even
acne. It has been used in prescription anti-wrinkle and anti-acne
creams for years. It has also been shown to help repair sun damaged
skin, reduce brown spots, and increase smoothness. It may even help
prevent skin cancer. The problem with vitamin A is that it really
can take a concentrated cream from your dermatologist to make a
significant difference, but a little bit every week can't hurt.
- Carrots
- Apricots
- Cantaloupe
- Nectarines
- Plums
- Egg yolk
- Fish liver oil
- Milk
You can puree fruits or make a paste with milk and a
powdered ingredient from one of the other vitamin lists to make a mask
that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, and you can even make a mask
out of egg yolk, but I don't recommend putting fish liver oil on your skin
because it tends to smell. You can also put juice or milk in your
bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with
vitamin A to help your skin get healthy from the inside out, but don't go
overboard because you can actually become sick (even fatally) by consuming
too much vitamin A.
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 (niacin) has been shown to effectively treat
acne. It may even help prevent and slow down the development of skin
cancer.
- Cranberries
- Tomatoes
- Soy sauce (tamari)
- Summer squash (any variety)
- Green peas
- Meat
You can pure the fruits and vegetables to make a mask
that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes, but I don't recommend making a
mask out of meat. You can also put juice in your bath water. Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin B3
to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 (panthothenic acid) helps to increase
moisture content in the hair and skin.
- Cranberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Yogurt
- Whole egg
- Winter squash
You can pure the fruits and vegetables to make a mask
that you can leave on for up to 30 minutes. You can also make a mask
out of yogurt or egg. You can use juice or yogurt in your bath water
(but I don't recommend putting egg in your bath). Don't forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin
B5 to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.
Sulfur
Sulfur is often used to treat acne, rosacea, seborrheic
dermatitis, and scabies.
- Egg yolks
- Hot red peppers
- Brussel sprouts
- Spicy cabbage
- Broccoli
- Onions
- Garlic
- Asparagus
- Horseradish
- Radishes
- Mustard greens
- Mustard (the yellow stuff that tarnishes your silver)
- Sulfured molasses
Honestly, most of this stuff seems a bit icky to put on
your skin, but you can do it. Many juices and dried fruits are
preserved with sulfur, so you may be able to use those instead.
Don't forget to eat lots of foods with sulfur to help your skin get
healthy from the inside out.
Sources: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR15/wtrank/wt_rank.html,
http://www.nia.nih.gov,
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/298_ahas.html,
http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/syllabus/index.html, http://www.aad.org/PressReleases/skincare.html,
http://www.whfoods.com, |
