For this weeks post in natural home remedies, I decided to do a little bit of research to put my mind at ease. Recently I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about home made and household items that could potentially be used for skin care. Considering the number of skin problems are endless, I figured this would be a useful topic to most readers.
I recently invested in a book called, “Foods that Harm, Foods that heal,” published by Readers Digest. This book has since become one of my most valued “go-to” items, answering almost all of my questions about food and treating common ailments naturally. Before looking up possible ways to treat skin problems I thought first I’d check out some smart ways to prevent them.
-Zinc is a natural mineral often linked to healthy skin and preventing acne. It promotes healthy hormone levels and advances healing. You can find zinc in certain foods like red meat, seafood, lean meat, poultry, yogurt, and whole grains.
-Beta Carotene and Vitamin C are also good ways to maintain skin health. You can find these two in fresh fruits and Vegetables.
According to Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., here are a few foods to consider “Skin Friendly.”
- Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
- Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
- Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Beans, peas and lentils
- Nuts
- Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish.
With the cold weather already in full effect, our skin is under a constant beating. Nobody likes sandpaper hands – no matter what season it is. I thought it might be nice, (not to mention, paycheck friendly) to find a few natural DIY remedies in taking care of your skin. Below are a few of the recipes I’ve found in my internet travels:
BATH TIME TREATMENT FOR HYDRATING DRY SKIN :
Step 1
Mix together 2 cups of heavy cream or goat’s milk and a 1/2 cup of raw honey in a small bowl. Use more or less honey and cream depending upon how milky you’d like your bath. Pour mixture under lukewarm running water and swish to evenly disperse. Gradually increase bath’s temperature to your liking; pouring cream or milk into a very hot bath can curdle the milk. Immerse yourself in the water for at least 20 minutes.
Step 2
Add seven drops of an essential oil of your choice to several tablespoons of a carrier oil such as avocado, olive, sweet almond or grapeseed and thoroughly mix. Essential oils such as sandalwood, rose, tea tree and camomile can help soothe dry, irritated skin. Alternatively, add the essential oils to several tablespoons of shampoo for an essential oil bubble bath. Pour oil or shampoo mixture under running water, swish and soak for 20 minutes.
Step 3
Draw a lukewarm bath and add up to 3 cups of colloidal oatmeal under running water. Swish to disperse evenly. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat up to three times a day for relief of itchy, dry skin.
According to Louisa Macan-Graves, author of Hollywood Beauty Secrets: Remedies to the Rescue,
Combine 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp olive oil. Separately, prepare a packet of plain oatmeal, using less water than called for so it forms a thick paste. Next, add the honey and olive oil mixture to the cooked oatmeal. Apply as a scrub, gently rubbing it in small circles over your skin, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. This mask can be done twice weekly. “The oatmeal in this scrub exfoliates, while the honey and olive oil moisturize,” says Argenti.
…and here’s one of my favorite DIY hand scrubs for dry skin, found on one of my favorite Home Remedies Blogs, (http://homeremediesblogger.blogspot.com/2012/03/lemon-sugar-hand-scrub.html. )
Ingredients:
1 medium lemon
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
2-3 tbsp honey (optional)
1 tbsp coffee grounds (optional)
Directions:
Take a medium sized mixing bowl. Add a cup of sugar followed by half a cup of grapeseed oil. Sugar and Oil should have a 2:1 ratio. Start to mix using a spoon until it develops a slushy texture. Add 2-3 tablespoons of honey. Squeeze half a medium sized lemon into the mixture. Zest the lemon and add to the mixture. You can use a grater to zest the lemon. If you stir it enough, you should not be able to see the zest. It is okay if you are able to, however.
Here’s another festive exfoliating scrub you may enjoy!
Get your skin glowing and ready for your fall and winter festivities with one of nature’s more beneficial vegetables–the pumpkin. Pumpkins make an excellent exfoliating face mask for all skin types: oily, normal-oily, or dry skin. It soothes, moisturizes, and nourishes your skin. So, if you are looking for a way to reuse and recycle your carved pumpkins from Halloween, or the leftovers from making your famous pies, then look no further!
So, what’s so great about pumpkins?
They are rich in Vitamins A, C, as well as zinc. Vitamin A is used in skin-healing products, so if you are looking to replenish and nourish your skin, this is the way to go. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant and when all three combined, they are creating a great barrier from free radicals (toxins in the air) from affecting your skin negatively (by causing premature aging) and from clogging your pores, which helps prevent acne.
Ingredients:
5-6 tablespoons of pumpkin pulp
3-4 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Directions:
Take the pulp and put it in the blender for a few seconds until you achieve a paste consistency. Add the brown sugar and the lemon juice to the paste and mix well. Use a spoon or fork.
Apply the scrub to your clean face and gently scrub in small circles using your fingertips. Do this for a minute or two to slough off dead skin cells. Rinse with cool to warm water. Remember to always tone your skin to balance the ph level after you wash your face. Moisturize as usual.
Related articles
- Dry Itchy Skin , Be Gone ! Try The BEST Exfoliation ! (elizabethschoonmaker.wordpress.com)
- Sugar: Another Amazing Multi-Purpose Beauty Item (cjohnsonmakeup.wordpress.com)
- DIY Apple Crumble Beauty Scrub (wholefoodsmarket.com)
- One Ingredient Cure for Itchy and Dry Winter Scalp (theresabuoy.wordpress.com)
- Keeping moisturized during the winter months (aysquaredd.wordpress.com)
- Good skin care – including sun protection and gentle cleansing – can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come //@thebadoolees_// (thebadooleegirls.wordpress.com)
- Best Essential Oils for Skin (beauty.answers.com)
- 6 Foods That Keep You Looking Young (freepeople.com)
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