YOU CAN HAVE healthier, younger-looking skin at any age, without any toxic chemicals, Botox injections, or fillers. You can be a “do-it-yourselfer,” and make natural anti-ageing skincare products in the comfort of your own home. Moreover, you likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen already!…… I’ve put together my top tips and a few of the many DIY recipes; mainly masks and scrubs, that you might like to try.
DRY SKIN
Our skin can start to get dry as we age, so here are some things that you can do regularly to avoid dry skin:
SLATHER ON THE OILS! You can apply any rich oil or butter to lock in the moisture every day. Moreover, you can go for avocado oil, coconut oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil (my fave), and cocoa butter, or mix them all, and apply night and morning. These oils contain vitamins essential for cell regeneration, restoring elasticity, and giving a youthful appearance.
For a quick mask I mash bananas, egg yolk and avocado, apply to my face and neck for 20-25 minutes, rinse, then moisturise with grapeseed oil.
TIME TO SLOUGH OFF! If you are prone to flaky, dry skin – especially in winter – then you should exfoliate once or twice a week. To make an exfoliating scrub, take white and brown sugar in a cup, add some fresh milk cream, olive oil and ground almonds. Mix and apply to clean, dry skin in circular motions. This will leave you with a smoother and brighter appearance.
DRINK UP! It’s necessary to stay hydrated to fight dry skin and the best way to do that is drinking plenty of water. Water improves overall health and will also help you if you have acne-prone skin. Overall, it is the simplest of all methods to nourish your healthy skin.
OILY SKIN
If your skin is more likely to be oily than dry, treat with a clarifying oat face mask. Oats act as a natural cleanser and contain saponins, which will remove excess oil. For a DIY oat face mask, add a few drops of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice to milled oats. Mix them well and apply it to clean skin. After 5 to 10 minutes rub it in circular motion then rinse off with water. Moisturize with rosehip oil, aloe vera, or jojoba oil.
If you just want to up the ante on that at any age glow, tone your skin and treat oiliness, try a blend of egg white, cucumber and mint. The protein in egg whites will tighten your skin and help to reduce pores; cucumber will relax your skin; and mint is known for having salicylic and antibacterial properties which will break down sebum and help keep acne away.
NORMAL SKIN
If you class your skin as ‘normal’, but feel it lacks a healthy glow, try a yogurt and lemon mask Take some plain, organic yogurt and squeeze in a lemon. Apply, leave for a while, then rinse off when it dries. This mask will give you a smooth, bright and refreshed skin. Who said yogurt is just for smoothies??
Even normal skin needs regular moisturising and cleansing, but you don’t need to buy expensive cleansers. Oil – that’s right, oil – and especially olive oil, will remove the sebum and dirt clogging your pores. It has the same pH as human skin and is super effective at removing makeup without stripping away natural oils. Follow this with a homemade basil toner. Just add some basil leaves to water, boil and cool, and you’re good to go. This toner is also great for acne-prone skin.
COMBINATION SKIN
Sometimes it can be tricky to figure out what to use, but a balanced skin care routine will help. Avocado and honey are like superfoods for the skin; helping it to retain moisture and look smooth and fresh. Just mix the two together and wear as a mask for as long as you can (an hour or two).
FINAL THOUGHTS
These all are amazing at-home beauty fixes that will give your skin a luxurious glow but this doesn’t mean you have to throw out your branded creams and serums (I’ll list my faves another time)! Some are amazingly effective and deserve special recognition! However, DO try these DIY masks and scrubs. They are gentle and won’t irritate your skin. Finally, keep taking care of your skin – it covers the most precious thing you’ll ever own: YOU!
