| Commercial products often contain chemicals that are absorbed by
your skin finding their way into the bloodstream which can be harmful to your overall health.
Here are some natural alternatives.
 Virgin coconut
oil or coconut butter makes for a good moisturizer by providing a protective layer that locks in natural moisture. Coconut
oil solidifies at temperatures below 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Place
the coconut butter in small lip balm or eye cream jars or any small
sterilized jar. For a lip balm, use coconut butter on its own, or add
peppermint or spearmint oil. As an acne treatment, add a couple of
drops of tea tree, lavender, or patchouli oil. For wrinkles, add rose,
orange, or patchouli oil. To treat eczema, add chamomile, geranium,
or orange oil. To treat broken capillaries, add rose, palmarosa, or
parsley oil. To treat cellulite, add grapefruit, tangerine, or orange oil.
For stretch marks, add palmarosa or neroli oil. To treat burns, add
geranium, patchouli or lavender oil.
For sunburned skin, break open a leaf of an aloe vera plant and
smooth onto the skin. The gel is also good for other types of burns
and has soothing, cooling, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
Strawberry juice, cucumbers, and avocados are also soothing to
sunburned skin.
For tired eyes, place cucumber slices over your eyes. For dark
circles around your eyes, place cooled tea bags over your eyes.
For a homemade facial toner, mix green tea, chamomile or ginseng
tea (made with mineral water or distilled water) with lavender or
lemon oil. Green tea is rich in antioxidants which fight free radicals
that damage and age the skin. Green tea is said to diminish fine
lines. Lavender oil is a good toner and lemon oil is a good rejuvenator and toner. Add Vitamin C crystals as a preservative and
antioxidant. MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) is a natural
vegetarian source of organic sulfur good for the skin. Add MSM crystals to your toner, or
eat high sulfur foods such as kale or watercress.
Prick a vegetarian capsule of Vitamin A, E, or wheat germ oil and
smooth directly onto your skin; add to coconut, almond, or apricot
oil, or to your toner. Vitamin A is a potent antioxidant and Vitamin E
is said to slow down the aging process. Almond oil soothes and
lubricates the skin. Apricot oil protects and softens the skin. Wheat
germ oil promotes skin elasticity.
For a moisturizing and refreshing mask, mix avocado with shredded
cucumber. Avocados are rich in protein and Vitamin A. Cucumbers
are cooling and cleansing. Use a mashed banana for a skin firming
mask.
To lighten age spots, rub lemon directly onto your skin.
For a body powder, mix cornstarch and baking soda with your favorite essential oil. For a foot powder, mix cornstarch, baking soda
and tea tree or peppermint oil. Baking soda acts as a deodorizer
and soothes the skin. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, germicide,
antibacterial, and fungicide. Peppermint oil is soothing to the feet
and swollen ankles.
Drinking plenty of water, eating raw fruits and vegetables, and
getting plenty of rest are one of the best ways to achieving healthy
and radiant skin. What goes into your body is reflective on your
skin.
These
suggestions are offered for entertainment purposes only.
Consult a medical professional for all health-related issues.
Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK Shower Caps and an avid user of homemade recipes.
This article originally appeared in Ezine.
|
