Have you ever read the list of ingredients on the back of your favourite beauty product? I recently realized that I never take much notice of those lists, and if I am being honest, I do not understand them when I do. This got me thinking that I have no idea what I rub onto my skin every morning and evening. I have no idea whether it is good for me or for the environment. Over the past few months, I have been experimenting with alternative beauty products. Products of which I not only know the ingredients, but also have in my pantry. I have played around with so many recipes that I can’t remember where I found the original recipes any more. Here are five of my favourite homemade beauty products. They are easy and inexpensive to make, will leave your skin feeling and looking great, and they are good for mother earth.
MAKEUP REMOVER
Looking for a makeup remover that is good for the earth and your skin…and that won’t leave you with raccoon eyes? Believe it or not, extra-virgin olive oil works as well as, or even better, than most eye makeup remover pads or cleansers. Massage the oil over your eyes and face, then wipe your face with a crocheted cotton pad (they are a great plastic free alternative to cotton balls) and watch your mascara, eye liner and foundation dissolve away. Olive oil not only is great at removing make-up, but also will give your skin a nourishing, all-natural vitamin E boost.
TONER
If you are looking for a natural toner that will cut through grease without drying out your skin to much – then this recipe is for you. Combine ½ cup apple cider vinegar (organic if you can) with ½ cup filtered water and wipe your face with the toner. You can play around with the proportions of vinegar to water if you want a slightly stronger of weaker formula.
COFFEE GRIND SCRUB
If you drink as much coffee as I do you also have plenty of coffee grinds that end up in the bin. Why not repurpose them and treat yourself to an amazing body scrub?
I saved our coffee grinds until I had a cup full (which did not take long). Then I mixed them with 1/2cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of baobab oil (you can also use coconut oil) and 1 teaspoon of almond essence. You could replace the almond essence with vanilla, but I love the smell of coffee and almond. You can also determine how coarse your scrub will be, by how fine you grind your beans. I have been using this scrub on my hands and body and my skin feels amazing!
SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE SCRUB
This scrub can be used on your face and body, especially if you have normal to dry skin. While mixing this scrub I was transported back to the Christmas market in Prague. To make this scrub mix 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of ground cloves to 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of brown rice flour and 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil. Massage the mixture into your skin and rinse with warm water. You can substitute the brown rice flour with almond flour, coconut flour or tapioca flour. I used a few spoons of Almond flour I found in my pantry after my last attempt at baking macaroons. The almond flour worked well, but makes the scrub expensive should you have to buy it. When I make this scrub again, and I will, I am going to try replacing the flour with more sugar and see how that works.
My hubby’s words: ‘That looks disgusting!’ My answer: ‘Feel how soft my skin is’.
If you need some much-needed TLC this is a must! My skin feels like a million bucks! Plus it’s quick and easy to make, and you probably have all the ingredients you need in your pantry.
Grind 4 tablespoons of rolled oats in a blender or food processor until they become a course powder (as you can see in the photo I made a mistake here – I didn’t grind mine fine enough). Pour the oats powder into a small bowl and add a tablespoon of honey. Mix well until the oats and honey form a uniform mixture. The honey not only improves the texture of the mask, but also acts as a moisturizer and helps treat acne. Add one to two egg yolks (depending on the size of your eggs) to the oats and honey mixture and mix well to form a paste. Egg yolks are full of vitamin D which helps delay aging. Yeah! Apply the mixture to your face and allow to set. Wash your face with warm water after about 15minutes. And voilá soft skin! You’ll never buy a face mask after using this one.
Enjoy!
xxx
