A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #32: Make a Strawberry Face Mask for Oily Skin

Photo by Brian Prechtel.Ellmist via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Here in North America, we’re nearing the end of summertime and strawberry season. But we’re also in some of the hottest days of the year, which can sometimes cause oily skin and breakouts. Fortunately, it’s easy to take advantage of late-summer strawberry harvests to make a simple face mask that will control oil and clear up blemished skin!

These delicious berries contain salicylic acid, a fruit acid that acts as an astringent and bacteria-figher, to help clear up zits and clean away excess oil.

In addition, egg whites help to tighten and tone the skin, and honey’s antibacterial properties help to ensure a blackhead-free face (or chest, back, or other body part!).

This mask is textured, as well, making it a nice exfoliator to scrub away dead skin cells and reveal a glowing, vibrant complexion!

As always, it’s best to use organic and fresh strawberries, eggs, and honey ~ all of which can be found in almost any natural food store or farmer’s market.

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is also sensitive, add plain yogurt to your mask.
• Use this mask right after making it; do not store it for future use.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.

Strawberry Face Mask for Oily or Blemished Skin

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 egg white
• 2 tsp. honey

To Make:

1. Hull the strawberries, slice them, then place in a bowl and mash with a fork until pulpy.
2. Add the egg white and mix well.
3. Drizzle in the honey and stir until just incorporated.

To Use:

1. Remove all makeup (try using coconut oil).
2. Using  small, circular movements, apply the strawberry mixture to your T-zone and cheeks, or just to your blemished or oily areas. Avoid the eye area.
3. Leave on for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse well with tepid water.
5. Apply moisturizer or face cream afterward, as needed.

Have you ever used strawberries in your beauty routine?

Do you use strawberries in your cooking or baking?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #25: Use Apple Cider Vinegar as a Skin Toner

You can use ANY apple cider vinegar as a toner, not just Bragg’s!

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you find yourself suffering from unbalanced, oily, blemished skin, it can be frustrating to find natural or homemade cures. Tea tree oil is one excellent solution for clearing up pimples. However, another solution that you might already have in your kitchen is apple cider vinegar.

As I’ve talked about before, using a toner after cleansing your face can help to control excess oil and breakouts while keeping your skin super-clean and fresh. But you don’t need to spend a lot of money on store-bought toners or those with extra ingredients. In fact, one ingredient is usually all you need!

Apple cider vinegar helps to maintain your skin’s pH balance, which can help it to stay even, clear, and blemish-free even during sweaty summer months. It also exfoliates and purifies your skin, making it the perfect revitalizing skin toner.

As always, it’s best to use organic and raw apple cider vinegar, such as Bragg’s, which can be found in almost any natural food store.

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is also sensitive, dilute the apple cider vinegar with water.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.

Apple Cider Vinegar Toner for Oily or Blemished Skin

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. organic, raw apple cider vinegar

To Use:

1. Remove all makeup first.
2. Apply a small amount of apple cider vinegar to a cotton pad.
3. Using  small, circular movements, apply the apple cider vinegar to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Avoid the eye area.
4. Allow the toner to dry on your face.
5. Apply moisturizer or face cream afterward, as needed.

Have you ever used apple cider vinegar in your beauty routine?

Do you use apple cider vinegar in your cooking or baking?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #19: Make Your Own Body Scrub

Image via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you’ve been following my tips so far, you’ll know how much I love making my own face scrubs. Sometimes, I’ll use a bit of face scrub on my chest or upper arms, but I prefer to have a separate body scrub that’s a little bit coarser.

One of my all-time favorites is ridiculously easy to make, and you probably have all the ingredients already!

Got olive oil?

Got brown sugar?

You’re good to go

If you don’t have olive oil, you can try a different body oil, like jojoba, almond, or vitamin E. You can also use white sugar instead of brown, but I think the scrubby texture of brown sugar works better for this one.

I like to add a few drops of vanilla or orange essential oil to this scrub. It makes it smell absolutely heavenly, although be aware that it might make you hungry!

The following is my standard body scrub for normal skin not prone to body breakouts.

Stuff to Know:

• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• This scrub should be stored in a cool, dark, dry spot and can last for up to 2 weeks.

For a container, I reuse a small plastic jar that once held nut butter. A used jam jar, plastic yogurt cup, or something similar would work, too!

Moe Rubenzahl (Moe Rubenzahl) via Wikimedia Commons

Easy Homemade Body Scrub

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 8 drops vanilla or orange essential oil (optional)

Steps

1. In a medium-size bowl, mix together all ingredients.
2. Transfer to your container.

To use:

• Remove a small amount, the size of a couple of quarters, and spread between your hands.
• Apply in small, circular movements to damp skin, all over your body. Scrub for 1-5 minutes.
• Rinse well with temperate water.
• Pat yourself dry. Do not rub your skin. The olive oil will help to maintain and protect your skin!

Do you like sweet-smelling body treatments?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #16: Use Green Tea as a Skin Toner

By Kanko from Nagasaki via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

As summertime sneaks around the bend here in the Northern Hemisphere and temperatures rise, you might be stepping up your skin care routine to include toner. Using a toner after cleansing can help to ensure a makeup- and residue-free face, and it can also help to control excess oil brought on by warmer weather. Many store-bought toners contain alcohol, which can over-dry your skin, causing it to freak out and produce even more oil. But alcohol-free toners are generally gentle enough for most skin types.

However, you don’t need to buy any kind of specialty toner, especially if you have green tea in the cupboard! Steeped and cooled green tea is an excellent cleansing, revitalizing, and gentle skin toner, suitable for all skin types. It contains antioxidants that your skin will drink up, and it helps to restore your skin’s vital pH balance.

Any type of green tea will work: sencha, bancha, kukicha… your personal flavor preference will be just as good as any other, when it comes to green tea toner!

An added bonus: you can use the pouch of a green tea bag to apply the toner, eliminating the need for a cotton pad while providing extra exfoliation powers.

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is highly sensitive, use very diluted green tea.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• Use the tea toner on the day you make it. Do not store unused, soaked green tea.

By Shizuha (投稿者自身が撮影) via Wikimedia Commons

Green Tea Toner for All Skin Types

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of green tea OR 1 bag equivalent loose tea
• 1 cup of fresh, purified water

Steps to Make:

1. Bring the water nearly to a boil.
2. To increase the amount of tea toner you’re making, simply keep the ratios the same.
3. Steep your tea bag (or loose tea in a tea holder) for 3-7 minutes. The longer you steep it, the stronger your tea toner will be.
4. Remove the tea bag or loose tea and allow to cool completely. If using the tea bag as a scrubber, allow the pouch to cool completely, as well. For extra cooling effects, store in the refrigerator until chilled.

To Use:

1. Remove all makeup first.
2. Apply a small amount of tea to a cotton pad. Or dip the tea bag into the cooled tea, and use that instead of a cotton pad.
3. Using  small, circular movements, apply the tea to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Avoid the eye area.
4. Allow the tea toner to dry on your face.
5. Apply moisturizer or face oil afterward, as needed.

Have you ever used green tea in your beauty routine?

Do you drink green tea on a daily basis?