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Home-made skin care products

Loot your kitchen for great natural skin care products

Author: Charlotte Kuchinsky October 4 2007

Lots of women have problem skin. Sometimes it is too oily. Sometimes it is too dry. Some skin is blotchy and other skin is ruddy. Very few of us are lucky enough to have that perfect peaches-and-cream complexion that we all long for. To make up for all of our flaws, we buy every skin care product that we can find, hoping that something will work that perfect miracle. However, the truth is that expensive skin care products aren’t always the answer. Sometimes, the simple ones made right in our kitchen are just as good, if not better.

Avocado is a natural skin firmer. It works particularly well on the neck area. Mashed avocado, mixed with a little lemon juice, can be applied directly to the face and/or neck. While it firms, it also moisturizes with its enriched vitamins. Additionally, the oil in avocado dissolves the fat and dirt that so often clogs pores.

Baby wipes are perfect for removing makeup or just for cleansing the facial area. As a bonus, they are a lot cheaper than the expensive make-up removal pads found on the market today.

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Baking soda naturally exfoliates the skin, while softening it as well. To exfoliate, mix a small amount of moisturizing cleanser into the baking soda to make a paste. Apply to the skin using the appropriate pressure for the area of the body where it is being used. Then rinse and apply your regular moisturizer. Baking soda, mixed with lemon juice, also makes natural toothpaste that will leave your teeth looking oh so white and bright.

Coffee grounds can help you rub away that unsightly cellulite. Instead of throwing away those used coffee grounds, rub them into your hips, thighs, or bottom. For extra benefit, wrap the area with plastic wrap and wait for at least 15 minutes. Take a shower and enjoy your soft, beautiful skin.

Cucumber slices, as everyone knows, can help to get rid of the dark circles in the under eye area. Pears also work in basically the same way.

Egg whites deliver an instant facelift. Just apply the whites directly to wrinkles and remain perfectly still until they dry. Once dry, apply your regular make-up and you’re all set to go. Another option is to mix eggs, honey, and lemon juice together for a facial mask. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse and apply your usual moisturizer.

Eye drops with anti-reddening properties can be applied to pimples during the day to help disguise them. They take away the red blotchiness, making pimples easy to cover. Once the eye drops dry, just apply your make-up on top and off you go.

Haemorrhoid cream has long been the secret of the stars for curing unsightly under-eye puffiness caused by lack of sleep. After it is dry, all that is left is to apply your makeup.

Honey is often used in skin care products because it contains vitamins and natural moisturizers. It also has a natural antibiotic that will kill bacteria as it cleans out your pores. Mix it with brown sugar and olive oil and you have the perfect skin exfoliant. It may be a bit abrasive for those with extremely sensitive skin so be very gentle in the application process. On the other hand, it is perfect for those rough, dry elbows, knees, and feet. Just apply wherever it is needed, leave for ten minutes or longer and rinse off with warm water.

Honey mixed with lemon juice, and heated for about 30 minutes and then cooled to room temperature makes a wonderful hair remover. Spread it on in a thin layer wherever you want to remove hair; apply a wax strip over it and then pull off quickly. Off will come the unwanted hair and you can get in some much needed scream therapy at the same time.

Lemon juice, mixed with a little bit of water, also makes a wonderful refreshing facial toner. Just dab it on with a cotton ball and let it dry before putting on moisturizer.

Milk has long been thought to make skin soft and smooth because it eliminates dead skin cells naturally. Cleopatra was famous for her luxurious milk baths, and she was considered one of the most striking women of her time.

Milk of Magnesia is great for removing excess oil from facial skin. Apply it just like a mask and let it dry. Then rinse with warm water before applying make-up.

Mint can be used as a skin pick-me-up. Put a few crushed sprigs of mint into crushed ice and smooth across the face. Pat dry and enjoy newly revitalized skin.

Miracle Whip is an excellent exfoliant. Apply a thin layer over the face and let it sit for at least ten minutes. Massage the skin gently to remove dead skin cells, rinse, and moisturize.

Oatmeal, mixed with sugar and avocado, makes a facial scrub that is perfect for sensitive skin. Apply it in a light massaging motion. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then remove it with warm water before applying your moisturizer. Because it is naturally abrasive, oatmeal in the bath water can also help to moisturize and soften the skin while removing dead skin cells.

Olive oil is a rich moisturizer that doesn’t irritate the skin. It is perfect for the thicker, rough, and often dry skin of the elbows, knees, and heels. Women with excessively dry skin often use olive oil all over their body, either alone or mixed with other homemade beauty products to further improve their results. Warmed slightly, it makes a deep penetrating moisturizing mask. To really soften your hands or feet, apply olive oil to dry skin and then cover the area over night with socks. You will wake up in the morning with softer, smoother skin.

Papaya is rich in protein and contains an enzyme that promotes the discarding of dead skin, making it the perfect fruit for a facial mask. Smooth the pulp of a papaya over the face. Let it sit for five to ten minutes and then wipe off with a warm cloth. Pat cool water onto the face to close the pores. Once dry, follow up with your daily moisturizer.

Peaches are rich in vitamin A and B and contain a lot of water. Make a soothing skin conditioner by blending mashed peaches with heavy whipping cream. Rub into the skin as needed. Let sit for ten to twenty minutes and then rinse with warm water.

Pepto-Bismol isn’t only good for your stomach. It also makes an amazing face-tightening mask. Apply it liberally just like any other facial mask. Let it dry and then remove it with warm water.

Pumpkin is a wonderful skin conditioner. This Halloween, when you carve that Jack-O-Lantern, save the leftover pumpkin to make a paste for a very special body facial that will leave your skin soft, smooth, and looking years younger.

Strawberries, according to some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, have a natural polishing effect on teeth, while also leaving them brighter than ever before.

Toothpaste will work in a pinch when pimples pop out of nowhere and there’s not Clearasil in the house. Just dab it on at bedtime and wake up with picture-perfect skin in the morning.

Vegetable shortening works well for those suffering from eczema. Just put it on where the skin is infected and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse or shower to remove it and follow up with your moisturizer.

Vinegar, mixed with water and witch hazel, makes a gentle facial toner.

Yeast improves blood flow and circulation and is very rich in B complex vitamins. To make the perfect facial mask, mix it with a few teaspoons of warm water. Smooth the mixture over the face, allowing it to dry. Then rinse with warm water. Be sure it is thoroughly dry before apply moisturizer or make-up.

Yoghurt softens the skin while also soothing the redness caused by rosacea. Additionally, it tightens pores while it cleans. Apply it just like a mask and leave it on the face for at least ten minutes. Rinse off with warm water and apply your moisturizer. Yogurt can also soothe painful sunburn, while it prevents blistering. Slather it on liberally and relax.

So when you can’t afford those highly touted skin care products that everyone else is using, try making your own. You just might find that they are better, while saving you tons of money!

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