Most people have skin problems at one time or another, but one of the best ways to ensure you put your “best face” forward every day is to cleanse it properly, according to your skin type. Here are a few natural skin care remedies:
Basic Skin Care
- Always use an upward and outward motion when doing anything to your face — whether you’re washing it, doing a facial, applying makeup or removing makeup.
- When you wash your face use tepid water. Either very hot or cold water could break the small capillaries — those little red squiggly veins — in your face.
- It’s important to wash your face twice a day. Washing removes dead skin, and keeps pores clean and skin texture good.
The morning cleansing is necessary because of metabolic activity during the night. The night washup is necessary because of all the dirt that piles up during the day. Wash with a mild soap and a wash cloth or cosmetic sponge, upward and outward. Now, onward…
Make Your Own Natural Beauty Mask
In a blender, puree 1 cup of fresh pineapple and 1/2 cup of fresh (slightly green) papaya. Put the pureed fruit in a bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply it to your just-washed face and neck, but not on the delicate area around your eyes. Leave it on for five minutes — not more — and rinse with cool water. This once-a-week alpha hydroxy facial can boost the production of collagen (making your face firmer), slough off dead skin cells, even out skin tone and make tiny lines less noticeable. The enzymes in pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain) do most of the work as the honey hydrates the skin. It is best to apply a mask after you’ve taken a bath or shower, or after you’ve gently steamed your face, so that the pores are open.
Natural Skin Toner
In a blender, puree 4 medium-sized, well-washed strawberries, 2 dollops of plain yogurt and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Distribute the strawberry puree all over your face and neck. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse with tepid water. Doing this skin-toning treatment twice a week is said to help prevent little age lines.
Source: Excerpts taken from Healing Remedies, pp. 239-240, by: Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen