Face
"A woman is most beautiful when she smiles". - BeyoncéGetting Started with DIY Facial Care
These days, one of the most amazing things that you can do to truly indulge, relax, and intensify your entire beauty regimen is to create your own natural facial products including cleansers and toners, scrubs, masks, and even serums. Day in and day out, there are articles and studies coming out that show just how many chemicals are in our everyday beauty products, and these are the same products that we are putting directly onto our treasured skin. Thankfully, we can all make our own personal beauty products at home without any chemicals, additives, or other harmful ingredients. And in actuality, creating your own beauty products are very simple to do. You will also save money by creating your own facial products because most of the ingredients can be found right in your kitchen.
DIY Natural Cleanser
To start, making your own natural beauty cleanser is super easy. Mayonnaise is a great facial cleanser that you can use straight out of the refrigerator. There are several different recipes for DIY cleansers below, and you can change each recipe according to your own desires.
Natural Foaming Cleanser
This is a simple recipe with only 3 different ingredients, and, each ingredient is completely natural, inexpensive, and very beneficial for your skin as a whole.
The first step is to mix together tea tree oil, about 5-10 drops, add about ¼ cup of Dr. Bronner’s organic liquid Castile soap, and about a cup of spring water, and that is it. You mix all ingredients together and then put the mixture into a foaming pump dispenser.
This cleanser is amazing because it actually foams up, so it feels great to use. And of course, since you are making your own cleanser, you can alter it accordingly by adding lavender oil, sandalwood, or even vitamin E oil for added anti-oxidant benefits.
Raw Honey Cleanser
Raw honey is so effective for cleansing the skin. Make sure you buy raw honey as it has all the “goodies” in it. The wonderful nutrients and enzymes deeply hydrate your skin and help to keep it looking and feeling younger. This is a great morning cleanser but if you want to use it in the evening ensure that you have removed all make up first. Olive oil is an effective but gentle eye makeup remover. Pull your hair back into a pony tail and follow the instructions below:
- Cover your face with a warm damp face cloth to dampen your skin.
- Place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of raw honey into one hand and apply the honey to your face with your other hand in small circular motions, massaging well. Mix with a little water if you prefer, to get a more liquid-like consistency. For best results, leave the honey on the your face for about a minute.
- Remove the honey with a warm damp face cloth.
- Tone and moisturize as usual.
Honey makes an amazing face mask. After applying and massaging the honey into your skin, leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove the honey the same way as above.
Oil Cleanser
One of the best ways to deeply cleanse your face and to remove all traces of dirt, oil and make-up is to use the oil cleansing method. Olive is oil wonderful for removing eye make-up and can be used alone as a facial cleanser. There are also some amazing blends that can be prepared for your particular skin type. Castor oil is an excellent oil to use in a oil cleanser blend due to its drawing properties. It penetrates deeply into pores lifting out dirt and all traces of make-up. Here are some suggestions for some luxurious oil cleansing blends suited to different skin types.
Dry skin
Combine 1 part castor oil to 3 parts olive, avocado, or apricot kernel oil in an amber glass bottle or jar.
Oily skin
Combine 3 parts castor oil to 1 part olive, grape seed, or jojoba oil in an amber glass bottle or jar.
Instructions
- Fill your basin with hot water and add a drop of your favorite essential oil. Sweet orange oil is lovely and has youthful-skin promoting properties. Ylang ylang is another beautiful oil for the skin and due to it’s sedative properties is perfect to use before bedtime.
- Plunge a face cloth into the hot water and place over your face for a few seconds. Remove the face cloth and pour a quarter-sized amount of oil into the palm of your hand.
- Apply the oil over your face and gently massage for amount 2 – 5 minutes. Use firm circular massage strokes but be gentle around the eyes.
- Wet your face cloth in the hot water and wring out excess water. Gently wipe the oil off your face. Repeat a few times until your skin feels clean and soft.
You may find that you don’t need to apply moisturizer but those with very dry skin will benefit by apply night cream after the oil cleanse (if the oil cleanse if performed at night).
DIY Natural Facial Toner
To make your own toner, you simply need to use witch hazel or apple cider vinegar and put it in some type of container, and that is it. Rose water and Orange water are also wonderful natural facial toners. Use a cotton ball or pad to glide it all over your skin and the results will be spectacular. The best thing about witch hazel and apple cider vinegar is that they do not dry out the skin as alcohol would, but instead, restore the correct pH balance within the skin.
DIY Facial Scrub
Making your own facial scrubs are one of the most fun activities to do. The reason is because making your own facial scrubs is all about creativity and creating the type of scrub that works perfectly for you. A very popular all-natural facial scrub that you can make yourself consists of a natural agent that you probably have in your home such as coffee grounds, baking soda, sea salt, or sugar. Each one of these ingredients provides the right amount of exfoliation while also not being too abrasive for the skin. You would then mix one of these ingredients with your favorite moisturizing oil such as jojoba, argan, or almond. You could also mix one of the ingredients with the natural castile cleanser as well. The choices are truly endless.
DIY Facial Mask
When it comes to facial masks, there are literally countless different ingredients that you can use which are all-natural and found right in your kitchen. One great face mask includes mixing together banana, honey, and yogurt. Keep adding each ingredient until you get your desired consistency. Keep on your face for 15-20 minutes and then wash off completely. You will immediately notice baby-soft skin that is cleansed, fresh, and supple.
Here are some more more wonderful DIY facial recipes for face masks:
Avocado Orange and Honey Mask for All Skin Types
Combine half an avocado – mashed, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1 tablespoon honey. Apply on to the face with a foundation brush and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and a facecloth, apply witch hazel on a cotton pad to tone, then moisturize with your favorite moisturizer.
Oatmeal Honey & Orange Mask for Oily Skin
Mix together 1 egg, 1 tablespoon honey, half a cup of dry oatmeal and enough orange juice to make a paste. Apply on to the face with a foundation brush, avoiding the eye area and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and a facecloth, tone with witch hazel and moisturize with your favorite moisturizer.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask for Dry Skin
Combine 1 tablespoon dry oatmeal, 1 tablespoon plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon apricot kernel oil. Apply on the face with a foundation brush avoiding the eye area, sit back and relax for 20 minutes. Gently rinse off the mask with warm water and a facecloth apply rosewater on a cotton pad to toner, and moisturize with your favorite moisturizer.
Yogurt Honey and Cornmeal Mask for Combination Skin
Combine equal parts yogurt, honey and and cornmeal until you have a paste like consistency. If you like, add a drop of sweet orange or geranium essential oil. Apply on the face with a foundation brush avoiding the eye area, sit back and relax for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and a facecloth, apply witch hazel on a cotton pad to tone, then moisturize with your favorite moisturizer.
Important tips
- These recipes are external use only.
- Make sure you avoid getting the mixtures in your eyes.
- Don’t use any ingredients that you are allergic to. Always test a small area for sensitivity before you apply the treatments to a larger area.
- Always use fresh ingredients for these masks and throw any leftovers away.
- If you use these masks in the shower remember that they may leave an oily or slippery residue. Be careful not to slip.
We hope you have fun trying out these beautiful DIY facial treatments.
DIY Natural Eye Care
One of the best things that you can apply around your eyes to create a fresh and well-rested appearance are tea bags. The best type of tea to use for this purpose is chamomile, black, or green tea as the ingredients in these types of tea work directly to wake up tired eyes. Chamomile tea is our favorite. Soak cotton pads in a little cold chamomile tea and apply to dark circles. Allow the liquid to dry. The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile will soothe and calm your tired eyes and help tighten skin while reducing redness.
Another great all-natural treatment to wake up tired eyes and to combat puffy eyes and wrinkles is applying whole milk or cream directly to the eye area.
Now, we have all seen those pictures of women with cucumbers over their eyes, like the one above. The reality is that cucumbers really work to relieve tired eyes and to soothe puffy eyes. Simply place a thick cucumber slice that has been chilled over each eye and lay down with your eyes closed for 10-15 minutes while these little miracle-workers work their magic. After 10-15 minutes, you will notice a brighter appearance to your overall eye area.
Potatoes are another great natural remedy for dark circles. Close your eyes covering your eyelids with slices of raw potato; lay back and relax for 15-20 minutes.
Rose water is naturally cooling to the body and helps to reduce redness and puffiness. Soak cotton pads with rosewater, remove excess and place on your eyes, sit back and relax for 15-20 minutes. This method is considered to be a highly effective natural remedy for dark circles.
Lastly, a great all-natural treatment that you can find right in your kitchen is using egg whites. Using egg whites around the eye area combats both puffy eyes as well as wrinkles around the eyes. Make sure to beat a few egg whites and then apply directly to the eye area with a brush. You can even apply some witch hazel in the mixture in order to slow down the egg whites drying out too quickly. Keep the mixture on your eye area for 15 minutes and then rinse clean. You will be left with a tightened eye area that is smooth and glows.
After your natural eye treatments, wash with warm water and apply eye cream as usual. You can apply almond oil under eyes after your natural eye treatments for added eye brightening benefits. Almond oil is rich in nourishing vitamins, tightening the skin and while reducing dullness. Lightly massage the areas around the eyes with almond oil daily to reduce the occurrence of dark circles.
Fluid retention may be the cause so try to avoid excess salt. Of course, the best treatment for dark circles and puffy eyes is a good night sleep. Try to get 8 hours sleep every night and ensure you get sufficient rest.
DIY Facial Serum
Facial serums are great for adding some much-needed moisture in the skin, as well as for applying regularly to usual problem areas such as directly on frown and smile lines, around the eyes, or when your skin just needs a little extra care. The best facial serums are completely natural and made from ingredients that can be understood and pronounced, meaning no chemicals or other harmful ingredients should be in your facial serum. Facial serums can be made from many different types of essential oils such as sandalwood, lavender or geranium added to a carrier oil or base oil. It truly is your choice what type of oil works best on your skin, since each of our skin make ups is different.
Add a few drops of one essential oil into a glass bottle with a dropper containing a base oil such as sweet almond, jojoba or rose hip oil. Feel free to add a few drops of another essential oil. It is your choice and your customized facial serum, so create it according to your specific skincare needs and desires or you can try some of the following recipes:
Serum for oily skin
- 1 oz light vegetable oil such as safflower or grape seed oil
- 5 drops ylang ylang oil
- 5 drops geranium oil
- 2 drops clary sage oil
Serum for dry skin
- 1 oz apricot kernel, avocado or almond oil
- 5 drops lavender oil
- 5 drops geranium oil
- 2 drops chamomile or sandalwood oil
Mix all the ingredients in a glass amber bottle and shake well before use. Massage well into cleansed skin using upward motions. The oil blends will keep for a number of weeks. In summer it is best to keep them in the refrigerator.
Facial Massage
Applying your facial oil or serum is the perfect opportunity to give you skin an anti-aging massage.
After cleansing, apply a light layer of oil to your face and neck. You can use one of the serum recipes above or a light oil such as rose hip, argan or jojoba oil. Refer to the arrows in the image above for the directions you should follow for the facial massage.
Use the pads of your fingers or the palms of your hands and start smoothing the oil upwards over your neck and across your jaw. Repeat this about 10 to 15 times. Then perform sweeping motions along your jawline and upwards towards your temples. Repeat about 10 to 15 times. Next, gently use your finger tips to smooth the area around the eyes and nose, repeating these motions for about a minute. And finally, with slightly firmer pressure, smooth the forehead with upward strokes using the pads of your fingers or the palms of your hands. Focus on this area for about a minute.
If performed daily, facial massage is wonderful ritual for lifting and firming, encouraging blood circulation to the face and neck, helping your complexion appear more youthful and radiant. The oil will nourish and moisturize helping to minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And the action of massaging in the directions indicated in the image above, encourages lymphatic drainage helping to remove toxins and reducing puffiness around the eyes.
Giving yourself a daily facial massage is a simple yet effective ritual you can perform to pamper your skin. It is also so relaxing, helping to ease stress and tension. It only takes a few minutes but the benefits are just beautiful!