Last week, a couple of people asked me about what beauty products I use on my face and if there were any products I would recommend to them. I am not loyal to any particular beauty potion. I look at the contents, and stick with products that mostly contain ingredients found in nature. First, I must say that I don’t think any face cream can do what genetics can do. I have my parents to thank for my clear complexion, but there are several things I do to keep and appreciate what God gave me.
The questions brought to mind my dad, who was considered a ‘health nut’ because of his forward thinking about natural foods. Now, people are making money on those same ideas. As a young teen, when I wanted to start wearing makeup, my father showed me how to put fresh sliced red beet root on my cheeks and lips to give them a rosy glow. Of course, I hated it when he did this. Why couldn’t I wear makeup like normal girls? I was very surprised when I recently saw a young “beauty expert” on television, showing viewers how they can apply fresh sliced red beet on their cheeks and lips as a cosmetic. She was fashionably dressed and used special makeup brushes for the application so it looked a lot more ‘cool’ than how my dad did it but I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
This spokesperson inspired me to record some of my natural facial creations that I have personally used. Similar formulas have been used by the women in my family for decades. You don’t need to pay a lot of money to make your skin look and feel better. Here are the15 natural food products you would need to make 15 fantastic beauty products!
15 NATURAL FOOD PRODUCTS:
Avocado
Green tea
Pineapple
Papaya
Red Beet
Yogurt
Lemon
Honey
Coconut Oil
Cucumber
Oatmeal
Oat Bran
Coconut Sugar (or Brown Sugar)
Cinnamon
Orange Juice
15 BEAUTY PRODUCTS: Blush, Lip Stain & Gloss, Daily Moisturizer, Moisturizing Mask, Moisture Mask – For Oily Skin, Exfoliating Mask, Toner, Brightening Mask, Healing Mask, Vitamin C Fruit Facial, Lightening Mask, Anti-Bacterial Mask, Make Up Remover, Exfoliating Face and Body Scrub and Eye Revive.
The skin is our body’s largest organ. It absorbs a good portion of what we put on it. We should provide our skin with nutrient rich natural skin care products instead of products that contain unwanted chemicals. These blends are low-cost alternatives to expensive commercial creams and can be made at home from ingredients readily available in your kitchen. Using these items will save you money while limiting your exposure to toxins. I designed the following recipes to provide your skin with nourishment, revival, deep enzymatic cleansing, brightening, lifting or for the removal of dead skin cells. The results will be glowing, healthier and younger looking skin. *
1) Avocado & Coconut Oil Moisturizing Mask
Avocado has been used for centuries as a beauty aid to nourish dry, sun-damaged and mature skin. Avocado is a fruit high in nutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, and E. They are rich in oils that will replenish skin’s lost moisture, reduce eye puffiness, and leave skin soft, smooth and rejuvenated. Avocados are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C.
Recipe: Mash the flesh of 1/3 of a ripe avocado with a fork and ½ tsp. extra virgin coconut oil; blend together. Spread on your face and let it sit for 10 – 20 minutes, rinse & pat dry. The green color of the avocado flesh will disappear once you rub it in. If some of the mixture is left over, spread it on some whole grain toast or crackers with a little raw honey, Yum!
2) Avocado and Citrus Moisturizing Mask – For Oily Skin
Mash the flesh of 1/3 of a ripe avocado add a squeeze of lemon or other citrus fruit and half teaspoon honey. Leave on your face 10 – 20 minutes, rinse & pat dry.
Lemon is a natural skin lightener but it can be drying. A little goes a long way. Follow up with a moisturizer and a high SPF sunscreen. This is important. Lemons make your skin photosensitive.
3) Make Up Remover
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is excellent as a make up remover. It is also great for removing eye makeup & as works great as a lip gloss.
A number of studies over the years have found that coconut oil improves the absorption of the B vitamins and also vitamins A, D, E, K, beta-carotene, CoQ10, and other fat soluble nutrients, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and some amino acids—the building block for protein.
4) Facial Toner
Green tea is full of antioxidants. Steep a green tea bag in hot water for 3 minutes & let it cool slightly so it is still a little warm. Apply to your face. If you have time to lie down, soak a face cloth with the brew, squeeze out excess and cover your face with the cloth. Use Jasmine green tea if you like the refreshing smell & taste of Jasmine. Drink the remaining tea or store in a small spritzer bottle for later use.
“Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamin’s C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.” – Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School.
5) Honey and Coconut Oil Daily Moisturizer
In a small bowl, mix 1/4 teaspoon raw honey and ½ teaspoon pure water. Blend well with the back of a spoon until the honey is completely dissolved. Smooth over your face with your finger tips. Let the honey and water mixture dry for about 30 seconds. Next apply a thin layer of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Blot off any excess oil. For day wear, follow with a 15-SPF sunscreen or higher. Makeup will blend nicely over this nutrient rich moisturizer.
Honey is a natural humectant and will restore and hold moisture to your skin.
Coconut oil has the potential to aid in the protection of a number of health problems due to its documented antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
6) Exfoliating Mask
Ingredients
½ cup Papaya fruit;
1/4 cup fresh pineapple
½ teaspoon honey
Add papaya, honey and pineapple to a blender or food processor and blend together. After cleansing your face apply a layer of the pulp to your face. Leave the mask on for about 10 minutes.* Rinse the mask off with warm water and then cold water to close your pores. Drink the leftovers or add them to a smoothie. Finish your facial with a spritz of green tea toner.
Papaya contains a natural enzyme, papain which will help your skin shed dead cells; the enzyme will also speed healing of damaged skin. It has an abundance of health giving phytonutrients.
Pineapple is a natural source of glycolic (alpha-hydroxyl) acids. This acid will help fight free radicals, acne and help your skin shed dead skin cells. Bromelain, the enzyme found in fresh pineapple is concentrated in the core of a pineapple, the tough center. You can get most of its benefits by juicing.
*If you’re short on time and want to skip the blending process, you can rub a fresh slice of papaya or pineapple onto your skin to receive the benefits of their natural enzymes. If irritation occurs discontinue use.
7) Vitamin C Fruit Facial
Ingredients
1/4 cup mashed Papaya fruit;
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
½ teaspoon warm honey
Scoop out 1/4 cup fresh, ripe papaya and thoroughly mash it with a fork. Add honey, orange juice and blend well. Apply to cleansed face. Let the mask sit on your face about 10 minutes.* Rinse the mask off with warm water and then cold water to close your pores.
Tip – if honey is too thick, warm the honey in its original bottle by placing the bottle under hot running water. Once the honey is runny, measure out half a teaspoon and add it to the mixture while stirring. The mask is now ready to use.
Fresh orange juice contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid), plays a key role in the formation of collagen, the most important component of connective tissue. As an antioxidant, it can help prevent the cell damage done by “free radical” molecules. Adequate collagen synthesis is essential for strong ligaments, tendons, dentin, skin, blood vessels and bones, and for wound healing and tissue repair. Vitamin C has been implicated in halting the progression of several disease states including: cataract formation, cancer, and heart disease. Be sure your diet contains lots of vitamin C-rich foods.
Consume any left over mask for the added health benefits or it can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will keep for a couple of days.
8) Yogurt Brightening Mask
Yogurt is used around the world as a beauty product. After using this mask, you will know why. It will leave your skin soft and supple.
Apply a thin layer of full-fat or low-fat plain Greek yogurt to your face. Let sit for about 15 minutes. Your face will feel tightened and refreshed afterwards.
(If using regular, non-Greek style yogurt, gently press cotton squares onto the top of the area where you apply the yogurt to keep the mask from dripping. Leave the cotton squares on your face until you are ready to rinse off the mask.).
Variation – Add finely ground oatmeal for a thicker mask.
Oatmeal is very soothing to the skin. Oats contain silicic acid which increases skins immunological response and protects dry skin from irritation.
9) Lightening Mask
Mix together ½ teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice, (discard the seeds) and ½ tablespoon plain yogurt, preferably Greek yogurt. If the mask is too runny, use cotton squares on top to hold the mask in place. Rinse off after 10 – 15 minutes.
Honey will calm any inflammation in skin. Honey can also be used alone as a mask to moisturized and reduce redness.
Lemon juice contains vitamin C and citric acid which has lightening properties. Using this mask will make your face brighter and reduce dark spots. You can also dab lemon juice directly on age spots to lighten them up. Let sit for 5 minutes. If irritation occurs discontinue use. Lemon may make your skin photosensitive. Always follow with a moisturizer and a high SPF sunscreen.
10) Anti-Bacterial Mask
Take 1 tablespoon yogurt; add a teaspoon of honey and half teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well. This is a good mask for acne prone skin. You may leave this mask on your skin 10 -20 minutes. Yogurt with honey and cinnamon, how yummy! Enjoy eating any left overs and enjoy your silky smooth skin.
Honey is naturally anti-bacterial.
Cinnamon is a natural anti-bacterial and preservative. Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
Arthritis Relief – In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month. Other studies have found success with cinnamon in: Fighting some types of cancer, helping to regulate blood sugar, and for lowering cholesterol.
Ceylon cinnamon is the best. Using more than half a teaspoon of cinnamon can cause side effects. Check with your doctor.
11) Blush
Slice a disk of fresh Red Beet Root. Lightly dab it onto your cheeks and blend in color or swirl a make up blush brush over the beet and apply color lightly to cheeks.
Red beet’s unique crimson-red color is due to betalain pigments. Betaine is known as a terrific antioxidant and is rich with beneficial phytochemicals.
12) Lip Stain and Gloss
Slice a wedge of a red beet root and apply to lips or use a lipstick brush evenly apply its juice to lips, let set. You can also apply a gloss of coconut oil over the stain. If you don’t have a lipstick brush, rub the wedge of beet over your lips being careful to stay inside the lip line. Take it with you “on the go,” stored in a zip lock bag.
Beets are a major source of cartenoids to ensure healthy eyes, folate and potassium to keep your heart pumping properly, fiber for digestive care, vitamin C, copper and magnesium for healthy bones, as well as energy-producing iron and phosphorus.
You can use this lip color alone or seal it with a gloss of coconut oil or a mixture of coconut oil and honey. Go ahead and lick your lips!
13) Eye Revive
Cucumbers are the most wonderful and natural eye pads you can find for yourself. It is used as a treatment for tired eyes around the world. Slice a disk of cool cucumber. Find a comfortable place to relax and place over eyes and rest for 10 minutes.
Cucumber contains caffeic acid which can bring down water retention, diminishing the puffiness and swelling under the eyes. Cucumbers are 95 percent water. Eating this vegetable will keep the body hydrated while flushing the body of toxins. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains about 10 percent of the daily-recommended allowance of vitamin C.
Another refreshing eye reviver is green tea. Soak two cotton squares with cool, organic anti-ageing, green tea. Squeeze out excess liquid. Lay back and place the cotton pads on your eyes. These eye pads do wonders after a long day. Enjoy!
14) Healing Cucumber Facial
Cucumber makes a great treatment for irritated skin. Because the cucumber is pH balanced to the human skin and full of water, it improves irritation caused by rashes, wind burn, sun burn and any other situation where the skin is aggravated. It helps in soothing, tightening and softening your skin. Cucumbers have a good amount of vitamin B. It also contains the vitamin’s A & C and essential nutrient mineral’s magnesium, potassium, and silica. This makes cucumbers an important part of skin care.
Puree a small amount of cucumber, with seeds removed, in a blender. Lightly rub blended cucumber onto face and let sit for 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. Your face will feel revitalized and refreshed!
If you don’t have access to a blender, you can slice a half inch thick disk of cucumber. Lightly pummel to release its juices.
15) Exfoliating Scrub for Face and Body
1) Place 1 tablespoon oat bran and 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or brown sugar in a small bowl. Add a few drops of water, just enough to make a thick somewhat dry paste. Caution – too much water will dissolve the sugar completely.
2) Blend together and apply to your face and body in a circular motion. You can also leave the scrub on your face for 5 – 10 minutes for added benefits.
3) Rinse with cool water. (Optional) Finish with a spritz of green tea toner.
Oat bran will soften and smooth your skin. It contains enzymes that stimulate circulation and gently exfoliates. It has been used for decades to treat a wide variety of skin ailments. Eczema, poison-ivy and poison-oak rashes respond well when treated to a warm oatmeal or bran bath.
Coconut Sugar contains small amounts of the minerals Iron, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium, Amino Acids, B Vitamins and antioxidants that may provide some health benefits.
Brown Sugar is the perfect texture for a scrub and works great all by itself. The molasses in brown sugar supplies some nutrients. Sugar is a source of glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid and a key ingredient in pricey beauty products. The natural glycolic acid in sugar conditions and moisturizes skin.
If your skin is on the drier side, add extra virgin coconut oil to the mixture for a more moisturizing scrub. Follow all facials with a sun screen before going outdoors.
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Drink plenty of water, breathe fresh air, eat natural food and exercise to refresh your skin. Spread a little joy and take some time to take care of yourself. You’re worth it!
Thanking God for his glorious bounty and wearing a smile that comes from a grateful heart. ~ Blessings, Linda
“A smile from the heart is a beautiful gift. It can change someone’s day.” – Linda Eichberg
- The Alberici sisters, Linda Eichberg & Maria Lauren exercise to keep their skin healthy and glowing.
“I blend my mind with beauty, so that it may create good. I blend my mind with the life force, so that I may control it intelligently and direct it into the proper channels. I blend the life force with beauty, so that my progress will be a glorious one. I blend my soul with beauty, so that true inspiration will come to me complete. I blend my soul with my body, for my body is the house beautiful in which the soul lives.” – Paul Bragg
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” – 3John 1:2
DISCLAIMER: This is a personal blog, reflecting my personal opinions and its contents are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. All content is copyrighted. Photo credit is given when know but some photos of unknown origin may appear on this blog. Please contact me if you have additional information about photo credits.
The GRATITUDE Life 