4 All-Natural, Homemade Facial Scrubs and Cleansers
The perfect facial scrub and cleanser for our skin types are hard to come by, especially at a reasonable price. Many of these products are contain ingredients that are foreign to us: sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, stearic acid and more. While some may know what these ingredients are, most of us feel they are rather harsh and unnecessary.
There are also ingredients that many know to avoid when using a cleanser or facial scrub. Alcohol is used in many facial products as a base ingredient to lighten the weight of thick products. However, alcohol is a harsh ingredient that breaks down the skin’s natural oils and barrier. This can leave the skin dry which can trigger an overproduction of your skin’s natural oils. You want to avoid alcohol in your facial products if it results in dry or oily skin. Secondly, Parabens are used as preservatives in most cosmetics and skin care products. Although the FDA feels the use of parabens in beauty products is not to be concerned about, many people fear that it can increase breast cancer risk since parabens mimic estrogen.
There are so many unknowns out there about our skin care products it can cause hesitation before applying to our skin. However, there are some amazing recipes that are all-natural and can be easily made from your home!
Here are some of the best all-natural, homemade facial scrub and cleanser recipes:
Cucumber Yogurt Facial Cleanser
The cucumber relaxes and soothes your skin which results in soft and cool skin. The yogurt in this cleanser acts as a better moisturizer for irritable skin while fighting acne, reducing discoloration and prevents aging. This cucumber based facial cleanser is blended in a food processor and left on your skin like a mask for 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cucumber (peeled and deseeded)
- 5 mint leaves
Oatmeal Facial Scrub
The oatmeal in this facial scrub takes on many properties for your skin. Many believe oatmeal is a natural remedy to acne. Oatmeal can also soothe dry and irritated skin. Some even believe oatmeal is great for your dog’s itchy and dry skin. Mix ingredients in a bowl, apply to skin in a circular motion for 30-60 seconds. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
Ingredients
- 1 cup oatmeal (non-instant, finely grounded)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp of sweet almond, coconut or olive oil (add more drops if mixture is un-spreadable)
- 2 tbsp of whole or 2% milk
- 1 egg white
Lemon Juice Facial Cleanser
The lemon in this cleanser acts as a disinfectant, killing bacteria and removing dirt on your skin. The lemon juice and oatmeal also absorbs excess oils to prevent your face becoming extra oily. Also, the lemon’s citric acid can help fade dark spots to even out your skin tone. Mix ingredients in a bowl and massage into the skin for 30-60 seconds. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- ½ tablespoon honey
Brown Sugar and Honey Facial Scrub
This scrub is easy and simple to make. The brown sugar acts as an exfoliator to help open up your pores and improve sun damage. The honey is great for acne treatment and prevention, anti-aging, creates a glow, and easily unclogs pores. Mix ingredients in a bowl and apply to skin in circular motions for 1-2 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize.
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp olive or coconut oil
- 1 drop of essential oil
About the Author
How to Tune the Circadian Rhythms in Your Body
Never before have we lived so out of sync with the rhythms of nature. Can the resulting damage to our health be reversed? The new science of circadian medicine shows great promise in doing just that.
Until the industrial revolution, humans lived in accordance with the natural cycles of light and dark, or circadian rhythms. That all changed with the advent of electricity and artificial light. Today, our modern lifestyles and especially our exposure to blue light from electronic devices, have been making a major impact on our internal biological clocks. Research in an emerging field called circadian medicine is finding that there are ways to reset our circadian systems and bring us back into balance.
Dr. John Douillard is a renowned ayurvedic practitioner who’s been following the developments in the field and incorporating what he calls “circadian wisdom” in his practice for years.
“So the research is telling us that there are biological clocks in pretty much every cell of our body,” Douillard said. “But those biological clocks have to stay, like every clock, you have to set the clock to make sure it’s right and telling the right time. So the biological clocks are in sync with the circadian rhythms which are the light/dark cycles, both daytime, and the seasonal light/dark cycles.”
