It is no secret that green tea is amazing for your skin. The antioxidants, especially the catechins, protect your precious skin cells against free radical damage. They are nature's anti-aging compounds. Study after study has found that the antioxidants are photoprotective, which means they can prevent skin aging, as well as skin cancers caused by sun exposure.
Sure, drinking green tea is a super good idea for your health, but applying it topically also can have a positive effect on your skin. One of my natural skin care tricks is to spritz my skin with a facial mist throughout the day. My green tea facial mist is great in the winter when I want to keep my skin both hydrated and protected. Even though the sun's rays are not as potent in the winter, they can still damage your skin. Keep your skin protected with a UVA/UVB sunscreen when you go outside and douse your skin with cell protecting antioxidants when you are inside.
To make this green tea facial mist, you will need:
- room temperature green tea
- liquid vegetable glycerin (you can get this from Mountain Rose Herbs)
- 3 drops rose essential oil
- 2 capsules flax seed oil
I use a small two-ounce spray bottle. Add equal parts of the green tea and the glycerin, a great hydrating ingredient. Prick your flax seed oil and squeeze the oil into your mist ingredients. Add the rose oil and shake.
Mist over clean skin to replenish and revive your skin, to prevent dryness, and to give yourself an anti-aging, anti-wrinkle treat. You can mist as much as you want, I usually do it five or six times during the day when I am home - after showering, in the middle of the day a couple times, and at night before putting on my night cream.
Yes I am experimenting with coconut oil again! Here is my latest homemade face scrub recipe with nourishing coconut, coffee, and frankincense. It is super easy to make, great for evening out skin tone, and it uses some of my used coffee grounds!
This coffee coconut facial scrub combines the exfoliating action of coffee grounds with the moisturizing, antioxidant benefits of warm coconut oil. I also add frankincense essential oil, which is one of the best essential oils for skin care in my opinion. It encourages new cell growth, making it great for aging skin, while also toning.
To make your DIY face scrub, you will need:
- 1 tablespoon used coffee grounds
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted
- 2 drops frankincense essential oil
Add the frankincense to the coconut oil. Stir into your coffee grounds and head over to your bathroom to give your skin a sweet, exfoliating treatment. This recipe makes enough for two uses, and you don't have to worry about saving it at room temperature as coconut oil doesn't degrade. If your house is cool, the oil will harden for your next use. Simply rub in between your hands to soften. Your body heat is enough to easily melt coconut oil.
Rub into clean skin. You took the time to make your own facial scrub, take the time to use it! Massage for about a minute, which will help to stimulate blood flow to your skin cells. A little facial massage never hurt, in fact it may make your skin glow!
Beautiful skin is not just about what you eat and your daily care routine. How much you get your body moving impacts the health of your skin as well. Because of the boost of blood circulation from a brisk walk or this morning's pilates class, exercise can improve your skin. Just one more reason to keep your body in great shape to look and feel amazing.
First, by increasing blood flow, exercise brings more nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, helping to feed and repair at a cellular level. We are talking not only a fresh complexion, but also help with the signs of aging by encouraging healthy collagen production.
According to author and dermatologist, Ellen Marmur, another beauty benefit of a daily workout is the detox factor. Exercising will actually encourage the flushing of cellular debris. Less waste means healthier cells and better looking skin. So, no, the sticky, sweaty feeling that you have from 45 minutes on a treadmill is not going to cause a breakout as long as you keep your skin clean after working out (try using cleansing towelettes on your face, neck, and back after a workout if you can't jump in the shower right away). It is more likely to help keep your skin clear and healthy.
What type of exercise can you do to improve your skin. Anything helps but for better circulation and healthier skin make sure you are including some type of aerobic activity into your workout. Simply going for a daily, brisk walk every day will do the trick. For a high-energy, calorie-burning, skin boosting workout in 15 minutes, pull out the jump rope. Biking, swimming, jogging, dancing, kickboxing, and aerobics are all great options because you can get your heart pumping. Yoga and weight lifting are less aerobic, but they still will help to boost circulation and of course improve muscle tone.
Aim for some type of exercise every day. Now you can get in shape and give yourself a beauty treatment at the same time!
Virgin coconut oil is my favorite natural beauty ingredient. Sure, it is rich in vitamin E, has great antioxidant properties, and moisturizes like no other. I also love the way this nourishing oil feels, gentle and soothing. I adore the sweet aroma. Another plus of coconut over other natural moisturizers is that it doesn't degrade with heat. It melts easily into your skin. You can warm and melt it to make different natural skin care recipes without taking away any of the beneficial properties.
What exactly can you do with coconut? Here are my top beauty uses for coconut oil.
- Lip balm. Rub a dab into dry, chapped and peeling lips for a sweet, soothing lip treat.
- Anti-wrinkle oil. Take a small amount and rub it into the areas of your skin that could use a little natural plumping like around the corners of your eyes and mouth.
- Moisturizing facial oil. Especially in the winter when my dry skin flares up, I rub coconut oil into my face, neck, and decolletage. It is great for keeping your skin supple and young-looking.
- Hand cream. You guessed it, nothing works for dry, chapped hands like a little coconut oil.
- Foot cream. After a soothing foot soak, try rubbing coconut oil into your skin to soften calluses.
- Hair mask. Coconut oil is the best nourishing skin care oil to use to make a homemade hair mask. Heat up a few tablespoons of the oil until melted. You can add a couple drops of lavender, peppermint, or rosemary essential oil if you want. Coat your hair with the oil and let it condition your hair and moisturize your scalp for about twenty or thirty minutes, keeping a towel over your head to hold in the warmth.
- Mouth rinse. Coconut oil is antibacterial, great for gum health. Swish some in your mouth in the morning for five or ten minutes to help whiten your teeth and keep your mouth healthy and fresh.
I use coconut oil for all of these beauty uses regularly. I also use it in my skin care recipes, which I'm sure you've noticed. Yes, it may seem like I must be constantly doused in the stuff! Keep a jar in your house. See for yourself how much coconut can keep your hair and skin in great condition.
I've been playing around with different spot treatments to get rid of pimples fast since my skin has started to break out again after pregnancy. It still is not bad, but the occasional blemish is showing up. I do not like it!
The benefits of using a treatment on top of your normal skin care routine are that you can help to eliminate acne faster. It also helps to minimize the appearance of pimples. They shrink faster! It just takes a few minutes to kill the bacteria and suck out those toxins that are messing with your beautiful complexion.
So, drink lots of water, exercise, eat well, and try this homemade tea tree oil spot treatment to help keep your skin absolutely clear.
You will need:
- 1 teaspoon clay powder
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil
Add the tea tree oil to the milk. Then mix the milk and tea tree with the clay powder to make a paste. Cleanse first and make sure your skin is completely dry. Coat your blemish with the spot treatment. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes. I still moisturize the rest of my face. It would dry out if I waited for my spot treatment to be over.
The clay works to draw out impurities while the tea tree kills any germs on your skin. Tea tree is strong, so don't use more for a stronger effect, you will probably just irritate your skin.
If you have a few pimples that you are trying to get rid of quickly, increase the recipe to 1 tablespoon of the clay powder and milk. Use two drops of the tea tree oil.
What do you use to make sure your skin stays clear?
Want to give your flat, limp hair a lift? I have a few tricks that can add body to your hair without having to use a lot of products. My hair is super fine, so it tends to appear pretty lifeless on its own. Limp hair drags down your whole look. By giving your tresses a healthy boost and working with them instead of against them, you can give your hair some natural volume.
In my case, my hair tends to be both dry and oily. This is probably due to naturally dry skin. When my scalp is dry it is like a signal to rev up the oil production. This can leave my locks oily and flat before shampooing, and then dull and dry after washing.
These tricks work for me, giving my hair body and shine by helping to balance the dry skin and oily hair.
1. Add an egg to your shampoo. To do this, leave one egg out of the refrigerator so it comes to room temperature. Crack the egg into a bowl and whisk with a fork. Add your normal amount of shampoo and mix. When you shower, use this egg-shampoo mixture to wash your hair. Do an extra second wash with just shampoo to make sure you get all the egg out. Follow with a light conditioning.
How does it work? Eggs are great for your hair with vitamins, minerals, and proteins. They are one of the best natural hair volumizers, and they also help to repair damage.
2. Give yourself a rosemary coconut scalp massage. Melt two or three tablespoons of virgin coconut oil. Add two drops of invigorating rosemary essential oil. Dip your fingertips into this natural hair tonic and then gently massage your scalp until all the oil is used. Shampoo as normal.
This helps to add body to your hair by stimulating circulation to your hair follicles (also good for promoting healthy growth) and by moisturizing your skin, balancing the dry/oily hair/scalp problem.
3. Brush your hair less. First, let your hair dry after showering before you run a brush through it. Hair is more easily broken and damaged when wet, leave it alone! Second, simply brush less to avoid brushing all those natural oils through your hair and weighing it down. I know this sounds strange, but when I just let my hair air dry and barely run a brush through it, it actually looks great and has a lot more natural volume.
4. Use a volumizing shampoo. I know this sounds obvious, but for years I was going for strengthening shampoos, thinking that this will help to nourish my hair and scalp. Bad hair care move! Volumizing shampoos are the way to go. You may have to try different brands to see what works for you. I finally settled on Giovanni Cosmetics Eco Chic shampoos.
5. Skip the conditioner. If you have oily locks, then you do not need to condition every day! In fact, a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week actually works better. In the winter when my hair is dry I do condition three or four days a week, in the summer less. Play around with what works for your hair. The point is, don't stick to a hard and fast rule like shampoo and conditioning every day. For limp hair types, this isn't really the best option.
There are plenty of ways to add body to your hair naturally. Definitely switch to a great volumizing shampoo. Lay off the brushing and conditioning, but do add some nourishing, natural ingredients to your hair care routine. Beautiful, healthy hair really makes a more gorgeous you!
For most of us, our skin looks great during pregnancy. You can thank the shift in hormones, mainly the estrogen upsurge, for the clear, glowing skin. Once baby is born, my skin tends to return to its old, difficult state within a couple of days. Once again, thank you hormone shifts.
Do you want to continue to enjoy your radiant pregnancy complexion along with your new baby? After three births, I have come up with my post pregnancy skin care plan to prevent blemishes from rearing their ugly heads and to stop the dark circles and taking-care-of-a-newborn tired look. These skin care rules will not only help you to maintain a beautiful look, they are also great for your post-natal recovery.
Keep in mind though, you have to stay committed to your overall health and skin health. You can't just pick one off the list or skip the healthy skin habits after a few days. Stick with these post pregnancy skin recovery rules for real results.
- Stick with your pre-natal vitamins. Your obgyn will probably remind you of this one, especially if you are nursing. The extra nutrition will help your body recover and make sure every new mamma bit of you, including your skin and hair, are getting enough nutrients.
- Drink lots of water. I think that this has made the biggest difference in keeping my skin not only clear, but plump looking. I have been diligently drinking three litres a day plus fresh juices and herbal teas. I also haven't gone back to coffee yet, that may help with the well-hydrated skin, although I do drink a cup of english breakfast a day.
- Exercise every day, once you are ready. I know some women are ready to start exercising earlier than others. Start when it is right for you. If you can, ask your doctor before leaving the hospital what type and when it is ok so you don't have to wait for an official nod at your six week postpartum appointment. Once I hit the two week mark, I always feel alright with walking, but wait longer if your doctor has recommended a longer recovery period. Start slow and short and then build. You can also do light exercises in the house when you can't get outdoors. Even
a little exercise will help your skin. It will get your blood flowing, carrying more nutrients throughout your body. It will also help with stress, seriously.
- Drink a fresh fruit or veggie drink once a day. This is a great habit to pick up now to help nourish your skin. Blend or juice greens, pineapple, and, ginger. Try cucumbers, melon, and lime. Berries, carrots, and apples or pears are great. For an extra boost of iron, try beets and celery once in awhile. You will provide your skin with such a rich blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, while also helping to cleanse your body.
- Relax and breathe. Meditate or just sit and ponder the world peacefully for twenty minutes a day. Having a new baby can be stressful, and not so great for your skin. Setting aside a few minutes for yourself each day, even if it is to soak in the tub and listen to some meditation music, is a must for your health and beauty. I know you may feel it is an indulgence, so much to do for others, right? For all those self-sacrificing moms out there, think of it as making sure you are calm and healthy so you can still be there for everyone else.
The great part about taking these post pregnancy skin tips is that they all promote healthy, beautiful skin, and a healthier you. They are easy once you turn them into habits, and they work, trust me!
I have another great skin care recipe with raspberries for you - my honey raspberry antioxidant face mask. These berries have been great to work with because they are so perfectly smashable, unlike blues and strawberries. You can easily mash these red raspberries (or you could use blackberries) into a wet, pasty consistency, perfect for making wearable beauty masks.
So onto the why of these ingredients. Raspberries a good source of skin healing vitamin E and they are packed with antioxidants to help protect your precious skin cells from free radical damage. I think wearing some type of antioxidant face mask at least twice a month is a great way to help slow the skin aging and deterioration process. You can try one of my homemade skin care recipes, but there are also plenty of great face masks that you can buy that are loaded with antioxidant ingredients.
Cocoa is a tasty source of these free radical fighting nutrients. Just be sure to use a high-quality organic cocoa, the more unrefined the better.
Honey, and I mean raw, organic honey, is another staple diy beauty care ingredient. You get a nice blend of trace minerals. Honey is naturally anti-bacterial. It also acts as a humecant, protecting your skin from moisture loss.
I also add a tad of grape seed oil to help smooth and nourish. There are not actually a high amount of antioxidants in the oil, you have to go for grape seed extract for that, but the oil is a great source of moisturizing fatty acids to keep your skin soft and supple.
To make this honey raspberry antioxidant face mask, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 raspberries (if using your frozen berries, make sure they are completely thawed)
- 1/2 teaspoon organic cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon grape seed oil
Mash the berries. Stir into the oil and honey until well mixed. Mix in your cocoa. Smear over your clean skin and enjoy this antioxidant-packed skin treat.
Protein is important for muscles, sure, but did you know how essential it is for beautiful skin? This nutrient is key for the body to build new cells. If you want new, healthy tissue then you want to eat enough protein and get the right nutrients that help our bodies to create new tissue, particularly collagen and elastin, which are responsible for the firmness and suppleness of your skin. How much protein do you need for healthy skin? Is it possible that you may not be getting enough? Will this set you up for faster skin aging, more wrinkles, and skin sagging (oh dear!)?
According to the CDC, the average woman should aim for at least 46 grams of protein a day. If you eat animal products, then it is likely that you are getting enough. For women who are vegetarian, vegan, or who simply tend to stay away from high-calorie foods, even the healthy ones like eggs, nuts, and lean meats, for the sake of losing weight, then you may want to take a look at your protein intake.
To get an idea of what you are consuming, check out these numbers:
- 1 cup of cooked kidney beans has about 15 grams
- 1 cup of milk, 8 grams
- 2 tablespoons almond butter, 7 grams
- 3 ounces of meat, 21 grams
I've noticed it myself - friends who have been regular dieters or who have been veggie-only eaters for years. By the time the mid-30's come around you start to see the signs of aging - thinner skin, creases, and sagging.
There is nothing wrong with abstaining from animal products. In fact, this is not only a health-conscious but also an eco-conscious lifestyle choice. I rarely eat meat myself. I do recommend eating lots, and I mean lots, of nuts, seeds, legumes, and coconut if you are a veg or vegan! You want to make up for all the proteins and fatty acids that your skin needs to stay soft, supple, and young-looking.
Don't underestimate the importance of protein intake for healthy skin. You don't have to eat greasy bacon and hamburgers to fight wrinkles, not at all! You should make sure that you are eating a variety of healthy protein sources every day for your skin, no matter what type of diet you eat. Eggs, fish, yogurt, nuts, seeds, soy, beans, and lean meats are all options.
Also, don't forget your fruits and veggies for the vitamin C and other nutrients that your body requires to create more collagen and elastin for your skin.
Aside from drinking plenty of water and great moisturizing habits, what else can you do to help keep your skin soft and supple in the dry winter months? What about nutritional supplements to soften and plump dry skin? What can you take?
I do cater my skin nutrients to the seasons, just like we naturally eat more of certain foods in the spring and summer (more salads, smoothies, fresh, ripe stone fruit) vs. the fall and winter (hearty soups, root vegetables, warm whole grain cereals). In the summer I like to focus on adding nutrients to my diet that will help to detox my body and those that help to protect from sun damage and encourage repair. But when the weather outside is frightful...well not particularly, but it is cold, I stick with nourishing oils and good old vitamin C.
First, I add flax seed oil to my diet. It's a great vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids, great for skin health and for your nervous system. I did my own personal test with flax oil, and didn't find that it alone makes your skin softer, but I have noticed that it helps when I notice the first redness of an eczema break out. This makes sense for a couple of reasons. The omega fatty acids in flax oil have anti-inflammatory properties. Another benefit is that these fatty acids support a healthy nervous system. Maybe there is a link between an increased ability to cope with stress and better skin health? I am only throwing out ideas. I have been eczema free so far this winter - maybe it is from adding flax seed oil supplements to my diet?
I also take evening primrose oil supplements, for the same reason as the flax oil, but they provide a different array of essential fatty acids that your body and skin can really benefit from.
And third, vitamin C. Supplementing with vitamin C in the winter may not only help to keep your immune system strong, but it also can help out with your skin! Why? Because this vitamin is important for collagen production. Also, a few of the primary fall fruits, apples and pears, are not as loaded with vitamin C as other spring and summer fruits are like berries and stone fruit. If you just stick with an apple a day and cooked veggies instead of fresh salads you may be getting less vitamin C in the winter, just when your body may need more to get through cold and flu season and to help keep your skin soft and supple in the more arid weather!
These are my three winter supplements to help soften and prevent dry skin. Do you rotate your skin healthy nutrients to suit the changes in your skin through the seasons.?
Raspberries and sugar crystals make a sweet combination for sloughing away dead skin cells and getting your skin to really glow. This is one of my go-to sugar body scrub recipes. It is pretty easy to make and the berries give this diy natural skin care recipe an extra special nourishing boost. I am a big fan of summer berry picking, so I always have plenty of berries in the freezer. They are great in skin care recipes, and they are a super skin healthy food that you should enjoy in abundance all year long!
The sugar crystals (use organic!) exfoliate, a little getting rid of the old and in with the new action. Raspberries are great for your skin. They are not only antioxidant-rich, but they are also a great source of skin healing vitamin E. I like to use apricot kernel oil to give this scrub some excellent softening, skin protecting action, but you can also use olive oil or any other nourishing skin care oil. The milk is another source of nourishment for your skin, and it helps to soften the scrub. And finally, for that gorgeous scent, a couple drops of essential oil.
To make this raspberry sugar body scrub, you will need:
- 1 cup organic sugar crystals
- 4-5 tablespoons apricot kernel oil
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 6-10 raspberries
- 3 drops vanilla essential oil
- 2 drops bergamot essential oil
Mix the sugar, milk, and oils. Mash your raspberries and stir into your homemade sugar scrub. Inhale the beautiful scent and get ready to give your skin a delicious, nourishing treatment! Let me know what you think.
Sweet, juicy, tangy berries are not only dessert-worthy treats, they are also a key part of a healthy diet for beautiful skin. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries - any dark berry is going to encourage a healthy, vibrant glow.
I have been making a serving of berries, whether it is a handful of plump blackberries stirred into my morning oatmeal or a variety of these nutrient-packed fruits in a fresh smoothie, a daily habit. You can eat them fresh, blend them with other fruits and veggies, or add them to other skin healthy foods like yogurt and whole grains.
Why are berries so good for your skin?
1. Antioxidants! These dark fruits are packed with free radical fighting antioxidants. Blueberries are often named as one of the super fruits because they are so high in them, but raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, and strawberries are packed with these cell protecting nutrients as well. Eating plenty of foods that are high in antioxidants is a great way to revitalize your skin by providing your body with what it needs to slow deterioration and aging at the cellular level.
Don't worry about freezing your fruit, testing with blueberries found that the antioxidant level in berries stays about the same. Try some serious berry picking this summer and then keeping your fruit in the freezer - much cheaper than having to purchase berries from the grocery store each week.
2. Fiber! Berries are a great source of fiber. Once cup of blueberries has nearly 4 of the 28 grams of fiber you need each day. A cup of raspberries provides a whopping 8 grams. Fiber is important for skin health as it helps to eliminate waste from the body, keeping your body and your skin clean.
3. Vitamins and minerals for beautiful skin! Wait, there is more. Sure, all of these fruits are high in vitamin C, great for skin repair. They also each have their own claim to nutrient fame - blueberries are an incredible source of vitamin K, which is needed to prevent the formation so wrinkles. Raspberries are surprisingly high in vitamin E, which helps with skin healing and protects from sun damage. Strawberries are very high in manganese, a mineral that is necessary for collagen production.
Eat berries to revitalize your skin! Nature has provided us with these sweet, little fruits that contain a lot of the nutrients that our skin needs to stay healthy and young. Take advantage of it and use restorative berries to improve and maintain your gorgeous look.
Packed with antioxidants and fiber, papaya is seriously one of the best fruits for your skin. It is very high in vitamin A, which is important for skin repair, as well as vitamin E, to help keep your skin soft and healthy. It doesn't happen to be one of my favorites in terms of taste, but throw it into a smoothie with other fruit and maybe some soy milk or yogurt, and you get an amazing flavor in a skin nourishing drink.
I whipped up a great yogurt, papaya, and banana smoothie and then of course went on to create a homemade yogurt papaya face mask for my skin. It is perfect for cooling and soothing dry, irritated skin in the winter, while also feeding your face with vitamins and antioxidants. You also get some gentle dead skin cell sloughing with the yogurt's alpha hydroxy acids.
To make a yogurt papaya mask to make your skin absolutely glow, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 3 or four chunks (about one-inch square) of fresh papaya
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
Throw everything in the blender and puree for twenty seconds. Transfer your creamy papaya mixture to a bowl and head to the bathroom. Gently cleanse your skin, pat dry, and apply to your clean face. Great time for sliced cucumbers over your eyes if you could use an eye touch-up as well. Rinse the mask off after ten minutes. Moisturize and enjoy the glow!
It is winter and my skin is dry. I mean really dry. I usually keep it in good condition, even during the arid winter months by going into overdrive with great moisturizers, lots of water, and a healthy diet. This year I had a curve ball thrown at me. My solution - pure, simple coconut oil.
I bought a new, unscented night cream, which totally destroyed my skin. I must have been allergic to one of the ingredients - strange as this was one of my favorite natural skin care brands, it was even unscented! Anyway, within one night my skin was itching, puffy, red, and absolutely parched. No moisturizing cream was going to fix this problem. My skin was at the point of sensitivity where anything irritated it, even my normal go-to creams.
So, I went to plan B, totally natural. I smeared a small dab of organic, virgin coconut oil over my entire face three times a day. Instantly the itching went away. Coconut is incredibly soothing. With antibacterial properties, it is also great for keeping your skin clean. It still took three days for my skin rash to completely clear up, but the coconut oil worked.
I know I talk about the benefits of using coconut oil for your skin quite a bit, but it has really proved to be one of the most remarkable natural skin care tools. Seriously, keep a jar in your cupboard. It is not only perfect for hydrating face mask recipes (and for hair masks!), but it is also your best back-up for dry skin emergencies. Don't forget to try it on for dry, chapped hands too!
Six weeks of taking flaxseed oil supplements and I do not believe there is a noticeable difference in my skin's health or appearance. Still, I think I will continue adding flax oil to my diet, not only for my skin but also for overall health. Maybe they will never make a shred of difference, but, they are in my opinion one of the most approachable and all around beneficial natural supplements that you can choose when it comes to combining health and beauty. I will spend my hard earned dollars in the hopes that over the long-term the omega-3 fatty acids are nourishing and strengthening my cells and doing something for my skin. As a short-term experiment, however, I didn't notice a difference. You can read about the start of my experience with Flaxseed Supplements here.
Flax Oil vs. Collagen for Healthy Skin
Comparing flax oil and the collagen supplements (my first personal skin health test), I found that taking the collagen did actually make a difference. I could tell that my skin was slightly softer and my hair definitely felt stronger. As I can't see how flax oil will conflict with taking other supplements or herbs, I will keep on with the nourishing oil. I also really liked using the little capsules full of nutrients and moisturizing fatty acids in my face mask recipes!
I will go for the collagen again, but only every few months. Honestly, a bottle of collagen supplements a year, which will last for one or two months, is enough I think. A healthy diet and exercise will do way more for your skin. Also, I don't feel comfortable combining collagen with other supplements. With flax oil, I'm not worried about taking something else at the same time.
All Nourishing Fats Are Good Fats
Do I recommend taking flaxseed oil? Both the oil and the actual flax seeds, which I always throw into my homemade muffins and breads, are loaded with a unique set of nutrients. Flax oil has the omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for inflammation and cell health. The seeds contain lignans, phytonutrients that have a range of benefits from regulating hormones to improving immune health. I do think adding both the oil and the seeds to your diet is a smart, healthy move. You don't even have to take supplements. You can use flaxseed oil to make salad dressings 
(oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper!). Don't cook with it. High temperatures degrade the oil.
I don't, however, believe it will make a remarkable difference in your skin, at least in the short term. Boosting your diet with healthy fats could certainly help over the years. Flax oil isn't the only source of course. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are great for omega-3 fatty acids. Olives, coconuts, all nuts, seeds, and nourishing oils supply their own specific blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids. Try flax, try hemp oil, switch it up if you are like me and love to try something new.
If flax oil doesn't keep your skin supple and wrinkle-free, maybe it will help with other things like joint health or improved mood (I did actually notice a mood improvement, which was unexpected). Do you take flaxseed oil supplements for your skin, or possibly for a specific health issue?
You don't have to search far for beauty products that are labelled as natural, but for the truly organic skin care brands you do have to dig deep. These little gems can cost more than your average facial cleanser or anti-aging serum, but if you are taking the organic living plunge (food, clothing, bedding, cleaning, and beauty), then you definitely want to make sure your skin care arsenal follows suit.
Why use only organic beauty products?
There are a lot of reasons to raise your own personal standards from natural to organic. The well-being of the environment for one. Buying certified organic products sends the message that there is a demand, which leads to more support for organic agricultural production.
Choosing organic skin care for your beauty needs does make a difference for your skin and for the earth's skin - no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers. Also, organic includes the use of techniques that will sustain and preserve the soil, such as growing a variety of crops or rotating to make sure the earth isn't over-farmed or robbed of key nutrients, nutrients that should be in your rose water and apricot kernel oil.
Aside from the ethical and environmental benefit, you get to nourish and replenish your skin with pure, chemical-free, organic ingredients. Do organic herbs, fruits, and oils have more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients than non-organic? They may, although I would think that the nutritional concentration depends on a variety of different factors, not just whether enough organic methods were used to garner certification.
My top three organic skin care brands:
- Dr. Hauschka. This is my high-end, I treat myself once in awhile natural skin care choice. Everything is not actually 100% organic, but it all is either organic, ethically wild-harvested, or grown biodynamically (biodynamic farming practices revolve around improving and supporting a healthy planet. They are really fascinating and worth a look-up. I am presently using the Quince Day Cream, it was a splurge but I love it! It melts into my skin and is incredibly softening without weighing my skin down. It is intended for dry skin, but I like it with combination.
- John Masters Organics. I love this organic beauty line because it radiates simple purity. Even the marketing is clean and refined. There are only a handful of ingredients in each product. This makes sense to me. After all if you have 30 ingredients, your awesome green tea extract and pomegranate oil, the ingredients that may have got you to buy the product, may only make up a tiny portion of the whole recipe. Keep it simple, honest, and pure. Right now I am using the Bearberry Skin Balancing Face Wash, which is moderately priced, but more importantly it has literally lasted for 2 months and I still have quite a bit left. I also love the Vitamin C Anti-Aging Face Serum.
- Acure. Another great organic skin care brand that I use regularly is Acure. They are the most affordable of the three so I have been able to try more of their products. I admit I haven't loved everything, but I keep going for the Argan Oil + Starflower Line Eraser as a super dry skin quencher. I am also a fan of the Rose + Red Tea Facial Toner. It is perfectly refreshing, although I can't say that it calms my skin as much as I would have expected.
Go organic with your skin care! I think it is worth it and better for your skin. A lot of natural beauty brands are not as natural as they seem at first glance (just read the ingredient list) but they still carry the elevated prices.
While organic beauty may cost more, you can always use my homemade natural skin care recipes for face masks and other DIY beauty products to stay within your budget! Please feel free to share if you have tried and enjoyed any organic skin care lines. I'm curious what other people like. I have no affiliation with any of the products or brands listed except for the image at top.
Sandal season is right around the corner. Time to give those pups some much needed care so you can show off your beautiful feet in your new spring sandals. Want to know how to make your feet soft and smooth? Follow these five steps and transform your feet into pristine les pieds. To really help shed dry skin and tough calluses, try using this treatment once a week, but you should moisturize your skin daily. This treatment is great for foot softening, but the extra attention from the soaking and rubbing will increase blood flow, making your feet healthier, happier, and rejuvenated!
- Dry exfoliation. You can use a loofah, but I find that a pumice stone is way more effective for getting rid of calluses on feet. Scrub gently while your skin is still dry to loosen dead skin.
- Soak. Now it is time for a soul soothing natural foot soak. You can simply use warm water with a little sea salt or epsom salts or you can try my refreshing Minty Foot Soak recipe. It is so soothing for tired feet after a long day! Fill a small basin, your home foot bath, or even your bath tub.
- Foot scrub. You exfoliated to start, time to exfoliate your feet again to help make your skin perfectly soft and smooth. This time, I suggest a foot scrub to dose your skin with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. My Homemade Citrus Foot Scrub Recipe works wonders. Gently massage your scrub over wet skin, lifting away impurities and dead skin while also boosting circulation.
- Rinse and dry. Soak for a few more minutes until you've squeezed out every last ounce of enjoyment from your home foot soak. Pat dry with a towel.
- Moisturize. Once your skin is dry you can rub in your favorite foot cream. I'm a big fan of Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion
. If I don't have any foot creams around I simply use coconut oil, slip on a pair of cotton socks, and my feet feel like a dream.
Enjoy slipping your soft and smooth feet into your cute new spring sandals!
Keep your skin hydrated with this easy, homemade moisturizing facial mist. It combines soothing and balancing cucumber and rose flower waters with the skin softening benefits of natural vegetable glycerin and a dab of my present favorite natural skin care ingredient, flax seed oil. You can use it to wipe away oil and dirt without drying out your skin like alcohol-based toners can. It is a perfect toner for combination skin. I use it as a refreshing spray to help keep my skin moisturized and soothed during the day.
Storing Your Facial Mist Properly
I recommend preparing only a small amount at a time. These natural beauty ingredients can lose their potency the longer they sit around on a shelf, especially when exposed to heat and light. I store my natural facial mist in a small glass spray bottle in the refrigerator. I actually reuse a purchased bottle of toning spray, 2 ounces. It is hard to find little glass spray bottles on sale,
and I prefer not to use plastic bottles. Glass isn't going to rob your hydrosols of any of their therapeutic properties like plastic can.
I spritz every couple of hours, so I go through one recipe in two or three weeks. If you are only going to use your facial spray once or twice a day, be sure to store it in the refrigerator and consider making half of this recipe.
DIY Recipe
To make this moisturizing facial mist, you will need:
- 1/2 ounce cucumber water
- 1/2 ounce rose water
- 1 ounce vegetable glycerin
- 1 capsule flax seed oil, prick and squeeze out the oil
Add all ingredients to your bottle, close, and shake. Spray on your skin as needed or spray onto a cotton ball or cloth and use to wipe away surface oil, dirt, and makeup and leave your skin feeling clean, refreshed, and smooth! Cucumber is an amazing skin soother. I love the cucumber rose combination as rose balances and nourishes your skin. It is also known to have anti-aging benefits. And then wonderful, softening vegetable glycerin. It helps to protect your skin against moisture loss, and according to Mountain Rose Herb's info, to attract oxygen to your skin. Lovely!
Large pores, dryness, blemishes, redness, the list of skin imperfections is daunting. There are a few perfectly pure and simple home remedies for smooth skin that you can use to combat all these issues from a holistic standpoint. I do not recommend giving them a try. I suggest making them a part of your regular beauty regimen. Infuse them into your daily life. Make them your beauty mantra. They are natural, well within any skin care budget, and they work.
- Coconut oil. A jar of virgin coconut oil is a must have for any natural beauty recipe cupboard. I love this stuff. It is rich, smells like soft, creamy clouds (what I would imagine them to smell like), and it melts into your skin creating a perfect, moisturized surface. Coconut oil is high in vitamin E and antioxidants that your skin will love. Use it in coconut face mask recipes, rub it into dry, chapped hands in the winter, massage your feet with it after a foot bath, or give your neck and decolletage an easy smooth skin treatment.
- Milk baths. You will love making this home remedy for smooth skin a regular beauty ritual. Milk baths are great for keeping your skin soft and glowing. The idea behind this home beauty treatment? Milk helps to exfoliate your skin, while also nourishing and moisturizing with minerals and fatty acids. A creamy bath with three or four drops of lavender essential oil is also great for stress relief at the end of the day!
- Your loofah. Use your loofah sponge. If you don't have one, get one for your body and try the facial loofah pads for your face. Why should you loofah, aka exfoliate your skin, to keep it smooth? Exfoliating will get rid of dead skin while also boosting circulation to the surface of skin, bringing nutrients to help replenish cells. Don't loofah daily, too much will dry out dry skin and can rev up your oil glands leading to more breakouts if you have an oily complexion. I suggest a weekly, very gentle scrub down as a general rule of thumb.
- Wonderful water. If you read beauty blogs and books then I am sure you've already heard this one. Drink water for clearer, smoother skin. Water will help flush out impurities so your skin never has to deal with them. I always thought of myself as a good little water drinker. Then a friend of mine, yes she has gorgeous skin and is a couple years older than me, told me I needed to drink even more (she was recommending a 3 liter minimum, which is a tough goal). Three days of her water drinking habits and it was amazing how much better my skin looked. Clearer, less redness, softer. I don't think there is any reason to stress out over your fluid intake, but when you think of it, drink a glass of water or herbal tea. Try to have a glass when you wake up, whenever you come home, that sort of thing. If you build up the habit, improving your skin with good old H2O will seem effortless.
- Nuts and seeds. Eat them for the minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Thank them for their healthy fats. For plump, smooth skin you need good fats, the kind you find in nuts, seeds, and coconut.
- Clay masks. No secrets here, I think clay masks are one of the most powerful home face masks that you can use. They are also incredibly inexpensive if you buy clay powder in bulk. Try out different kinds, mix your clay powder with water, milk, flower waters, essential oils, you name it. They really suck debris out of those pores, refining your skin at least temporarily, while also boosting circulation. Mountain Rose Herbs has a great selection. I am an affiliate, if you want to support me, then check them out at the bottom of my blog. You can also get clay powders at Whole Foods or any health food store.
- Green and white teas. Drink more tea. Green and white tea are loaded with antioxidants that will help to keep your skin healthy and young-looking. Antioxidants also means anti-inflammatory, which is a huge plus for sensitive and dry skin.
What are your favorite home remedies for smooth skin? What works for you?
I write so much about having great facial skin, but don't think I don't have foot love! I really enjoy treating my feet to soaks, massages, and scrubs. This homemade citrus foot scrub is one of my favorite natural recipes for foot pampering. It is easy to make a batch to use for the week. I use it to exfoliate my feet in the shower and for the occasional foot soak (okay, occasional is probably not the right word, I am a luxurious bubble bath and foot soak addict!).
Scrubbing doubles as a foot massage!
Giving your feet a beauty makeover is not just about keeping your feet soft, smooth, and gorgeous, it is about your well-being too. Of course the exfoliation and the attention helps to keep your skin healthy. You gently remove dead skin, reduce calluses, and soften your skin. Another bonus to caring for your feet is the circulation boost. Good circulation, keeping that nourishing blood flowing through your entire body freely and easily is in my opinion one of the most essential goals you should have for your health and to help you look and feel younger. Exercise, regular massage therapy, and a healthy diet are all circulation boosters. Simply sitting in the tub or at your desk and taking a few minutes to rub your feet is an easy way to get your blood flowing as well. When showering, I am basically giving my feet a quick morning massage while also softening the skin with this citrus scrub.
Citrus scrub ingredients
This recipe combines brown sugar crystals for their grittiness and ideally the natural alpha hydroxy acids found in sugar cane, with moisturizing olive oil, and a refreshing blend of citrus essential oils to revitalize your feet and your senses. I add a little apple juice to get the right consistency but you can also just use a water.
To make this homemade citrus foot scrub, you will need:
- 1 cup brown sugar or sugar cane crystals (just not refined white sugar)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 3 drops orange essential oil
- 3 drops neroli essential oil
- apple juice or water, just enough to loosen the consistency of the sugar scrub, about 1/4 cup
Start by adding the citrus essential oils to the olive oil. Of course you can use other carrier oils like sesame, almond, or avocado. Olive oil is usually the most inexpensive and you do need to use quite a bit to prepare this homemade scrub. Mix the oils into the sugar and then add your juice or water. I mix right into the glass bowl that I store the scrub in, sealed and refrigerated. Before jumping in the shower I scoop out a few spoonfuls in a cup and bring it with my to the bathtub. It's that simple.
Disclaimer
While I love my skin, I am not actually a dermatologist or a medical professional. The information on this site is not meant to treat or diagnose any health issues.
Sure, drinking green tea is a super good idea for your health, but applying it topically also can have a positive effect on your skin. One of my natural skin care tricks is to spritz my skin with a facial mist throughout the day. My green tea facial mist is great in the winter when I want to keep my skin both hydrated and protected. Even though the sun's rays are not as potent in the winter, they can still damage your skin. Keep your skin protected with a UVA/UVB sunscreen when you go outside and douse your skin with cell protecting antioxidants when you are inside. 
