Natural Skin Care Recipes

For hundreds of years, women throughout time have turned to mother nature for all of their skin care needs. Natural skin care recipes have existed for centuries.  Long ago, Romans would use honey and milk to keep their skin naturally soft and supple. Women may have always known that honey is good for the skin, even as far back as the ancient Greeks, but we've only recently discovered its anti-oxidant properties, which helps with sun protection and also rejuvenates the skin.

Olive oil was another natural ingredient used for hundred of years by Italian women who enjoyed soft, ageless skin. Women with oily skin have long relied on citrus juices and sea salts to keep their skin blemish-free. Those with sensitive skin knew to choose oils and dairy products to keep their faces smooth and young looking.

The skin care industry has incorporated age-old wisdom with modern-day technology and uses natural ingredients to enhance their products. Unfortunately, many of these items still contain harsh chemicals in addition to the “all-natural” ingredients. Many skin care products can be found lining real and virtual shelves with components that may actually do more harm than good. With astringents, alcohol, and artificial scents and colorants, commercial products aren’t for everyone, particularly those of us with sensitive skin.

Luckily, it's easy and inexpensive to make natural products of your own at home, besides being great for your skin, it’s also great for your wallet. Take an inventory of your refrigerator and pantry and you just may be surprised at all of the ingredients you already have on hand. Most homemade natural skin care recipes can be made in weekly portions and then refrigerated for later use.

The following natural skin care recipes feature all natural ingredients including fruits, vegetables, milk and honey:

Cucumber Moisturizer

1 medium cucumber
1 lime
2 tablespoons olive oil

Peel and seed the cucumber, then combine with the juice from the lime and the olive oil in a food processor until smooth. Apply to face, leaving on for about 10 minutes, then rinsing with warm water. Gently pat the skin dry.

Honey Facial Scrub

2 tablespoons of finely ground almonds
1 tablespoon honey
One half teaspoon lemon juice

Mix ingredients and apply gently to the face, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Firming Honey Mask

1 egg white
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon glycerin
A quarter cup of flour

Whisk all ingredients together until a paste has formed. Apply the mixture to the face and throat, leaving on for about 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Pat dry.

Soothing Honey Lotion

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon honey
A quarter teaspoon lemon juice

Blend ingredients and apply to dry patches of skin, such as on the elbows, hands, and feet. Leave the mixture in place for about ten minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Moisturizing Honey Mask

2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons honey

Smooth mixture over face and throat, leaving it on for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Apple Honey Mask

1 medium apple
5 tablespoons honey

In a blender, mix one medium apple with five tablespoons of honey into a paste. Smooth onto face, leaving on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Honey Papaya Glow

1 to 2 tablespoons papaya
1 tablespoon honey

Mash papaya with a tablespoon of honey into a creamy mixture. Smooth over the skin and leave on for about 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Orange Mask

3 large carrots
5 tablespoons honey

Cook and mash carrots, then mix in the honey until smooth. Apply to face, leaving on for 15 minutes, then rinsing with cool water. Pat dry.

Gentle Cornmeal Exfoliate

A half cup cornmeal
One quarter cup milk
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 drops of tea tree oil

Mix all ingredients into a paste, then gently apply to the skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Banana Mash

1 medium ripe banana

Simply mash one banana in a bowl, apply to the face for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Banana Mask

1 medium ripe banana
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 drops of scented oil such as lemon or orange

Mix banana, olive oil and scented oils together and apply to face. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Yogurt Whip

1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon orange juice

Thoroughly mix ingredients together, then apply generously to the face. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Now that you have many easy recipes to choose from, develop and maintain a program for your particular type of skin. Any complete skin care regimen should contain a cleanser, an exfoliate, a toner, and of course, a moisturizer. In addition to the morning and after exercising or wearing make-up, your face should be washed every evening before going to bed with a mild cleanser that doesn’t irritate the skin, followed by the correct type of moisturizer for your skin.

Experiment with different ingredients, something that’s impossible, or even dangerous to do with commercially made products that contain chemicals, and see what suits your skin best. Using a little imagination, there are literally thousands of combinations to choose from with an equal amount of rewarding results.

Most types of skin need regular steam and facial treatments, usually on a weekly basis. It’s easy to give yourself a steam treatment at home using your sink, a towel and some hot water, followed by a simple facial made from eggs, olive oil, and lemon juice. Other natural ingredients commonly found at home to experiment with include sugars, salts, oatmeal, vinegar, and tea bags.

Most often, our skin is a reflection of how healthy our bodies are on the inside. It's wise to begin any natural skin care routine with a well-balanced diet, essentially caring for the skin from the inside out. Water is also essential for healthy skin, which after all, is our largest organ, and it’s equally important to avoid pollutants and environmental hazards such as cigarette smoke and harsh chemicals.

For those of you that want to save some time, try a ready made natural skin care product.