Do it yourself facial products
Making your own natural exfoliators is easy and can save you a lot of money.
Face and body exfoliators can set us back more money than we might like, and they’re often filled with harsh ingredients.
Making your own natural exfoliators is easy and can save you a lot of money.
Exfoliating is an important part of any skin care regime. Not only does it remove dead skin cells, it also unclogs the oil and dirt that lives in your pores.
As with any other exfoliating treatments, these should be used two to three times a week, not every day.
And keep in mind that when trying a new skin care product (or in this case, recipe), test it out before you go to bed. That way, if you have an adverse reaction, you can give your skin time to recover while you sleep.
Nourishing sugar scrub
Granulated sugar is a wonderful, natural exfoliant.
Mix it with honey, which contains powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and a little lemon for clarifying purposes, and you have a wonderfully nourishing and effective face scrub.
Combine a teaspoon of sugar with half a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Mix ingredients well.
If the mixture is a little loose, add a bit more sugar.
Banana face mask
Who needs Botox when you have bananas? You can use a banana as an all-natural, homemade facial mask that moisturises your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer.
Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck.
Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.
Natural facial cream
Skin care products made with natural ingredients are effective at reducing wrinkles, tightening and smoothing the skin and keeping it youthfully elastic and supple.
Beeswax and shea butter both hold anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin E provides a boost of antioxidant power, and essential oils provide a pleasant aroma.
Place a quarter cup of almond oil, two tablespoons of coconut oil, two tablespoons of beeswax, half a teaspoon of vitamin E oil, one tablespoon of shea butter and essential oils of your choice (optional) in a glass jar.
Bring a pot filled about 10 centimetres with water to a simmer. Put the jar, without its lid, in the pot, and let it sit there until the ingredients have melted. Stir occasionally. Once the mixture has melted and all is evenly combined, pour it into a small glass jar.
Let it sit at room temperature until the cream hardens, close the jar’s lid, and store in a cool place. Apply morning and night after washing.
Compiled by Caxton East Rand and South features writer, Carmen Norton.
