Your pantry has many exfoliating foods for skin care. Make your own scrubs with these ingredients – save money, and reduce your impact on the environment.
Our society continually releases huge quantities of cosmetic and personal care products into the environment each year. Many of these products post a threat to our ecosystem and to human health. There are many natural alternatives, found right in your kitchen, that you can use to reduce your impact and still find a quick way to fix that problem.
These products which are just as great for your skin as any store-bought lotion that can be found in stores.
Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells. Exfoliation removed those old dead skin cells from the surface of your face or body and gives way to healthier skin. It improves the appearance of your skin by leaving it looking brighter and preventing clogged pores.
Here are eleven of the best exfoliating foods to put on your skin.
Strawberries
This common fruit is chocked full of vitamin C and also somewhat acidic, which helps to remove excess oil on the skin. Working as an antioxidant, the strawberries will get rid of any oils on your face which will result in your brightened skin.
There are two easy ways to apply strawberries to your face. One way is by smashing the strawberries and placing them on your face as a mask. Another method is to just rub the strawberries all over your skin.
Eggs
You can use either the whole egg or just the egg white. The whole egg will offer your skin more moisturizer than the egg white would. The egg whites will tighten your pores, though, and will help you get softer, firmer skin. Consider adding lemon or lime juice (see below) for added pore tightening.
All you have to do is mix the egg and rub it all over your clean face. A simple egg mask will form. Let it dry and wash off with warm water.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a great thing to add to any mask. It brightens your skin, tightens your pores, and cuts through the oil on your face. You can apply it right onto your face for about five minutes or just add it to an egg white mask and then rinse with warm water.
Honey
Honey is naturally antibacterial and can be applied directly to your face, just as lemon juice. Honey can either be used by itself or be mixed with another mask. It is a great moisturizer and will even help control breakouts.
Make a lemon and honey mask: mix lemon juice and honey until it is the consistency of cough syrup. Apply the mask to your freshly cleaned face. You can and leave it there as long as you would like, try for at least 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Bananas
This easy to find fruit is full of vitamin E and C and helps your skin retain moisture. Bananas can greatly exfoliate your skin and will give a dull skin a greater complexion. They will moisturize and are great for all skin types
Bananas that are just beginning to turn ripe – that have some brown on their skins will work the best. Mash up the bananas and rub all over your skin – adding a bit of honey and or lemon juice if you’d like. Rinse off after about 10 minutes.
Oats
Oatmeal has been known for centuries as a skin soother and many grandmas knew to add it to your bath if you had irritated skin. It helps to reduce inflammation.
They work best when ground into a powder and made into a paste by adding water. The oats with the added water will make a great moisturizing scrub. Substituting water for milk can soothe dry and sunburned skin. Try Chamomile Oat Sugar Scrub.
Yogurt
The lactic acid in yogurt is a great way to leave your skin feeling fresh and exfoliated. Yogurt can be used as a brightener and a moisturizer. You don’t need much for its properties to work, just one or two teaspoons will do.
Mix equal parts of yogurt and honey for an effective and nourishing face mask.
Almonds
This nut is high in healthy fats and proteins and is a source of antioxidants. Like oats, you must grind up almonds before you use them, or they will be too abrasive on the skin. Once you turn them into a powder, they will moisturize, exfoliate, and cleanse your skin.
Make a honey almond mask: ½ cup ground almond meal, 8 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons jojoba oil (substitute sunflower or sweet almond). Mix all the ingredients together in a glass jar and store in a cool, dark place.
To use: Take half a tablespoon of the mixture into your palm and mix in a few drops of water. Scrub your face gently for a few minutes and remove with a warm washcloth.
Olive Oil
Most of us have a bottle of olive oil sitting in our cupboards, it’s perfect for use in a salad dressing or stir-fry. Olive Oil is also a great moisturizer for your face because it attracts external moisture, holds it close to the skin, and forms a breathable film to prevent loss of moisture. It is a terrific ingredient in lotion bars. If you have sensitive skin, do an allergy test before you go all in when using it in any of these recipes.
Salt
This common pantry item comes in many varieties – sea salt, table salt, and kosher salt. Each of these has a different consistency and will work differently on your skin. Salt scrubs are invigorating and help to improve circulation in your skin. If you suffer from acne, salt helps to remove bacteria from the skin.
Sugar Benefits for Skin
Sugar helps to brush away old skin cells and expose newer, healthier cells. It also draws moisture into the skin and is a form of alpha hydroxy acid, which assists with cell turnover. Combine sugar with lemon and a carrier oil for a homemade sugar scrub that works wonders.
If you, like me, have been working towards living a more natural lifestyle, one that puts fewer toxins in our bodies, as well as into our environment, these foods that provide natural skin are the answer. What is your favorite kitchen ingredient for exfoliating skin care?
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