Natural Living: THE SEVEN : Natural Beauty Alternatives
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1. Turmeric
Because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, turmeric
has been used to treat various skin ailments for centuries all around the
world. It also regulates the production
of sebum, which for the oily skinned people like me, is heaven. I started using Turmeric when I made the
mistake of trying the oil cleansing method and having the worst acne breakout
I’ve ever had (Disclamier: OCM works for some people but 100% did not work for
me).
After months of trying to get the acne to clear up I was at a wedding dress shop in Westlands when the storeowner told me about a homemade facemask that she swore would clear my skin. I’ll do a blog on the facemask soon, but one of the main ingredients was Turmeric. I kid you not, about a month later my skin was clear. It is literally a miracle worker.
After months of trying to get the acne to clear up I was at a wedding dress shop in Westlands when the storeowner told me about a homemade facemask that she swore would clear my skin. I’ll do a blog on the facemask soon, but one of the main ingredients was Turmeric. I kid you not, about a month later my skin was clear. It is literally a miracle worker.
2. Sweet Almond Oil
I started using almond oil as my go-to facial moisturizer
right around the same time my face started clearing up and it definitely
speeded up the process. Sweet almond oil
is hypoallergenic so it is perfect for sensitive skin and is a 2 on the 0-5
comedogenic scale, which means it largely isn’t a pore clogging oil. It is really important to stay away from oils
that are high on the comedogenic scale especially if you are using them, on
your face because they WILL clog you pores and you WILL breakout (check out
what your oil scores here).
Oh and did I mention that almond oil is high in Vitamins A,
B and E which are all essential to skin health?
I put a few drops of tea tree oil in my oil for added health benefits
but you can add various essential oils if you want a specific scent.
3. Baking Soda
If natural beauty ingredients were people in today’s world,
baking soda would be Obama and Queen Elizabeth II put together. It….Does…..Everything. It’s a great cleaning product, great for your
hair, great for your face, great for alkalizing your body, and great for
baking. I probably use baking soda more
than I use anything else on this list. I
use it as a hair shampoo by adding a few tablespoons to a jug of warm water and
I’m telling it leaves my hair and scalp cleaner than any chemical-filled
shampoo. I also use it as my toothpaste
by simply mixing it with some water to form a paste. I started doing this when my teeth went
through a phase of sensitivity and I went in search of an alternative to fix
the problem. Needless to say, when I’m
using baking soda, my teeth are now always happy. I have a cousin who swears by it as a facial
scrub but after my OCM debacle I am really cautious about using anything new on
my face so I haven’t tried it for that purpose.
But in general, baking soda is the bomb.
And its probably the cheapest thing on this list. Win-Win.
4. Coconut Oil
I have a love-hate relationship with Coconut Oil. It is highly comedogenic and I suspect it
partly to blame for my breakouts so I wouldn’t advice it for facial use. It has also done wonders for people hair but
it left mine feeling dry and stringy. I’ve
included it in my list because I love it for oil pulling. For those who don’t know what oil pulling is,
its pretty much putting about a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing
it around for about 30 minutes. The
coconut oil sucks toxins out of your mouth and is great for improving overall oral
health. When my teeth are feeling
sensitive, the first thing I do is oil pull and it usually gives me immediate
relief. That alone, for me, means it
deserves a place on this list.
5. Lemon
I LOVE lemon. It is a
great detox and is widely known for flushing out toxins and greatly improving
skin health and body health in general.
I also love drinking it with my water with a little honey. It’s a great alternative to sugar filled
packaged juices and soda. I also love to
use lemon topically on your face. It
helps tone my skin and gives my skin a huge does of Vitamin C. I usually use it in my face scrub with some
sugar and honey and I love the results I’ve been seeing. You can also added it to your homemade
facemasks or just apply it directly to the skin. Keep your skin out of the sun when you have
lemon on your face though to prevent sun damage.
6. Sugar
Sugar for me is the must have for scrubs. It a perfect natural exfoliator because not
only does it exfoliate away those dead surface skin cells, but it is also a
natural humectant, which means it helps your skin retain its moisture and
leaves it clean and supple. It’s especially
beneficial in the cold season when your skin is dried out by the harsh
weather. I also use sugar as a general
body scrub and I LOVE the way it makes my skin feel. The one caution I would give is to be careful
not to scrub too hard or too often with sugar, because it can be too rough for
your skin with continuous and harsh use.
A light scrub once or twice a week should more than suffice.
7. Shea Butter
I always say that shea butter is like gold. And to many African people, it is. Shea Butter is AMAZING for the skin. Unlike coconut oil, which I found to be
drying to my skin, shea butter keeps your skin smooth and moisturized all day
and night. It is also PERFECT for
African hair. Black hair is the kinkiest
and needs a heavy oil or butter to help it lock in moisture. That is where shea butter comes in. I have yet to meet a black girl who uses shea
butter on her hair and has anything negative to say about it. It is definitely my go-to hair and skin moisturizer. The Neter
Wellness Company has amazing shea butters with different essential oils and
are by far my most trusted and favorite suppliers.
If you have natural beauty alternatives that you swear by that I haven't included, or if you've tried on of these alternatives, hit me up in the comments and let me know how they did or didn't work for you.
If you have natural beauty alternatives that you swear by that I haven't included, or if you've tried on of these alternatives, hit me up in the comments and let me know how they did or didn't work for you.
6 comments
I'm a big fan of natural health care! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love using natural products around the home and in my beauty routine. Thanks for the read :)
ReplyDeleteI personally use honey for acne (I swear it helps the scab heal almost instantly), I use rose water as a toner, I switch between grape seed oil and jojoba oil as a makeup remover, I use tea tree oil for acne, as well and for common warts. And I put other essential oils in my baths because they smell amazing :)
Lemon, lavender, rosemary, etc. OH and rose hip oil does wonders for my pink-ish skin. Vinegar and lemon oil for the floors (keeps ants away supposedly)...
I could go on and on I love this topic! I'll pin the post :)
-Caitlyn
www.catonthemoon.xyz
I love making my own natural beauty products. I didn't know about turmeric. Thanks for this information.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing honey mask every now and then but I'm still hesitant to use baking soda for teeth.
Love these suggestions! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I love using coconut oil to remove my makeup, but I think it works for me because I have very dry skin. Oh, and I can't wait to learn more about the tumeric facemask.
ReplyDeletexo,
KayElle