Friday, June 8, 2012

myhomemadebeauty.com

myhomemadebeauty.com

Redness Reducers from Around the Kitchen

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT


Over the course of the past ten years, my skin has gone from that of a fresh-faced teen to a ruddy, redness-prone adult. I was blessed with good skin for so long, that when issues finally did develop I assumed they were a result of a 'flare up' that would magically disappear in time; how wrong I was. It took me close to two years to finally realize that maybe my problem complexion was a result of something more than just adult acne. Not only was I broken out, but my cheeks, nose and chin were a permanent shade of red. When I started looking into what might be causing my issues, I realized that what I was putting in my body was as much to blame as what I was putting on it. I finally decided to try a more earth based routine, and I've never looked back.

While there are plenty of great, natural products on the market that help calm adult skin problems, what worked best for me was actually already in my kitchen. I started by combining ingredients from my cupboards to create cleansers, scrubs and toners, and then began eliminating certain foods from my diet. The results were exactly what I was hoping for! I now stick to a purely natural skin-care regime using products I create on my own at home. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Facial Cleanser – Part of the reason my face was always so irritated looking was because it didn't agree with the harsh ingredients in the cleansers I was using. Switching to this honey based recipe made a big difference, and was very friendly on my pocketbook.
  • Recipe: Mix ¼ cup of honey, 1 tbsp of castile soap and ½ cup vegetable glycerin together in an empty bottle. Use the mixture to wash your face morning and night, rinsing off with warm water and patting to dry.
  • Facial Scrub – Dead skin cells are a major cause of whiteheads and other common skin issues, so it's important to perform a gentle scrub every few days to get rid of them and allow new skin to breath.
    Recipe: Mix ¼ cup of baking soda, with 1tbsp of olive oil and massage onto face with a gentle circular motion. Allow to sit for 1 minute before wiping clean with a warm cloth.
  • Natural Toner: Facial toners should be a daily part of your skin routine because they help balance your pH levels. One of the best natural products I've used for doing this is Witch Hazel, not only does help maintain proper balance, it has been proven to reduce redness.
    Recipe: Combine ½ cup of cooled white tea with ¼ cup of witch hazel and 5 drops of chamomile oil. Apply after cleansing using a cotton ball or pad and allow to dry before applying moisturizer.
  • Moisturizer: There are a few different items that I rotate between for moisturizer, the first is Jojoba oil which feels like wax but sinks in very quickly, and the other is olive oil. Use only a small amount of either at first, adding more if required.
  • Change your diet: What you put in your body has a huge effect on your outward appearance and not just in terms of weight – certain foods can have a drastic effect on your skin too. Taking a closer look at your diet should be one of the first things you do if you're experiencing redness or other skin issues. The following foods have been well-known to negatively affect the skin – dairy, sugar, processed foods, alcohol and caffeine. It's tough to eliminate all of these from your diet, but cutting back on the amounts you consume is almost as good. The simple solution? Eat clean, whole foods like fruit, vegetables, legumes and fish.

It took me a long time to learn that there is no miracle cream or fast fix for great skin. The secret is in giving your body the nutrients it needs, and the ones you benefits from most are the ones that come from the earth. To anyone who is currently suffering from redness related skin issues or adult acne, I encourage you to give these recipes a shot. I hope they make as much of a difference for you as they have for me. Good luck!

Jessi is a green living enthusiast who lives in Eastern Canada and works as a Community Coordinator and blogger for PartSelect.com.
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