It’s surprisingly easy to look after your skin without buying any commercially made skincare products.
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any of the products we think we need to use daily aren't really necessary at all. In reality, the best things we can do for our skin are staying hydrated, sleeping well, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
Despite this, we’re sold all kinds of different scrubs, creams and lotions, many of which are expensive and don’t exactly have the most skin-friendly ingredients. Here are 19 chemicals to avoid when choosing your skin care products.
However, daily cleansing and moisturising, as well as regular doses of some extra nourishment, are great ways to make your skin glow.
If you also want to save money and reduce your waste, all while improving the health and appearance of your skin, why not have a go at making your own natural skin care products at home? It's much easier than you might think!
The follow list easy includes recipes for 6 genuinely natural and eco-friendly remedies to improve the appearance and health of your skin.
1
Facial Cleanser
The first step to beautiful skin is to gently wash away the build-up of dirt, oil and toxins from your face. Combine the following ingredients in a bowl and mix well, before storing your homemade cleansing lotion in a jar or reusable bottle.
Castile soap is made from natural, plant-derived ingredients which are often organic and sourced using fair trade principles. It's environmentally friendly and gentle on skin, but it can also be used as a multi-purpose household cleaner! Bentonite clay is made of aged volcanic ash and provides many health benefits.
- 2 tbsp of liquid Castile soap
- 2 tbsp of aloe vera
- 1 tbsp of jojoba
- 1 tsp of vitamin e oil
- 1/2 tsp of bentonite clay
- 10 drops of essential oil, e.g. frankincense
2
Face Moisturiser
Once your face is feeling fresh and free from impurities, adding some extra nourishment, moisture and protection is the next step towards beautiful skin. Firstly, add coconut oil, Shea butter, almond oil and wax beads together in a small bowl.
Although coconut oil has many skin-friendly benefits, you may want to consider leaving the coconut oil out if you have acne prone skin. Instead, add an extra tablespoon of almond oil and an extra 1/4 teaspoon of soy wax.
Next - place this bowl over a pot of boiling water to melt the ingredients together before pouring the mixture into a blender. Add your favourite essential oil, or a pod of vanilla beans and allow the blended mixture to completely cool to room temperature.
Once it’s cool, begin blending again on high speed, and add the aloe vera. Watch as the consistency starts to change; once it becomes nice and creamy, it's ready to be transferred to a small, reusable container.
- 1 1/2 tbsp of coconut oil
- 1 tbsp of Shea butter
- 2 tbsp of almond oil
- 2 tsp of soy wax beads
- 1 tsp of vitamin e oil
- 3 tbsp of aloe vera gel
- 5 drops of essential oil or a 1-inch pod of vanilla beans
3
Face Mask
Every so often, our skin is going to need a little extra love.
Cold weather, too much sun, lack of sleep, and excessive stress are just a few of the many factors that impact the health and appearance of our skin. This is where a homemade face mask can come in handy, and this one is super simple!
All you have to do is combine the following ingredients in a bowl, adding a little water until you get the consistency you want. Then comes the fun part; apply the mixture to your face, just like a mask.
You might scare a few people with this look, but at least your skin will be happy! Once your mask is completely dry, rinse it off with warm water to reveal your hydrated, fresh and supple skin.
- 3 tbsp of bentonite clay
- 1 tsp of almond oil
- 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
- 5 drops of essential oil, eg. Lavender
- Add a little water to achieve the desired consistency
There is a simple and natural remedy you can make at home that uses similar ingredients as your homemade moisturiser
4
Lip balm
The skin on our lips is some of the most sensitive skin on our entire body, which means our lips one of the first areas to suffer when exposed to the elements, stress and other internal and external factors.
Fortunately, there is a simple and natural remedy you can make at home that uses similar ingredients as your homemade moisturiser, including Shea butter. This lip balm is very soothing, but it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
Place the following ingredients in a small bowl and melt them together over a pot of boiling water. Once melted, pour the mixture into a small cosmetics container to set and use as required.
- 1 tsp of Shea butter
- 1 tsp of coconut oil
- 1 tsp of vitamin e oil
- 1/2 tsp of soy wax beads
- 20 drops of essential oil (food grade) or another flavouring – e.g. cocoa or vanilla bean
5
Body wash
Keeping our bodies clean is a routine daily task, but how often do we question what we're putting on our skin and washing down the drain?
With this eco-friendly, affordable and nourishing body wash recipe, you can help save the environment and have beautiful, healthy skin that smells deliciously fruity.
Combine the following ingredients in a bowl and mix well, before storing your homemade body wash in a recycled bottle.
- 1/2 cup of liquid Castile soap
- 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel
- 2 tbsp of jojoba oil
- 20 drops of essential oil, e.g. tangerine or frankincense
- Grated citrus zest
- Optional for a thicker mixture - 1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
In addition to enjoying your beautiful, homemade skincare products, be sure to stay hydrated and get regular workouts in
6
Body Lotion
Just like your face, the rest of your skin can benefit from some extra nourishment, moisture and protection.
This body lotion is similar to the facial moisturiser and is made by combining coconut oil, grape seed oil and soy wax beads in a bowl, then melting the ingredients together over a pot of boiling water, before pouring the mixture into a blender.
Add your favourite essential oils and allow the blended mixture to completely cool to room temperature.
Once it’s cool, begin blending again on high speed, and add the aloe vera. The consistency of the body lotion should be waterier than the facial moisturiser, but thick enough to be stored in a jar.
- 3 tbsp of coconut oil
- 3 tbsp of grape seed oil
- 1 1/2 of tbsp soy wax beads
- 3 tbsp of aloe vera gel
- 20 drops of essential oils
All of these skin care recipes can be personalised to suit you perfectly, so feel free to experiment a little with these natural, nourishing ingredients.
In addition to enjoying your beautiful, homemade skincare products, be sure to stay hydrated and get regular workouts in, as well as eating an abundance of these nutrient-dense, skin-loving foods.
Bonus Tip for Glowing Skin:
When it comes to looking after our skin, what we put in our bodies is just as important as what we put on them. To boost your intake of skin-loving nutrients, we recommend supplementing a healthy plant-rich diet with some Tropeaka products. Here are a couple of examples:
Acai Berry is rich in minerals, fatty acids, vitamins E, C and C, and is an antioxidant, anti-aging powerhouse. This Amazonian super berry is also a delicious addition to smoothies, so try Tropeaka Acai Powder today.
The super high vitamin C content of Tropeaka Camu Powder contributes to healthy collagen formation, which is not only essential for beautiful, healthy skin, but for strong bones, teeth, gums, and cartilage as well. Add Tropeaka Camu Powder to your dietary skincare routine.
