Homemade skin care

​Abandoning skin care altogether was not in the plan, so I started researching what I could do to help take care of my skin but not use any heavy chemicals. I came up with a couple of "go to" recipes that I use often:

Honey Mask

This one is super simple, and I use it any time that my skin starts to feel a little dry, or even when I'm having a breakout. Honey has antibiotic and moisturizing properties, so it's fantastic to use on troubled skin. With cold weather coming in and being in and out of the forced heat, this is one recipe I'll be calling on a lot:



Take a teaspoon or so of honey, and warm it very slightly with a hot water bath. To do this, I usually put the honey in a small bowl or glass, and then set it inside another bowl. I pour hot water (not boiling!) into the larger bowl, and then let the water heat the honey for a few seconds. The warm honey feels fantastic and it is a little easier to spread.

I make sure to cover my entire face with a thin layer, and then I go read or do something relaxing for about half an hour. Rinse with warm water and a washcloth, and you're done!

​Oil Reducing Tonic

I have combination skin, so some parts are dry, and some are oily. Every now and again, the oily just takes over. One thing that I always hated was the sting I would get from toner. I loved having my skin feel clean, but the sting stung. When I started my experiment of fewer chemical makeup and skin care products, I thought about what I could use for toner.

​Witch hazel on its own worked too well, and sometimes left my skin dry. So I started mixing it with water, until I had a ratio of about 1 to 1 with each. Then I add a few drops of lavender essential oil, shake to mix, and apply with a cotton ball. Same clean fresh feeling, no sting!

Lavender is an adaptogen, so it does what your skin needs for it to do. It's also got antibacterial properties, so it's great for getting your skin really clean.​

Hopefully you don't have migraines from your skin care, but trying more natural skincare methods sure can't hurt!​