Our desire for smooth, healthy-looking skin fuels a billion-dollar beauty business. But looking at a medicine cabinet cluttered with plastic jars three-quarters full of dashed hopes takes the sense of play out of experimenting with cosmetics. Here are some all-natural, green alternatives, cooked up in your own kitchen, where you can reconnect with the fun side of personal grooming--no animal testing, no major money down the drain, no junky packaging or ludicrous marketing campaigns.
Pomegranate Mask
Pomegranate is another hot ingredient that started turning up in $15
martinis a few years ago. This beautiful jewel-like fruit comes from
mother nature in a package that seems to promise magic and it may indeed
have anti-cancer properties and the ability to reduce inflammation.
Crush clumps of seeds and pulp in a blender or food processor. You want a
moist substance with enough binding from the pulverized seeds that it
will adhere to your face. If the consistency is not quite correct, stir
in a small quantity of plain yogurt. Don't ever rub the mixture onto
your skin, as the rough seeds could scratch and damage your skin.
Instead, gently dab the mask onto your face, lay back, and let it dry
for ten minutes. Then rinse.
Green Tea TonerGreen and white tea are trendy right now, but companies like Olay, Mark Kay Cosmetics, and MD Formulations don't include them in their products just for the buzz--according to consumer advocate
Paula Begoun, scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals has shown that the teas are powerful antioxidants. Prepare a simple green tea toner by brewing loose tea leaves or teabags as usual. Let cool. Apply with fingers or cotton ball to already-cleansed skin and allow a few minutes for it to evaporate. Follow with your regular daily routine of moisturizer and sunblock. Brew tea from scratch every time you use it, as the beneficial compounds in the tea aren't stable when exposed to air.
Egg Yolk PeelThe use of egg yolk is an old folk beauty treatment. Now we now for certain the amazing properties of Vitamin A, or retinol--it builds up collagen and improves the skin's texture and barrier function. Crack an egg into a bowl carefully, so the yolk doesn't break. Using your fingers, gently pick up the yolk and pierce the sack, letting its contents drain into a second bowl. Throw away the empty yolk sack, shell, egg whites, and wash your hands. Spread the egg yolk over your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Don't get it near your hairline, eyes, or nose, because you want it to easily peel off in large sheets after it naturally air dries-- in about 15 minutes.
Lychee FacialThere so is much data on the skin-saving benefits of Vitamin C that every woman who cares about her complexion should be using it. But when we think of foods rich in Vitamin C, lemons, oranges, and kiwis come to mind--acidic fruits that might irritate sensitive facial skin. Instead, turn to lychee fruit--high in vitamin C, but sweet, rather than acidic. Remove the rosy peel from fresh lychees, and scrape the pulp into a bowl, discarding the seed. Mash the pulp up with a fork, and sprinkle in some wheat germ. Spread on clean skin, avoiding the eye area, let rest for ten minutes, and then rinse off.
Oatmeal Oil AbsorberOatmeal soothes inflamed skin and absorbs oil. Use a food processor to grind oatmeal into a powder. Combine with only enough warm water to make a paste. Dab on face, but don't get it near your eyes, and allow it to dry. Use warm water to rinse so the oatmeal comes off easily, without scrubbing.