Natural Beauty Remedies
By: Genevieve Glynn-Reeves
Have you ever read through the ingredients on your beauty products? I guarantee there will be at least one bottle that has you completely stumped, unless perhaps you’re a chemist. I looked through my collection today and was shocked to find I had no idea what I was putting onto my skin. A little research revealed that certain ingredients can actually inflame and worsen the symptoms that they are claiming to correct. Having been raised in a house called “Woodstock” by two aging hippies, I am no stranger to natural remedies. I thought it might be time to apply these ideas to my beauty regime. Here are a few of the products I will be using!
Tea Tree Oil
This is actually already something I use religiously. It’s a natural antiseptic and is often sold in small, portable bottles, perfect for on-the-go use. I’ve used it for a whole range of ailments. I’ve used it to clean cuts and scrapes and help soothe thrush. In terms of beauty, it’s a miracle cure for spots. Put a tree oil onto any problem areas before you go to bed and you will definitely see a result when you wake up in the morning!
Editor’s note: Essential oils are very potent and should be diluted before use. Choose a carrier oil such as avocado, almond, or sunflower oil to dilute essential oils before use.
Aloe Vera
Another natural ingredient with great healing properties. The gel within a piece of aloe vera can be applied straight to burns to help soothe and heal the skin. This works for any kind of burn, whether it’s from a flame or too much time in the sun. It can also be made to make a great toner that will help remove dry skin that might otherwise clog your pores. All you need to do is scrape the gel from inside the aloe vera and mix it with fresh rose petals in a blender. Then drain the liquid and this is your toner! Best used after exfoliating and before moisturizing.
Coconut Oil
We already know it’s delicious in food! I love cooking stir fry veggies in it but it’s actually also a great beauty staple. I ran out of my expensive moisturizer and stumbled across coconut oil while I was looking for a cheap alternative. I found it actually works a lot better than the moisturizer I had before! Just scoop a little out of the jar, warm with your hands and apply like you would apply body butter. It also works great as a hair mask for dry or damaged hair!
Editor’s note: Be careful with coconut oil on the skin and in the hair, as it is non-comedogenic and can have adverse effects on certain skin types.
Fresh Avocado
Another thing you might find in your kitchen. Avocado makes a great facemask for older or dry skin. Mush half an avocado up and combine with 3 tbsp of honey (or honeyquat for vegans!) to make a luxurious feeling treatment. Just make sure not to make a vast quantity and to use it quickly as the avocado will go brown and won’t keep.
Even if you don’t fancy going completely natural you can still ensure you’re buying products that are great for your skin by looking out for any of these for active ingredients when you go shopping! The more words you actually recognize on a bottle, the better. What are your favorite natural remedies? Drop them in the comments below!