It’s in your kitchen where you’ll find some of the best and safest skin-nourishing ingredients that Mother Nature has to offer. Certain fruits, vegetables and other wholefoods are ideal for making your own skincare creams, lotions and body scrubs.
Not only is making your own skin products a great way to save money but you’ll also be saving your health. Most skincare products on the market today unfortunately contain a cocktail of chemicals, even carcinogenic compounds, that can affect your health and the integrity of your skin.
Considering 60 per cent of what you put on your skin ends up in your bloodstream, this is an important reason why you should settle for nothing less than 100 per cent natural ingredients to use on your skin. You should adopt the motto, “If it’s not good enough to eat then it’s not good enough to put on my skin.”
Your skin is going to love our delicious skincare recipes. They are definitely good enough to eat.
Top skin-loving ingredients from your kitchen cupboards
Olive oil
Olive oil has long been recognised for its health and beauty benefits. Cleopatra used it as part of her regular beauty regime, in fact.
Olive oil is a particularly rich source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which makes it very hydrating and nourishing when applied topically. Olive oil can help restore the skin’s natural pH and is recommended for people with dry skin.
Cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil is rich in potent antioxidants and vitamin E, which helps protect the skin from oxidative damage and premature skin ageing. It also helps to improve the skin’s ability to repair and renew. Applying olive oil to the skin after UV exposure has been shown to help reduce the risk of skin cancers, due to its antioxidant effects in decreasing DNA damage by free radicals.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a fabulous moisturiser for the face and body and is easily absorbed into the skin. It’s particularly nourishing for dry skin. Studies have shown that coconut oil applied topically can improve the moisture and lipid content of dry skin.
This nourishing oil also helps balance the skin’s delicate pH, helping to restore the skin’s protective acid layer, which is commonly removed through constant washing.
Coconut oil is abundant in vitamin E, which helps promote healthy skin by ensuring proper functioning of sebum glands. This soothing oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. Cold-pressed organic unrefined coconut oil is the best.
Apple-cider vinegar
Apple-cider vinegar (ACV) as a toner can help improve your overall complexion by balancing and restoring your skin’s natural pH.
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ACV is rich in alpha-hydroxy acid, which helps to promote healthy skin by warding off bacterial infections and dissolving dead skin cells, which helps prevent clogged pores and minimises pore size.
ACV is great for any skin type, particularly oily and acne-prone skin due to its antibacterial properties.
Make sure you buy an organic, raw, unfiltered ACV, preferably with the “mother”, a cobweb-like formation made up of strands of enzymes, protein and friendly bacteria.
Raw honey
Raw honey has long been known for its healing and antimicrobial properties.
Raw honey is a natural and effective cleanser, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. It’s much gentler than soap and won’t strip the skin of its beneficial oils. Honey has a natural acidic pH of 4.5, which is close to the skin’s pH. Using honey topically will help maintain and restore the skin’s delicate pH balance.
Raw honey is very soothing and moisturising and is recommended for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Raw honey is good for acne-prone skin due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Avocado
This gorgeous creamy fruit benefits the health of your skin not only when you eat it but also when you put it on your skin. The mashed pulp makes a quick and highly nourishing face mask, while avocado oil can be added to creams and body oils.
Avocados are jam-packed with skin-loving nutrients, including plenty of mono- and polyunsaturated fats that are important for moisturising the skin and guarding against sun damage and inflammation. These beneficial fats penetrate the skin, leaving it soft and glowing. Avocado is beneficial for all skin types, however the oil is recommended for very dry and aged skin due to its super moisturising properties.
Avocados provide high levels of beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, which are all super antioxidants that help improve the skin’s health by protecting skin cells from damaging free radicals that cause wrinkles and skin ageing.
Coffee beans
Coffee beans, particularly unroasted Arabica coffee beans, have been shown to provide numerous benefits for the skin when applied topically. They can significantly boost collagen and elastin production and guard against moisture loss, improving skin moisture, strength and elasticity.
Coffee beans have an anti-ageing effect due to their high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as essential fatty acids, sterols and vitamin E.
Researchers have discovered that the compounds found in coffee beans can help rejuvenate aged skin, helping to improve the appearance of wrinkles and skin tone and redness.
The caffeine in coffee beans also helps alleviate puffiness and redness and can improve capillary tone.
Ground coffee beans make an ideal exfoliator to buff and polish the skin’s surface to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and radiant.
Raw cacao
Cacao is chocolate in its raw, unprocessed form. Applying raw cacao topically can help deliver antioxidants, namely flavonoids, into your skin cells. Raw cacao contains potent flavonoids that help reduce skin reddening and inflammation and protect against damaging UV rays.
Raw cacao contains caffeine that can improve dermal blood circulation, reduce redness and fine lines and rejuvenate the skin.
Choose a good-quality raw cacao powder, not cocoa that’s made from roasted cacao, which contains less antioxidants and nutrients.
Oats
Oats are a fabulous natural beauty enhancer. Whether you’re enjoying oats in your porridge or using them topically, this super skin food provides many health benefits for your complexion.
Oats have the ability to sooth and relieve a number or skin irritations when applied topically. Oatmeal baths can be highly beneficial for easing irritated, itchy and inflamed skin conditions such as eczema, sunburn, chickenpox and mosquito bites.
Oats also make a fabulous gentle exfoliator, helping to remove excess oil and dirt from the pores as well as prevent clogged skin and breakouts. When oats are applied topically they can help improve skin hydration due to their high beta glucan concentration.
Oats are very gentle on the skin and are ideal for all skin types including sensitive, irritated and acne-prone skin.
Green tea
Scientists are discovering the various benefits of using green tea topically on the skin. Green tea is rich in skin-protective antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, polyphenols and carotenoids.
Studies have shown that when applied topically green tea can help promote a youthful, healthy complexion. It has been found that its high levels of the polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) possess anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous effects, which when applied topically can reduce inflammation and the risk of premature ageing and skin cancer.
Fruit acids
Natural fruit acids called alpha-hydroxy acids date back to the ancient Egyptians with Cleopatra using sour milk, which contains lactic acid, as a skin-rejuvenating beauty product. Today, alpha-hydroxy acids are commonly added to a number of different beauty products, including cleansers, toners and moisturisers.
Alpha-hydroxy acids are derived from fruit and milk sugars, including glycolic acids (sugar cane), lactic acids (milk), malic acid (apples and pears), citric acid (lemons and oranges), and tartaric acid (grapes).
Alpha-hydroxy acids are highly effective exfoliants that rejuvenate the skin by promoting the shedding of old, sun-damaged cells, which makes room for new skin growth. This leaves your complexion looking clearer and healthier, with a more even skin tone.
Using an exfoliator like alpha-hydroxy acid allows other topical nutrients to penetrate the skin better. They may also stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, and can help improve the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone and photo-damaged skin.
DIY skincare recipes
Strawberries, Honey and Yoghurt Face Mask
You will want to eat this delicious face mask. It’s ideal for all skin types and will help brighten and tone your complexion.
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Green Tea Toner
This antioxidant-rich toner is beneficial for all skin types, particularly for mature skin to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
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Banana and Oatmeal Face Mask
This nourishing face mask gently helps remove dead skin cells to promote fresh, glowing skin. It’s ideal for all skin types.
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Olive Oil Makeup Remover
Regular makeup removers are full of harsh chemicals that can irritate the delicate skin around your eyes. The best thing to remove mascara (even waterproof) and other makeup is olive oil.
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Coconut Body Scrub
This beautiful scrub helps remove dead skin cells, leaving you with smooth, healthy, more youthful-looking skin. Using a body scrub regularly will allow your body moisturiser to be better absorbed. It’s suitable for most skin types.
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