It’s going to be a transitional time weather, which I don’t know about you but my hair and skin do not want to cooperate. I get oily skin but with dry patches, and my hair gets frizzy and too much product it gets heavy. I’ve probably spent enough on beauty products in my lifetime to feed a small community for life. I’m not even kidding, I’ve spent $300+ at a counter. But these days I’m not doing that so much, unless I’m traveling or I’m buying for other people too not just for myself. But what I do on my own is more natural and diy. I make a lot of my own masks in the kitchen with things from my garden. I think they work much better and they feel better too.
First, Toner
I’ve tried a lot of different toners over maybe 20 years from super cheap drugstore brands to department store counter brands. So far just grocery store staple reconstituted lemon juice cuts all the grease and dirt for me.
Be sure the bottle says reconstituted, which is important because it contains some things like lemon oil which is a powerful astringent.
I actually didn’t wash my face yet before applying the salt scrub. Just went around my face with a cotton ball with this lemon juice on it. Look at all the oil and dirt!
Comparison #1
Water Mask v. Salt and Honey scrub
So I have combination skin, which is the worst. I get whiteheads, blackheads and little eruptions in the worst places like around the eyebrow or nose. I used to subscribe to Birchbox, and I still do start up my subscription every few months just to try things out or send as a gift to someone. But I did splurge on a full size product of one of the samples, it’s an amazing water peel. Not harsh at all and you can actually see all the dead skin that comes off. It really brightens, but I find that I need to use it a lot, like 2x a week or sometimes more. My skin seems to absorb a lot. So I came up with this salt scrub, which is all from things in the kitchen. It does the job, but it takes more time than just opening a bottle.
First collect your ingredients:
Salt
Honey
Cinnamon
I combine equal parts honey and salt, then a generous shake of cinnamon, maybe a little more than ½ a teaspoon.
It will look like a chunky mess but let it settle and you get a smooth paste.
When you apply, scoop it into your hand and just let it form into a blob. Your body temp actually helps this work.
When you bring your hand to apply to the face, start from the forehead and smush it around your brows and down your temples. Work it down the rest of the way down and stop just under the chin. It’s definitely too harsh an exfoliant for the neck area.
Definitely keep away from your eyes, if you do just flush with water.
I leave this on for quite a while. Usually if I’m working at my desk. I leave it on for like 20-30 minutes and then rub into the skin in small circles. Then I leave it on for another 10 min or so.
Comparison #2
Aloe Moisturizer
I keep a small aloe plant on the porch. I’ve been trying to figure out new ways to create a free sample I received from Mario Bascau, it had aloe and something flowery in it. It was more a gel than a creme so I figured out a homemade moisturizer that has been working for me.
Ingredients:
1 aloe vera leaf
2-3 drops of lemon juice
I take a leaf from my aloe plant and I use a long thin knife with a serrated edge.
I cut the leaf in segments just because it’s easier for me to handle it. I flatten and cut the center in half to open it.
I then get the knife under the clear membrane and after that is separated from the skin I scrape the skin.
Don’t throw this out! I’ll make tea later with it.
I place the aloe guts in a small container and add just a touch of lemon juice, by the drop, just to make a spreadable gel type product.
I’ll use this after I’m done with the salt scrub.
If you are too sensitive just cut a segment of aloe leaf in half. Open it so there is a flat surface and rub over your face, start in the most dry places and work your way out. It feels really nice, soothing and thick. If you find that you applied too much just wait for most of it to dry and then wipe away the excess.
So… That’s it
That’s really the extent of my skin routine. I usually wash my face 2x a day with charcoal soap. I use a $5 facial brush to build a lather and apply this soap and it’s really refreshing. I still get blackheads so I use biore strips every few weeks. And for pimples that are weepy or big, like a mound just under the skin, I dry them out with tea tree oil, just a little, otherwise your skin might crack it’s so drying.
I also use tea tree oil on the cat collars to make them a chemical free flea collar. But not too much though, it can actually make your cat really sick if you use too much. No more than 5 drops for a full grown cat.
Hair Things
For my hair don’t actually do much. I wash it like 2x a week but the key I think is not washing it so often. I use a natural fiber brush to brush out segments of my layers and turn the brush so my waves don’t get ripped apart or frizzy. I use argan oil for frayed ends, but not too much since it can get heavy. For shampoo I use good old head and shoulders. For conditioner I’ve been using Mark Hill.
A few weeks ago I did an apple cider vinegar wash for my hair and it was amazing. My hair definitely felt satin like. I need to do that more often! But be sure to blow dry and style because the heat will knock out the vinegar smell. Find more info here about the benefits of Apple cider vinegar for your hair.
So good luck and good health, hope this was useful.
