The benefits of utilizing homemade skincare

In a society so focused on meeting beauty standards, you can’t help the urge to meet those unreasonable goals and spend a fortune doing it.

Modern skincare is all about finding the newest ingredient that pulls in the most moisture or reduces fine lines quickest. With constant innovation comes a rising price tag to gain access to the best and brightest that your local makeup store has to offer. However, if you just want to cleanse, tone, and moisturize effectively and without breaking the bank, you can take care of your skin using ingredients that are already in or around your home.

If you’ve spent any time on the skincare side of TikTok, you may have heard terms such as “Clean Girl Skin,” “Glass Skin,” or more recently, “Cloud Skin.” Each trend brings a new regimen of products to achieve the in-vogue style. 

Several key steps seem to be constant fixtures between the differing finishes and “it” products. At the end of the day, people want to be clear, moisturized, and smooth. These goals are definitely achievable without the influence of celebrities and major corporations selling you the latest products.

As someone who works professionally selling makeup and skincare, I recognize the value of high-dollar ingredients and formulas. Most people, though, won't need a facelift in a bottle. Without the use of hyaluronic acid, Himalayan gentian, black diamond truffle, or peptides, we will create easy-to-make and use products with great benefits to your skin.

The following recipes are presented in the order that they would be most beneficial when applied to your skin. While I know these ingredients are safe for most, please take your own skin type and allergies into account before recreating them.

Face

Moisturizing Face Wash:

2 tablespoons oats

1 teaspoon honey (optional but recommended)

Water

Grind oats in a blender until slightly powdery. Mix in enough water to create a thick paste, then add honey and smooth into skin, and massage for at least a minute. Rinse off to see hydrated, clean skin.

Oats possess the basic quality to be used as a cleanser and will remove dirt, oil, and impurities from your face while unblocking pores. The hydrating qualities that make it a common ingredient in baby and toddler bath products also make it useful for adult skin. It is an anti-inflammatory product and also gently exfoliates due to the size of the particles without being rough. Honey is naturally antibacterial and is a useful protector against acne. Its humectant properties also help to moisturize dry, thirsty skin and ensure that the face wash, while oil-free, is not drying skin out.

Apple Cider Vinegar Toner:

1 part Apple Cider Vinegar

3 parts water

Combine in a bottle with a mist spray top and shake well. After cleansing, close your eyes and spray your face with the mixture. 

OR 

Combine and shake well in a narrow-mouthed container. Apply mixture to a cotton ball or pad and gently swipe across unbroken skin.

After cleansing, which makes your face more basic on the pH scale, this toner will help to return your skin to its natural pH. It also helps gently exfoliate, minimizes pores, helps reduce the size and appearance of acne scars, and reduces sun and age spots.

Acne Spot Treatment:

1 drop of tea tree oil, undiluted

Used straight from the bottle, dab conservatively on any acne (do not use on broken skin) before bed. 

Tea tree oil is a naturally antimicrobial substance that fights acne and is a common ingredient in store-bought pre-prepared skincare. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help acne by soothing your skin and aiding in the prevention of acne scars in the healing process.

Body

Calluses Treatment:

2 tablespoons baking soda

Baking soda, enough to create a thick paste

3 drops lime or lemon juice

Mix baking soda and water first to make a thick paste, then add your lime juice. Apply to calluses wherever they may bother you and then cover with a bandage, sock, glove, or whatever is appropriate for that body part. Apply nightly until callus is softened.

Baking soda is a strong exfoliator, especially when paired with an acid, like citrus. When these two agents work together to slough off dead skin, results can be seen quickly. You will need to apply this paste nightly until you achieve the desired level of softness. For a less intense treatment, adjust ratios to create a soak. Fill a container with warm water, add a few tablespoons of citrus juice, and soak the callus for a few minutes. Then add baking soda and soak for several more.

Whipped Sugar Scrub:

½ cup coconut oil

¼ granulated sugar

7-10 drops essential oil (optional, for scent)

2 drops food coloring (optional)

Mix ingredients in a small bowl at room temperature to keep the sugar from dissolving. Using a handheld mixer, whip ingredients together until light and fluffy before transferring to an airtight container. Apply while washing hands or while in the shower or bath, where you can rinse the oil and sugar off with warm water. 

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and will keep your skin soft and moisturized while you use a physical exfoliator, which on its own can damage the skin barrier. Coconut oil’s ability to be solid at room temperature also keeps the sugar evenly suspended after whipping. Sugar granules exfoliate by brushing off dead skin cells and leaving behind silky smooth skin.

Pine Needle Tea:

2 cups water

⅓ cups pine needles, washed and roughly chopped, stems removed

Heat water to nearly boiling and then add pine needles. Let steep until aromatic to your liking, I recommend about five minutes. Strain into mug. Add sweetener if desired.

Pine needle tea helps to boost skin and hair growth, especially when you consume it before bed, when your skin does most of its regenerating. The slight piney taste is not unpleasant and is, to me, quite homey. I enjoy taking my pine needle tea with a bit of lemon and honey.