Cleanse
Cleanser for oily skin: If you like that squeaky clean feeling, then use crushed strawberries. Rub them in small circular movements, then rinse off, to see a glowingly clean skin.
Why it works: Strawberries are high in ascorbic acid, malic acid, and ellagic acid. These acids have a natural ability to exfoliate, without the harshness of synthetic acids, which are found in alpha-hydroxy based cleansers.
Cleanser for normal skin: If you do not like squeaky clean, then apply a paste made from refined oats and water. Rub gently, then rinse, and you will be shocked that skin can feel and look brand new.
Why it works: Oatmeal contains saponins, which are a mild cleansing agent.
Cleanser for dry skin: Oil cleansing arose, when people became tired of washing their faces with glorified detergent. Detergent cleanser strips your natural oils, leaving your skin vulnerable to acne and wrinkles alike.
The concept of oil cleansing makes sense, as the skin contains a lipid (oil) barrier, which should never be disturbed. Instead, you want to simply remove the build up of dirt on your face, and this is done by applying oil, then wiping it off with warm water.
Most oils are too ‘oily’ for this cleansing purpose, including the much touted coconut oil. The reason why Rose Hip Oil is perfect as a cleanser, is that it is one of the few oils known to leave no oily residue.
Why it works: Rose Hip Oil achieves cleansing via the Vitamin A it contains, which is in the form of trans-retinoic acid. This acid gently peels off any rough, damaged, or pigmented tissue.
Tone
Toner for oily skin: Blend one teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, with half a cup of water. Dip a cotton round into the blend, then rub it all over your face, for the freshest feeling ever.
Why it works: Lemon contains citric acid, which is highly cleansing, in that it strips away excess oils. Some people suggest using it directly on the skin, but I feel that the dilution with water makes for a less harsh experience.
Toner for normal to dry skin: Soak rose petals in some spring water, and leave it in the sun for a day. Apply the rose-infused water to your face, using a cotton round, or splash on, for a more emollient effect.
Why it works: Many people know that rose essential oil is highly emollient, due to the oils found in rose petals, which account for rose petals being the softest petals on Earth. But did you know that you can benefit similarly, by making your own rose petal infusion? The more days you leave it, the oilier the water will become. Just don’t leave it so long that the petals turn brown.
Exfoliate
Exfoliator for all skin types: Sea salt is the best exfoliator I have ever used, and I say this, after having used, and lectured about the top French brands available to woman, for over a decade!
Exfoliate your face, twice a week, with fine sea salt. Best results are obtained whilst lying down, and rubbing the salt firmly in circles, in many directions, going over every inch of your face, for several minutes. Rinse off, then apply your toner.
If you can’t find fine sea salt, grind your own, using a mortar and pestle.
Why it works: Sea salt removes dead cells, which block the full absorption of moisturizers. Sea salt contains about 82 trace minerals, including sulfur, which is not only a natural cleanser, but has recently been approved by the FDA as an acne treatment.
Mask
Mask for oily skin: Apply one egg white to your skin, leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Why it works: Lysozyme, an enzyme in egg whites, destroys bacteria, while the albumen tightens the pores.
Mask for normal skin: Apply one egg yolk to your skin, leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Expect velvet skin.
Why it works: Yolks are very rich in proteins, vitamins A, D, E and K, minerals, lecithin, and lipid oils. The chick embryo uses the yolk as their complete food source, which is why it is so rich in nutrients.
Mask for dry skin: There are three natural moisturizers that produce different results, so its best to try each one, or to combine them all together.
Papaya – produces a gentle moisture layer. Crush, and apply thickly.
Avocado – is slightly more moisturizing. Smear a thick layer onto the face.
Honey – is highly moisturizing. Paint honey onto the face.
All the above may be left on for 20 minutes, then rinsed off with warm water.
Why they work: Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which gently digests old skin cells, leaving the skin with a fresh appearance. The fact that 100 g of papaya contains 88 g of moisture, explains why the skin is left moist, a property also known as humectant.
Avocado contains 75 % oil, mostly oleic oil, which is prized for its anti-aging properties. The carotenoids are a highly bio-available form of vitamin A, which is a skin healing vitamin, and a well known antioxidant.
Honey is one of Nature’s most powerful humectants, meaning it draws moisture into the skin, and leaves it there. Its best to use raw, unprocessed, unheated honey, to obtain the live enzymes, high vitamin content, and antioxidant benefits.
Moisturize
- Moisturizer for oily skin: If you used the above products for oily skin, you will not need an added moisturizer, as your skin will already be perfectly balanced.
Moisturizer for normal or dry skin: This one requires you to buy an aloe vera plant, because the gel that you can squeeze from the inner leaves, is possibly the most complete moisturizer on the planet. Scientists have found over 200 nutritional substances in Aloe Barbadensis leaves, including 32 vitamins and minerals, 19 amino acids, and a variety of enzymes, which stimulate collagen formation, preventing DNA destruction. Aloe acts as a potent moisturizing agent, and is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
I was honored to have been featured on The List, in which they quoted me:
“Janice Rosenthal, the founder of Garden of Essences and a certified Beauty Therapist, points to eggs as an excellent stand-alone face mask solution for individuals with oily or normal skin. The only trick? You use different parts of the egg depending on your skin type:-
1. If you have oily skin, it’s best to use the egg white. Rosenthal explained to me, ‘lysozyme, an enzyme in egg whites, destroys bacteria, while the albumen tightens the pores.’
Simply leave the egg white on for 20 minutes, then rinse away with warm water.
2. If, however, your skin type falls into the “normal” category, skip the egg white and opt for the yolk. “Yolks are very rich in proteins, vitamins A, D, E, and K, minerals, lecithin, and lipids.”
These nutrients are great for your skin, and perfect for brightening normal skin that doesn’t have other major concerns. Again, leave the yolk on for 20 minutes, then rinse away with warm water.
3. If dry skin is your major concern, Rosenthal suggests a few different single-ingredient face masks to ease the flaky, itchy discomfort, which is common during cold and windy weather.
“Papaya and avocado are two natural moisturizers that produce different results, so it’s best to try each one individually, then experiment with combining them together.” She goes on to explain, “Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which gently digests old skin cells, leaving the skin with a fresh appearance.
The fact that 100-grams of papaya contains 88-grams of moisture explains why the skin is left feeling moist, a property known as a humectant. Avocado is slightly more moisturizing, as it contains 75-percent oil, mostly oleic oil, which is prized for its anti-aging properties.
The carotenoids in avocado are a highly bio-available form of vitamin A, which is a skin-healing vitamin and a well-known antioxidant.”
When applying papaya or avocado, mash the fruit well before applying a thick layer to the skin. Either mask can be left on for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.”