Most of us were taught to clean our skin with soap and water. As we get older, we are told that ‘special’ soaps will make our skin smoother, softer, or more beautiful while traditional soaps can be drying. If soap is so drying, then why have we all been using it for so long? Some soap can leave your skin tight and dry, while others might not do the job we need to remove unwanted levels of oil from skin depending on skin type. There are other options, unexpected cleansers you have in your home, that can do a great job cleansing your skin while leaving you with beautiful, glowing skin.
Oatmeal, milk, sugar and honey are all natural cleansers. They might not be the obvious choices, but if you read the ingredients of any special cleansers or treatments that dub themselves as all natural, you are likely to notice at least one of these items on the labels. Oatmeal is the most popular of the non-soap cleansers. It is very gentle and everyone can use it, which is especially helpful to those with sensitive skin or problematic skin conditions. To use oatmeal you simply need to grind the whole oats in a blender or food processor until the oats have become a fine powder. You can either add this powder to bath water for a full body treatment or mix with a little warm water to form a paste and use with a washcloth. Milk is another popular cleanser that is generally great for all skin types. The natural fat and lactic acid work to clean your skin while leaving it smooth and soft. Other dairy products, like yogurt, can also offer great cleansing properties with beautiful results. The only caution with using dairy products to cleanse your skin is to rinse very well, you do not want to spend a day smelling like old milk or yogurt.
Sugar and honey are not obvious cleansers, and seem to be the very type of thing parents feel like they are continually cleaning off their children. However, honey has been used as a cleanser since the times of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. It can be used by itself, or in combination with lemon juice for oily skin or milk for dry skin. Simply massage the honey into your skin and rinse like you might with any liquid soap. Like with milk or any cleanser really, it is important to rinse really well. Granulated sugar is great for those with dry skin or those looking for a cleanser that can exfoliate. To use sugar, you simply form a paste of sugar and water and massage on your skin with your fingertips or washcloth. Any of these ingredients can be used alone to give yourself great, clean skin. However, if you want something a little more personalized or want to put together an all-natural gift basket, there are recipes that can provide you with what you want. As with all natural, homemade recipes, I highly support experimentation. Just remember to write down the changes you make in order to repeat you favorite blends, and do not repeat mixtures that left you unhappy.
Cleansing Yogurt Blend
Yields Around Five Ounces
Ingredients:
1 ½ Teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
½ Cup of plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon of light oil
Instructions:
1. Place all the ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Stir until the ingredients are mixed well.
3. Place the ingredients in an airtight container for use. Store this cleanser in the refrigerator.
To Use:
1. Pour a small amount of your home made cleanser in your hand.
2. Gently massage it into your skin.
3. Rinse well with warm water.
4. Pat your skin dry.
Sweet Oatmeal Cleanser
Yields Around Eight Ounces
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon of honey
½ Cup of oatmeal
1 Cup of water
1 to 2 Drops of Tincture of benzoin (optional)
Instructions:
1. Put all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend the ingredients at a high speed. The result should be smooth and creamy.
3. Place the resulting mixture in an airtight container for your use.
To Use:
1. Take a small amount of your home made cleanser in the palm of your hand.
2. Gently massage it into your skin.
3. Rinse well with warm water.
4. Pat your skin dry.
Farm Fresh Cleanser
Yields Around Six Ounces
Ingredients:
1 Egg white
¼ Cup of whole milk
2 Tablespoons of baking soda
½ Cup of water
Instructions:
1. Put all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Mix them together until they are well blended.
3. Store the cleanser in an airtight container for use. Store this cleanser in the refrigerator.
To Use:
1. Take a small amount of your home made cleansing milk onto a wet washcloth
2. Gently massage it into your skin.
3. Rinse well with warm water.
4. Pat your skin dry.