‘Do It Yourself’ At Home NATURAL SKIN CARE: (with yummy foods you already have in your kitchen ~ some of these inexpensive ‘global’ recipes are from our great-grandparents days!)
FREE Beauty Tips: We have listed a variety of over 35 different types of natural facial masks and scrubs, as well as several natural treatments for acne and blemishes, including some for fading scars, age spots and dark circles, plus natural remedies for treating sunburns. There are even a few natural recipes for hair, teeth and gums. (F.Y.I. At the bottom of this page I’ve listed ingredients in Hair & Skin Care that are recommended to avoid due to their links to premature aging, cancer and other health related problems.)
Caution: If you are allergic to any of the ingredients* in any of these ‘recipes’ do not use them on your skin. If your skin becomes itchy, burning, red, swollen or develops a rash then rinse off immediately and seek medical assistance if any of these symptoms persist! If using Turmeric in any of these recipes – use caution as it will permanently stain clothing and temporarily yellow skin for a day.
Recommended: Wearing old clothing and using a headband to keep hair away from face for facial treatments. Take time to relax!
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR MOST MASKS: Mix all ingredients together really well and apply evenly (with fingers or spatula in an upward circular motion) to the face, neck, hands or skin area that needs extra TLC (exclude eye area) and leave on between 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm (not hot) water – (optional followed by a cold splash of water). I find that the cold water closes the pores and leaves the face feeling really refreshed. Pat face dry with cloth.
Note: *Use the best ingredients possible. I always choose Organic and First Cold Pressed, Extra Virgin GREEN Olive Oil. The GREEN Olive Oil is the best and purest available. I also support local Honey vendors. You can use extra product on LEGS, ARMS, HANDS or any DRY SKIN AREA however NOT recommended for the eye area. In the Scrubs & Masks that call for Cane Sugar or Honey, do NOT substitute any other sweeteners (i.e. Splenda, NutraSweet or Maple Syrup). It’s also best to make homemade beauty products in small quantities, to keep them fresh. Try to get organic ingredients when you can, you deserve it! Also try to store them out of the light (which can oxidize some oils) and use a fresh cotton ball or Qtip each time.
Oatmeal Honey Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
½ cup Oatmeal – gluten free & finely ground is best
3 teaspoons Honey – (warm optional)
1 Banana –- mashed (can substitute Avocado)
1 Tablespoon Almond Oil (can substitute 1 T Olive or Coconut Oil – warm optional)
Directions: Add warmed honey, oil and banana together first then mix in the oatmeal and apply (with fingers or spatula in an upward direction) to the face, neck, hands or skin area that needs extra TLC and leave on between 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm (not hot) water – (optional followed by a cold splash of water). I find that the cold water closes the pores and leaves the face feeling really refreshed. Pat face dry with cloth.
Oatmeal Honey Yogurt Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
½ cup Oatmeal – gluten free & finely ground is best
2 Tablespoons Honey
¼ cup Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
Oatmeal Citrus Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
1 Tablespoon Oatmeal – gluten free & finely ground is best
1 teaspoon Lemon or Lime juice
Banana Yogurt Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
½ Banana – mashed (can substitute ½ Avocado)
2 Tablespoons Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
1 Tablespoon Honey – (can substitute 1 T Olive or Coconut Oil)
Cocoa Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
2 Tablespoons Cream
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Oatmeal – (finely ground is best)
Avocado Honey Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
½ Avocado – mashed
½ cup Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Honey
Directions: Mix Avocado & Whole Milk together until pasty then add the honey and blend. Then follow general directions.
Cranberry Yogurt Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients:
6 Tablespoons of fresh cranberries – boiled & mashed
3 Tablespoons Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Honey
Directions: Mix all ingredients together, soak wash cloth in hot water and put on face for 2-3 minutes, then put mask on face for 15-30 minutes and rinse off.
Egg Honey Mask ~ (Recipe for each skin type)
Ingredients*:
1 Egg – whisked (Whole egg for normal skin; egg yoke for dry skin; egg white for oily skin)
¼ teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Honey
1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
Cucumber Mask ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
1 Cucumber – peeled & blended
½ teaspoon Lemon Juice – add to cucumber
1 Egg White – whisked & added to mixture
1 teaspoon Witch Hazel – add to mix
Directions: Refrigerate for 30 minutes then apply to face and leave on for 30 minutes.
Cucumber Yogurt Mask ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
1 cucumber – cut up
½ cup Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
1 teaspoon non-fat milk powder
Directions: Blend ingredients until smooth. Apply and wait 15 minutes then rinse with cool water.
Cucumber Rosewater Mask ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
½ Cucumber – peeled & grated
1 teaspoon Rosewater
Note: This can be put around the eye area to reduce puffy tired eyes. Also save 2 slices of cucumber to put on the eye lids for brighter eyes.
Strawberry Mask ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
1 cup ripe Strawberries
¼ cup ORGANIC/ NON-GMO Cornstarch – (can substitute 3 Tablespoons Honey)
Directions: Mix ingredients together & refrigerate for 30 minutes, CAREFULLY steam face with hot water for 3-5 minutes (use large pot and fill with 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, cover head with towel over pot – if using a gas stove make sure the towel doesn’t catch a flame when steaming face), then put on chilled mask & leave on for 30 minutes, rinse off with cold water.
Quick O.J. Mask ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
1 Tablespoon Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
1 Tablespoon of Orange Juice
Directions: Mix well, apply evenly and wait 5 minutes then rinse off.
Watermelon Yogurt Mask ~ (Hydrating & Healing)
Ingredients*:
1 teaspoon Watermelon juice
1 teaspoon Plain Yogurt – (don’t use fat free)
Directions: Mix & apply the mask to your face and neck for 10 minutes before rinsing off. The lactic acid and enzymes in the yogurt will help gently exfoliate and purify while the watermelon hydrates and heals.
Watermelon Avocado Mask ~ (Hydrating & Nourishing)
Ingredients*:
1 teaspoon Watermelon juice
1 teaspoon Avocado – mashed
Directions: Mix & apply to your face and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The avocado is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps plump the skin, as well as vitamin C and vitamin E, which act as antioxidants for a powerful anti-aging combination.
Watermelon Honey Mask ~ (super Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
1 teaspoon Watermelon juice
1 teaspoon Honey.
Directions: Mix & apply to your face and let sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it will help bring moisture deep into your skin, making the watermelon juice work double duty in hydrating your skin.
Watermelon Banana Mask ~ (Acne)
Ingredients*:
1 teaspoon Watermelon juice
1 teaspoon Banana – mashed
Directions: Mix & apply to your face and let sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The banana, which contains vitamins B2, B6 and B12, will help to reduce skin inflammation while simultaneously making the skin supple and soft all as the watermelon works its magic too as an oil-free moisturizer.
Quick Green Tea Mask ~ (Rejuvenating)
Ingredients*:
½ Avocado – mashed
1 cup Green Tea – loose
Directions: Steep loose Green Tea & Strain – drink tea and add tea leaves to the avocado and mix well, apply and wait 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Green Grape Mask ~ (Detoxifying)
Ingredients*:
4 Green Grapes – (seedless)
½ teaspoon Flour – (Rice or Oat)
¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
Directions: Squeeze Grapes into a small bowl – discard grape skins, mix Flour with Grape juice until pasty then mix in Baking Soda. Add to face – excluding eye area for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water, pat dry and add moisturizer.
Aspirin Mask ~ (Pick Me Up)
Ingredients*:
3 Aspirin or White Willow Bark Tablets
Purified Water – double the aspirin amount
Directions: Mash up Aspirin, add water & mix well, use cotton ball to apply all over face – after it dries rinse it off with warm water.
Note: If you are allergic to aspirin do not use this mask. This mask is not intended to use frequently.
Lemon Honey Mask ~ (Clears Acne & Blemishes)
Ingredients*:
½ Lemon – squeezed
2 Tablespoons Honey
Directions: Squeeze 1/2 a lemon into a bowl, add 2 tbsp of honey and mix it with a spoon until it’s a liquid consistency. Apply it all over a clean face avoiding eye area. *Also make sure your hair is pulled back away from your face as the mask is rather sticky! Leave on for 15-20 min and rinse off with warm water.
Benefits: Clears Acne, Gentle Cleanse, Dries out Pimples, Minimizes Pore Size, Smoothes Skin, Reduces Redness, Relieves Dryness, Evens Skin Tone, Brightens & Helps Skin Glow.
Lemon Mint Mask ~ (Dark Circles)
Ingredients*:
½ cup Mint – fresh & chopped
½ Lemon – squeezed
Turmeric Corn Flour Mask ~ (Clears, Lightens & Brightens)
Ingredients*:
2 Tablespoons Corn Flour – (Organic, Non-GMO)
½ Tablespoon Turmeric
4 Tablespoons Cold Whole Milk
Caution: Turmeric will permanently stain clothing and temporarily yellow skin for a day.
Turmeric Milk Mask ~ (Clears, Lightens & Brightens)
Ingredients*:
1 Tablespoon Turmeric
1 Tablespoon Whole Milk
1 Tablespoon Chickpea Flour
Caution: Turmeric will permanently stain clothing and temporarily yellow skin for a day.
Turmeric Lemon Mask ~ (Clears, Lightens & Brightens)
Ingredients*:
2 Tablespoons Turmeric
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Whole Milk
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Caution: Turmeric will permanently stain clothing and temporarily yellow skin for a day.
Turmeric Honey Mask ~ (Clears, Lightens & Brightens)
Ingredients*:
2 Tablespoons Turmeric
2 Tablespoons Honey
½ Lemon – Juiced
Caution: Turmeric will permanently stain clothing and temporarily yellow skin for a day.
Potato Turmeric Mask ~ (Dark Circles)
Ingredients*:
1 Potato – peeled & sliced
½ Cucumber – peeled & sliced
½ Tablespoon Turmeric
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
Directions: Juice all ingredients and refrigerate for 30 minutes, apply using cotton balls by gently tapping using ring fingers under the eyes. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off.
Tomato Lime Mask ~ (Shrink Pores)
Ingredients*:
1 Tablespoon Tomato Juice – fresh
2 – 4 Drops Lime Juice – fresh
Directions: Use a cotton ball to apply this mixture on your face. Massage it in circular motions. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then wash off with cool water. Regular application will shrink pores greatly.
Cucumber Oatmeal Mask & Toner ~ (Refreshing)
Ingredients*:
½ Cucumber – peeled, sliced, blended & strained into 2 bowls – 1 liquid & 1 chunks
2 teaspoons Oatmeal – gluten free & finely ground
Directions: Mix Oatmeal with chunky Cucumbers and apply to face for 20 minutes, then rinse off.
Toner: Mix Cucumber Juice with 1 cup Green Tea, 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice & 1 teaspoon Honey and Refrigerate. Use as a spritzer when needed.
Rice Toner & Mask ~ (Rejuvenating)
Ingredients*: ORGANIC Rice – Jasmine, Black, Bamboo or Buddha
Directions: Cleanse face first. Fill bowl ¾ way with Rice. Add purified Water about 2” above Rice. Stir up rice real well and let sit until rice is cloudy, then add to glass spice jars. Apply to cotton pad and cleanse face.
Mask Directions: Take paper towel, fold & cut holes for eyes, mouth and slit for nose, trim excess off. Fold towel and soak Rice Water for 10 minutes, then squeeze out excess water. Carefully unfold paper mask and adjust on face and leave on for 15 minutes.
Eye Gel ~ (Rejuvenating)
Ingredients*:
1 Cucumber – peeled & de-seeded
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 Tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel
Directions: Mix together and add green tea, chamomile tea, then chill in fridge. Tap around eye area with ring finger when applying.
Sugar Scrub Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Honey
½ cup Sugar Cane – organic
Directions: Mix well and store (not in fridge); use at night, remove any makeup first, then apply over face w/ spatula, scrub face for 60 seconds, rinse off with warm water. Use 1-3 X week during winter months.
Sugar Milk Mask ~ (Hydrating)
Ingredients*:
1 cup Sugar Cane – organic
3 Tablespoons Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoons Honey – warm
Directions: Mix well and apply w/ finger tips using a circular motion massaging skin for 5 minutes, then leave on face for an additional 5 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Sugar Honey Scrub ~ (Exfoliating)
Ingredients*:
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Sugar Vanilla Scrub ~ (Exfoliating)
Ingredients*:
½ cup Sugar
¼ teaspoon Vanilla
¼ cup Olive Oil
2 drops Lavender Essential Oil – (optional)
Olive Oil Salt Scrub ~ (Exfoliating)
Ingredients*:
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Directions: Apply enough Olive Oil to cover hands, feet or dry skin area and then take Kosher Salt and rub for a few minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Skin will feel silky soft.
Acne Spot Treatment ~
Ingredients*:
¼ teaspoon Honey
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Nutmeg – test for sensitivity on wrist first
Directions: Mix and apply to flair up area, leave on for 30 minutes, then wash off.
Spot Treatment for Age Spots ~
Ingredients*: Mix a small amount of Turmeric & Whole Milk to make a paste. Can use overnight on the effected area however best to cover this area as not to get on clothes or bedding – it will permanently stain.
Coconut Make Up Remover ~
Ingredients*:
3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Apricot Kernel Oil
Directions: Mix oils in a bowl and store them in a small jar. Dip a cotton ball in the mixed oil and gently wipe your eye area. Rinse off with water and follow with your regular cleansing regime. (This will cost you less than $1 a batch.)
Coconut Honey Cleanser ~ (Daily)
Ingredients*:
5 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Apricot Kernel Oil
2-3 teaspoons Water – Boiled
2 teaspoons Honey
10 drops Lavender (relaxing) or Lemon (rejuvenating) Essential Oil – (optional)
Directions: Put all the ingredients into a small bottle and shake! shake! shake! and remember to shake your cleanser before each time you use it.
Tinted Moisturizer ~ (Daily)
Ingredients*:
½ Tablespoon Coconut Oil
Sprinkle Turmeric
Directions: sprinkle a bit of Turmeric into the Coconut oil. This can be used daily.
Fade Scars ~
Lemon Juice – apply to scar for 5-10 minutes, use daily for 2 weeks
Sandalwood & Rosewater Paste – apply to scar for 5-10 minutes, then rinse. Repeat 3-4 X week
Egg Whites – leave on 15 minutes, then rinse off. Repeat 3-4 X week
Potato Juice – rub Potato slices on face in circular motion, wait 15 minutes (until juice dries) and rinse off with warm water. Repeat daily.
Pineapple – puree 1 cup and smooth on face for 15 minutes, then rinse off. Repeat 3-4 X week.
Coconut Chest Rub ~
Ingredients*:
1 heaping spoonful extra virgin coconut oil, in solidified state
3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions: Mix ingredients in a small bowl and rub into your chest and upper back. Store chest rub in a small jar in fridge so the coconut oil doesn’t liquify.
Natural Remedies for Sunburns ~
Cream: Mix ¼ cup Aloe Vera gel with ½ cup coconut oil with a fork for a few minutes and then add lavender and/or peppermint essential oil (2-5 drops of EOs). Store in a glass jar in refrigerator. To use, just apply to burnt area.
Gel: First use apple cider vinegar (there is much more nutrients in it). Then take a couple table spoons of CHIA seed either whole seeds or you can grind them up, pour water and squeeze a lime (high in Vitamin C) into a bowl with the seeds and let it gel for 10 minutes or until it’s a jelly like consistency. Smooth it over the sunburn and leave it on. It will relieve the pain & rebuild the damaged cells. CHIA seeds are really high in omega and have a really high level of anti oxidants.
Bath: Add 1 cup of instant oatmeal, 1 cup whole milk, 2 tablespoons honey, and 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel to a lukewarm temperature bath and soak in it for 20-30 minutes. The anti-inflammatory effects of the oatmeal mixed with honey’s antiseptic abilities, the soothing power of milk, and pain-fighting aloe create a magically delicious DIY treatment.
Spritzer: Regular brewed cold black tea (its tannins treat pain), can use peppermint or spearmint tea and milk also work to soothe skin. Lemon water – Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water and sponge on the sunburn. The lemon will cool the burn, act as a disinfectant, and will promote healing of the skin. Simply keep these liquids refrigerated in a spray bottle and spritz as needed.
Compress: For blistering skin mix up a saline solution by boiling eight cups of water for five minutes, then add a teaspoon of sea salt. Let it cool completely before applying to your skin with a compress.
For sun damaged skin: Soak cotton pads with fresh watermelon juice and apply to any sunburned areas. Let the juice sit on your skin for 15 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.
Natural Ingredients used for Sunburns: Aloe, Aspirin (White Willow Bark), Avocado, Baking Soda, Buttermilk, CHIA Seeds, Coconut, Cucumber, Epsom salts, Honey, Herbs (Chamomile – calming, Comfrey and Calendula – promote tissue healing and have anti-inflammatory properties, Ice, Ketchup, Lavender, Mint (Peppermint or Spearmint -Tea or EO, Mustard, Oatmeal, Olive Oil, Peach, Potato, Rosewater, St. Johns Wort, Tea (Mint, Black or Green- Chilled), Tomato, Vinegar (Apple Cider or White), Watermelon, Witch hazel, Yarrow, Yogurt (don’t use fat free or low fat).
Avoid using: butter, cooking oils (lards), peanut butter, lanolin, Vaseline (petroleum products) or non-moisturizing lotions. These items hold the heat against your skin causing the burn to be more severe.
Healthy Hair ~ (Nourishing)
Ingredients*:
½ Avocado – mashed
1 teaspoon Honey
1 teaspoon Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
Directions: Mix together and put on hair roots for 30 minutes or more. Wash hair with non-detergent shampoo.
Oil Pulling w/ Coconut Oil ~ (Teeth Whitener & Healthier Gums)
Ingredients*: 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
Directions: Slowly swish Coconut Oil around in mouth for 15-20 minutes. After pulling spit out oil in trash – do NOT spit down drain as it can clog plumbing.
Strawberry Paste ~ (Teeth Whitener)
Directions: Brush teeth with mashed up Strawberries.
F.Y.I. Harmful Ingredients Commonly Found in Hair & Skin Care Products. The following are just some of the synthetic chemicals that have been identified by scientific studies to be harmful to our health. Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and are used by the cosmetic industry simply because they are cheap! When using cosmetics try staying away from ones containing ingredients such as; Acetone, Aluminum, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Alkylphenol Ethoxylates, Antibacterials (e.g. Triclosan), Artificial (Color, Flavor, Fragrance), Benzene/Benzoic Acid/Benzyl Benzoate, Benzalkonium Chloride and Benzethonium Chloride, Benzoyl Peroxide, BHA and BHT, Butylene Glycol, Coal Tar Dyes (CI), Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Dioxins, Cocamide (DEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Fluorocarbons, Formaldehyde (i.e. DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ether, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methenamine and Quarternium-15), Glycerin, Isopropanol/Isopropyl Alcohol, Lead Acetate, Methylisothiazoline (MIT), Monoethanolamine (MEA), Parabens (Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Lanolin, Methicone Methylparaben, Propylparaben), Mineral Oil, Paraffin Wax, Paraffin Oil, Parfum (a.k.a. Fragrance), Petrolatum, Petroleum Distillates, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol (PG), PVP/VA Copolymer, Siloxanes (Cyclotetrasiloxane), Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Stearalkonium Chloride, Sunscreen Chemicals (e.g. Avobenzone, benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA), Synthetic Colors (e.g. FD&C Red No. 40/ D&C Green No. 6), Talc (Talcum Powder),Triethanolamine (TEA), Xenoestrogens.
And lastly, in the packaging of foods avoid: Bisphenol A (BPA) – made primarily of polycarbonate polymers and epoxy resins. Do not put very hot or boiling liquid that you intend to consume in plastic containers made with BPA. BPA levels rise in food when containers/products made with the chemical are heated and come in contact with the food. (Look for BPA free containers.) Plastic containers have recycle codes on the bottom. In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle code 7 may be made with BPA. Look and avoid this imprinted code 7 on the bottom of plastic containers.
Phenoxyethanol is the preservative that seems to have taken the place of your frenemy paraben. Technically, phenoxyethanol is an aromatic ether alcohol. This ingredient starts out as phenol, a toxic white crystalline powder that’s created from benzene (a known carcinogen) and then is treated with ethylene oxide (also a known carcinogen) and an alkalai. Phenoxyethanol Nicknames: Arosol / Beta-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether / Dowanol / Emery 6705 / Glycol monophenyl ether / Phenoxetol / Rose ether / Phenoxyethyl alcohol
The Abundant Wellness Center of Chicopee, MA is here for your health and wellness offering massage, reiki, reflexology, detox footbaths, ear coning/candling, galvanic skin care and other holistic alternative therapies. Abundant Wellness Center offers these holistic services as well as natural skin care to clients in the Chicopee and Greater Springfield area of Western Mass, including Hampshire and Hampden Counties, as well as Northern Connecticut. Abundant Wellness has Gift Certificates available for all occasions.
Abundant Wellness 665 Prospect Street, Suite#1, CHICOPEE, MA 01020 To contact us or schedule an appointment CALL (413) 592-2828 or EMAIL: [email protected]