Organic Facial Treatments and Seven Tips for Dry Skin

A contributing factor to dry, flaky, skin in winter is a drop in temperature. Although winter sometimes feels damp, there is usually less water in the air than on your skin and that creates a moisture vapour loss from the skin. As skin becomes drier, its surface layer stops producing the natural lipids which prevent moisture loss, and water cannot be retained so easily. Dry skin will also show wrinkles more easlit and contribute to an aging appearance.

Herbalist Greta Breedlove came up with this natural homemade skin care recipes face utilizing the seed of the avocado. It makes a moisturizing face scrub, especially for dry skin.

AVOCADO FACE SCRUB

Let an avocado dry a few days until you can remove the skin easily. Chop, then pulverize in a blender or food mill. Moisten with a little milk and smooth over your face, throat.

AVOCADO FACIAL CLEANSER

One egg yolk, beaten until light and frothy
1/2 cup milk
1/2 avacado, peeled and mashed

Beat the mixture with a fork until you have a thin cream or lotion consistency. Apply with cotton balls as you would a cleanser.

As a result of all these factors, sometimes skin on the face and body tends to be in worse condition in the winter months than at other times of the year. In extreme cases, a constant drying effect can even lead to cracking, flaking and redness.

These four tips for helping to keep dry skin at bay during the colder months come from Dr. Kucy Pon, Olay dermatologist.

1. A moisturizer is essential - A moisturizer performs several important functions, including replacing lost water. Water-binding ingredients, such as glycerin, help keep it in the skin.

2. Create an oasis - Put some moisture back into the air by using a humidifier in your home or office. It will counteract the drying effects of indoor heat.

3. Drink lots of water - Increase your body’s natural moisture level by staying hydrated throughout the day.

4. Keep wrapped up - Dress for the season and try to limit your skin’s exposure to harsh temperatures and damaging winds.

If you have dry skin, then you probably already know it can be really difficult to care for. When you don’t look after it properly, it can become flaky, and if it gets really bad, may even become irritated and red. Although it’s possible to find plenty of products that claim to be able to solve dry skin problems, unfortunately most of their claims are sales hype.

Although most over the counter products don’t do much to combat dry skin, there are a number of things you can do to improve the condition of your skin. It’s mostly a question of making some basic changes to your daily skincare routine. It won’t take long for your skin to appear more healthy and vibrant.

With dry skin, you have completely the opposite problem to someone with oily skin. Basically, your skin is suffering from a lack of sebum, the oil that helps to keep the skin moist and supple. People with oily skin produce far too much sebum. Sebum is actually made from skin cells, and is an essential ingredient in healthy, supple skin. Because dry skin has insufficient oil, you need to replace it from both inside and outside.

5.  Moisturize

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to use a good quality moisturizer. Choose a cream that is rich, but not heavy. Consider choosing a natural cream with aloe vera and chamomile. Both these ingredients are very soothing, as well as helping to reduce dryness and improve the skin’s healing abilities.

6. Choose Healthy Foods

You also need to look at the type of foods you eat. It’s important to choose healthy foods, because the healthier your body, the healthier your skin will be. You may not realize this, but your skin is actually the largest organ of your body. So it needs to be nourished just like all the other organs in your body.

7.  Supplement

Depending on the types of food you already eat, you might need to consider taking a supplement, such as Vitamin E, Omega-3 oils and B-Complex vitamins. Making sure you get enough of these important nutrients is a great way to improve the condition of your skin.

By nourishing your skin in all these ways, you should soon a marked reduction in the level of dryness. Helping your skin to be more supple and moist also helps to slow down the process of aging, so you’re the winner in two ways.

By Tom Turner

Best Organic and Skin Care Info, Recipes and Treatments

New Organic Skin Care Recipes To Treat Various Ailments Naturally

Whether it is a tired eyes, wrinkles, insect bites or burns, there are times that things can happen to your skin. With the following organic skin care recipes and tips, you can treat various ailments naturally, leaving behind many of the man made pollutants that are absorbed into our bodies through most over the counter aids.

Insect Bites

Recipe #1: Mix 1 drop of organic almond essential oil and 2 tablespoons baking soda and 4 tablespoons of distilled water to form a paste. Apply to bite and let sit for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry

Recipe #2: Mix 8 ounces distilled water with 2 tablespoons Epsom Salt. Apply compress made of a wash cloth soaked this mixture.

Oily Skin/ Acne

Recipe #1: Make a mask of 1/4 organic apple (cored but unpeeled), 1 organic egg white, 1/2 organic lemon (peeled and all seeds removed), 30 organic Thompson seedless grapes, 4 tablespoons organic watercress (finely chopped). Blend all ingredients on medium for 3 minutes. Apply to face using cotton balls and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #2: Mix 1/4 cup organic yogurt (plain) with 1 tablespoon brewer’s yeast. The mixture should be runny; if not, add a bit more brewers yeast. Apply to oily zones and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #3: Mix 1/2 cup organic oat flour, juice from 1/2 organic orange, and 1 teaspoon organic honey. Apply to face and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Scrapes

Recipe #1: This remedy should be made in advance and kept for times when it is needed. First you will need to create 4 special oils. You will need organic extra virgin olive oil, three airtight, glass jars and 4 fresh organic herbs: calendula, plantain, red clover, and St. Johns Wort.

Let the herbs wilt for one day, then put each type in its own jar and cover the herbs with olive oil. Close the jars and leave in direct sunlight for two weeks. Strain oil to use. Once your oils are made, you will need 1/4 cup of each of your special oils and 1 cup organic beeswax.

Melt the oils and beeswax in a large, microwave safe bowl, pour into an airtight, glass jar and let cool. If the mixture is too runny after completely cooling, you need to add a bit more beeswax and melt again, if it is too thick, add a bit more oil and melt again. Apply to wounds when needed much like you would with ready made antibacterial ointments.

Recipe #2:Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Splinters

Recipe #1: Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it. Because Epsom Salt draws toxins out of the skin and acts as an anti inflammatory, this bath will draw the splinter to the surface.

Recipe #2: Bandage a thin slice of organic potato over the splinter and let stay overnight. Potato draws things out of the skin and the splinter should be to the surface by morning.

Sunburn Relief

Recipe #1: Mix 5 organic cucumbers (pureed) and 2 1/2 cups powdered milk in a bowl. Pour mixture into tepid/warm bath and soak burned areas for 20 minutes. The mixture can be applied directly to the burned skin, if you prefer.

Recipe #2: Soak the burned area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a tepid/warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Tired Eyes

Grate raw potato and wrap in cheesecloth. Apply to eyelids for 20 minutes, wiping the starchy residue away before applying makeup.

Wrinkles:

Recipe #1: Cut organic Thompson seedless grapes in half and crush on wrinkles, especially near eyes and mouth. Leave the juice on your face for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water, repeat daily.

Recipe #2: Mash a very ripe organic banana extremely well, apply to entire face and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water

Keep yourself looking great with these great free beauty tips and organic, natural skin care recipes.

By Louise Forrest

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Natural Facial Masks for All Skin Types

You can actually make your own organic skin care products at home and get great results. So if you are into the more natural way of maintaining your hair and skin, you should try some of these recipes and enjoy not only making them, but also using them.

Yogurt
If you want a great cleanser that moisturizes as well, you should opt for plain yogurt. You can add a little honey to the mixture and spread it right onto your face. Avoid your eyes, just in case they are sensitive to the mixture. Leave it on your face for about ten minutes and then wash off with water. You will love the silky way your skin feels after using your yogurt cleanser. You can even use this several times a day. Be sure to store it in the refrigerator.

Eggs
Raw eggs are wonderful for fast face masks. Simply beat two eggs, a little water, and some honey into a bowl. Rub it onto your face and let it dry for fifteen minutes. After it dries, wash it off well. Be sure to keep it away from your eyes and mouth. Raw eggs can contain bacteria and you don’t want to eat them. This is a great way to lightly exfoliate your skin as well.

As you can see, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get great facial products. Just look in your kitchen and see what you can make with the ingredients you already have. You just might be shocked at how well these natural products work.

Facial Mask for All Skin Types

Ingredients:
almond-2 tsp
rose petals or powder-1tsp
fuller’s earth-4tsp
crushed nutmeg-1tsp
Mix all ingredients with rose water and keep them aside for 10 minutes.
Steam your face for about 5-10 minutes.Apply the above mixed face pack and leave it for about 20 minutes.
Do this twice a month to have a clear and beautiful skin.

Face Scrub

Just use a simple combination of Olive oil and Sugar. Cover you face and neck with olive oil. Then dapp your wet fingers onto the sugar and place over your face. Do the same all over your face. Then, begin massaging your face, importantly corner of nose, forehead. For 3 min. Then wash of with soap. Feel the difference.. Soft!!

Oatmeal Face Cleanser
Oatmeal is nourishing to the skin and is used in many parts of the world as a beauty aid.
3 tablespoons oatmeal
2 teaspoons witch hazel
And a few drops of water

You want to dampen the oatmeal first then add the witch hazel. Then add the water to make it moist. Apply to your face with an upward and outward circular motion. Rinse with lots of warm water. This recipe is good for all kinds of skin. If you have dry skin add a little oil. You can also add a mashed banana for more nourishment.

Lemon Face Mask
This lemon astringent and exfoliant properties, making it a natural choice for oily skin

4 tablespoons clay
2 teaspoons lemon pulp
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons water
2 drops of jojoba oil (optional)

Mix the ingredients thoroughly and apply to face. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Then apply your moisturizer and do not forget the sunscreen.  If you are in a hurry just use lemon juice and water in equal parts and then let dry. Wash off with cool water.

Natural Eye Care and Eye Washes
Your eyes reflect your physical as well as your emotional health. If you are tired and run down they look dull and red; if your liver is upset they have a yellow look to them.

When making preparations for the eyes always sterilize your utensils. Use fresh decoctions of herbs, not infusions when making eye baths. The herbs should ideally be simmered for about 20 minutes.

Two great herbs for eyes are Fennel and Chamomile. Fennel is an ancient remedy for strengthening the sight, and used as an eyewash for soreness, tiredness, infections of the eyes. Chamomile also makes a good antiseptic eyewash. When it is allergy season, take the time to make up these washes.