In fact, the average adult has about 300 million skin cells and caring for those cells means “feeding” them the right nutrients and minimizing their chemical intake.
As we were pondering the importance of caring for our beautiful cork-leather handbags, we began to ponder the challenge of caring for our skin in an eco-responsible and sustainable way.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one third of landfill waste comes from the beauty industry; 120 billion units of packaging a year come from beauty products, and its shipping contributes more than 1 billion tons of CO2 a year. Scarier still are the lists of chemicals found in almost every beauty product on the market.
So, we put pondering aside and searched for solutions. There are some wonderful organic, sustainable cosmetics out there but we thought it would be more fun to whip up some of our own.
Here are some of our favorites but before we begin we ask you to do a patch test before applying to sensitive areas like your face.
Ingredients: Honey, Sugar, Oats, and Avocado
Preparation: Mix one tablespoon of raw organic honey, 1/2 an avocado, one tablespoon raw sugar, and a small handful of ground oats.
Use: Apply the mixture on a clean face and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes. Remove with a warm washcloth. You’ll be glowing!
Ingredients: Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cacao Powder
Preparation: Stir together one tablespoon of softened, organic coconut oil with two tablespoons of organic dark cacao powder.
Use: Apply to your face and let sit 15-20 minutes before removing with a warm washcloth. We think this mask is fabulous for skin care but also because it’s good enough to eat!
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. rosehip seed oil (or other carrier oil such as rice bran oil, but rosehip seed oil is best for the face)
- 5 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 5 drops Myrrh essential oil
- 5 drops Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops Aroma Life essential oil blend
- 2 drops Rose or Geranium essential oil
Preparation: in a 1 oz. sterilized glass bottle, add all essential oils. Fill the rest of the bottle with the rosehip seed oil.
Screw on the cap and shake well. Et Voila! Use Facial Serum morning and night around the eyes, mouth and other trouble areas on the face.
Ingredients:
- 1 capsule activated charcoal (about 1/4 to 1/3 tsp.)
- 1/4 tsp. bentonite clay
- 1 tsp. vegan gelatin such as agar
- 2 drops tea tree essential oil
- 2 tsp. boiling hot water
Instructions:
1. Remove make-up and cleanse your skin.
2. Open the activated charcoal capsule and add the contents to a small glass or ceramic bowl. Discard the empty capsule.
3. Mix in the bentonite clay and vegan gelatin. Add boiling water and mix well with a mini silicone spatula (avoid metal spoons as the metal may weaken the health properties of the bentonite clay). The gelatin. will thicken up the mask. Add 1 drop tea tree oil and mix again.
4. Use a mask brush to apply a layer of the mask to the skin, avoiding eyebrows, being careful not to get too close to the eyes.
5. Apply the mask quickly as it will continue to thicken. If the mask in the bowl dries up before you finish applying, add a 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. of boiling hot water to make the mask liquid again.
6. Once you have a thick layer of the mask on your skin, allow it to dry for 20-30 minutes. You may need to wait longer depending on the thickness you’ve applied. You may feel a slight tingling sensation from the bentonite clay and tea tree oil, don’t worry, both help to remove impurities from the skin.
7. Once the mask is dry, start at the edge (chin or forehead) and slowly peel off the mask until it's completely gone. Use a warm washcloth to remove any remaining mask from your face.
It’s perfect to add a little color to your face, neck and décolletage.
Start with 2 teaspoons of arrowroot powder or cornstarch, then begin adding your pigment: cinnamon for a glowy reddish tint, cocoa powder and nutmeg for a sunkissed look, and beet root powder for a touch of pink.
Have fun experimenting to achieve the perfect shade. You may want to add a few drops of sweet almond oil for a creamy texture.
Believe it or not, this eyeliner gets its jet-black pigment from burnt-to-a-crisp almonds. Seriously! You start by skewering a single almond with a long, metal skewer (to protect your fingers) and charring it in the flame of an organic candle. Be absolutely certain to do this over a fire-resistant surface. It should take about 10 minutes to char each almond; you’ll need three or four. Allow the charred almonds to completely extinguish and cool (on a metal plate or some other nonflammable surface) before grinding them into a powder using a sterilized mortar and pestle. The powder should be black like charcoal. Mix in a few drops of vegetable glycerin until it becomes a thick paste, then apply using an angled eyeliner brush. Allergy alert: if you are sensitive or allergic to nuts avoid this one!
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter because it removes dead skin cells. It can also stimulate the production of collagen, which may help your skin stay firm and radiant. Who can resist the experience of full-body pampering?
Ingredients:
- 2 teabags organic green tea
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 cup organic brown sugar
- 1/4 cup organic coconut oil, melted
Preparation:
1. Add the tea bags to hot water. Allow the tea to steep until it cools completely.
2. While the tea is cooling, put the brown sugar in a bowl.
3. Add the melted organic coconut oil and mix thoroughly with the organic brown sugar.
4. Once the tea has completely cooled, add it to the sugar/oil mixture. It’s important that the tea is completely cool so the sugar doesn’t dissolve.
5. If the mixture is too crumbly, add a little more melted coconut oil. If it’s too soggy, add more brown sugar.
6. When you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container.
Slather it on using gentle circular motions avoiding any areas where your skin may be sunburnt, chapped or otherwise extra sensitive. Rinse off in a warm shower and feel the total-body joy of your freshly exfoliated birthday suit.
Remember . . . taking care of yourself isn’t about the kind of special pampering we love to indulge in for special occasions.
With a few simple recipes and routines we can pamper ourselves every day. Let the pampering begin!
Until next time . . . .
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