If you're like me and have struggled with your skin (or just like taking care of yourself!), then you probably agree that skin, hair, and beauty products can be crazyyyy expensive. I spent a lot of years battling acne, dry skin, dry hair, and other issues by spending so much money on different products. And a lot of times, after I invested a bunch of money in products, they only made my skin break out more. Not only are store bought products expensive, but a lot of them are full of chemicals that we don't really want on our skin.
During college, I slowly began to learn more about using really basic things that you can find in your kitchen as hair and skin treatments. I gather knowledge from a variety of different people, and found a skin care routine that works really well for me, using very natural products! I had really thought I was on to something collecting all of these secrets, only to find out a lot of things that I had been doing/ using have been being used for thousands of years. Kinda cool though right?
Anywayssss here are some of my favorite NATURAL products I use!
Coconut Oil - This has so many uses outside of the kitchen its insane.. like literally a solution to any problem. My aunt turned me on to all of the ways that it can be used and its probably my favorite thing on this list. Recently I've been studying some Ayurvedic practices and found out that people have been using oils for such a long time for all of these uses - you can sub sesame, avocado, grape-seed or even olive oil for a lot of these, but coconut oil is my favorite.
MAKE UP REMOVER - Say good bye to make-up wipes that totally just dry out your skin. To remove my makeup, I just rub coconut oil all over my face and wipe it off with a warm washcloth. It takes everything off, and soothes and moisturizes the skin. Doing this helped with a lot of my dryness which was contributing to break-outs. Another great thing about it? It completely removes eye make-up without any burning!
HAIR MASK- This is a great way to hydrate your hair without breaking the bank on fancy hair masks. I just coat the ends of my hair in oil and then leave it on through the night. I would recommend doing it on nights that you are planning on washing your hair in the morning because it will make your hair look super greasy.
DRY SKIN - This is also super hydrating if you just put a little on your cuticles, elbows, or any really dry spots. Ayurveda recommends giving yourself an oil massage at least one a week because its hydrating, soothing, and good for lymphatic drainage!
OIL PULLING - This is another Ayurvedic practice and not something I do super regularly. Basically take some coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for a while. Ideally 10-15 minutes - I usually make it about 5. It pulls bacteria from around your mouth and basically just acts like a natural mouth wash, allegedly also serving to whiten your teeth. I usually do it while I'm showering.
Apple Cider Vinegar - This is a trick I learned from my best friend Kristina. I use ACV as a toner. It removes any excess make-up and dead skin cells without drying out my skin or causing me to break out like most store bought toners do. I buy huge bottles of acv (I also cook with it and drink a shot of it in the morning sometimes for digestion) and just pour some in a spray bottle to keep with my skincare products. Just spray a little on a cotton pad (I like using a LastObject LastRound to be a lil more sustainable - more info below) and rub it around on your face at night after you've taken off your make-up and washed your face.
Fresh Aloe - This was one I learned from my roommate when I studied abroad in Spain - she said her mom swears its the key to looking young forever. I have an aloe plant, so I just break off its leaves as I need them - warning, when you break one off it will smell TERRIBLE and ooze out an orangey liquid (defense mechanism), I sit mine on a paper towel and let it empty out overnight and use it the next day when its used up all of its defense. I keep one with my skincare and every night squeeze out a little fresh aloe to apply to my face. It makes my skin super super soft!
Castor Oil - I had never even heard of this until my friend told me it was good for your hair. Its like $5 for a bottle of it at CVS. Make sure you get the unscented! I use it on the roots of my hair (same deal as coconut oil though - you'll want to wash it out in the morning). I also put it on my eyelashes and eyebrows every night and it has made them thicker and healthier!
Argon Oil - My mom always used products with argon oil so I was kind of familiar with the benefits of using this. A few years ago, I went to Morocco and everyone there RAVED about all the benefits of using it for beauty, but that still didn't totally land. When I started trying to grow out my hair and keep it healthy, I bought a plain argon oil from the ordinary (linking here), and it has helped to make my hair softer and healthier.
Shea Butter- This is another one that I learned from my best friend Kristina. She said to always look for lotions and body butters that list shea butter or cocoa butter as one of the first ingredients, because water-based lotions serve to dehydrate the skin more. I bought a tub of 100% shea butter and I like using it on my hands and feet before bed, because it makes them super super soft.
Ice Rolling/ Facial Manipulation - This is another thing that I started doing recently and now swear by. I got a cheap jade roller from TJ Maxx at first and really liked it, so about a month ago I invested in the Skinny Confidential Ice Roller (linked here), and I'm obsessed. It feels so so so good and I think the cold makes a big difference. The whole point of facial manipulation is to promote lymphatic drainage in the face which helps reduce puffiness and tighten the face. The cold enhances this and is super soothing!
Dry Brushing - This is yet another Ayurvedic practice which is incredible for exfoliating and brightening the skin. Basically before you shower just brush the skin with a dry brush to remove dead skin cells - there are brushes specifically designed for this purpose. I ordered mine on amazon pretty cheap (linked here). I also sometimes choose to exfoliate in the shower with an ayate washcloth I got from Public Goods (linking here - use code SIMPLYRADISHINGPGA for a discount). These are both good ways to exfoliate and brighten the skin without spending a lot of money on body scrubs!
Warm Tea Bags - This is a super soothing way to help treat the type of acne that is deep in the skin and super inflamed - it soothes the spot and reduces inflammation. Just sit a warm moist tea bag directly on the skin and relax.
Additional Tips
These are probably a lot of things you've heard before, but it doesn't hurt to get a little reminder! These are all easy and free ways to take better of your skin, hair, and body!
Less is More
You don't need as many skincare products as you think. Keep your skincare routine simple! Too many products and you're probably just going to end up clogging your pores and leading to more problems. I ended up completely stopping doing any kind of face mask or facial, because I just ended up with a break out every time. Also, you're way more likely to go through a whole skincare routine if its not a million steps - just keep it simple! It's also easier to identify a product that might be causing problems if you aren't using a million different things.
You're washing too much. Your skin produces oils that are healthy and natural and NECESSARY and washing it too much takes away these oils and can leave you drier. I wash my face at night and after I workout, but in the mornings I typically just splash with warm water and then do my skincare. Same thing with your hair. SHAMPOO DRIES IT OUT. I typically only shampoo 2-3 times a week. I still will get my hair wet and scrub with water and condition, but shampoo only happens every few days. When you first begin to do this, your hair will feel a little greasy, but your oil production will adjust and your hair will be soooo much more hydrated and healthy!
Sunscreen - This is something that I'm not really that great about but trying to be better, especially because I live in a beach town where its super sunny all the time. If you aren't protecting your skin from the sun, its going to age more quickly. Period. Also, the sun can do harmful things like cause skin cancer so protect yourself. Just put on sunscreen after your skin care, or choose to buy bb creams/ foundations that contain sunscreen (this is what I do).
Moisturize- When your skin is moisturized and hydrated, it will look healthy and vibrant and at least for me, I break out less. This goes for your body too! Rub on a little lotion when you get out of the shower. I use serums over actual moisturizer on my face because they're a little lighter but still give me dewy, moisturized skin. My mom has always said that the secret to keeping your skin looking young is keeping it moisturized. She also said that she will never leave the south because the humidity helps to keep her skin moisturized and dewy all the time, which is why she still has incredible youthful skin. I wasn't totally buying it with the humidity thing until I lived in Cusco for a summer where it was soooo dry and my skin was dull and constantly breaking out. So message is: moisturize. and moisturize even more in dry climates!
Keep Things Clean- This should be another kind of no brainer but I'm still going to say it because I think its important. Sheets (at least pillow cases), towels, washcloths, and make up brushes- wash them regularly. I try to wash my make up brushes at least once every two weeks (I really aim for once a week though), pillow cases once a week, and towels hardly touch my face multiple times. Just be aware of the things that touch your face!
Don't touch - This goes for your face and your hair. Your fingers are dirty (wash your hands before you put on make up or anything) and will transfer bacteria and oil onto your face if you touch it. When I start having bad break outs on my chin and lower half of my face, just being aware of not resting my face on my hands at work makes a gigantic difference. Touching your hair a lot isn't good for it either - you'll just make it look more greasy while drying it out (your skin pulls out its natural healthy oils), so just keep your hands off. This is literally the cheapest easiest way to get healthy glowing skin and hair.
What goes into your body matters - Our skin is our largest organ, and whatever is going on inside of your body will reflect on your skin. For me, alcohol, chocolate, and greasy fried foods can trigger breakouts - it doesn't mean that I totally avoid all of these things though. I just try to enjoy in moderation and be aware of the way it affects me. Eating healthier will show through on your skin. Fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins and nutrients that contribute to healthy glowing skin. Make sure you're eating enough and getting the right nutrients though! If you don't have enough fats in your diet, skin and hair will be dull and dry. If you aren't getting enough calories and nutrients in general, your hair will be thin and dry and your skin will be rough and dry.
I hope this helps! Not everything I use is completely natural, but just making a few of these switches will leave your hair and skin healthy and glowing and will make your wallet happy :)
Alsoooo like I mentioned above, check out LastObject (shop with code CAROLINE10) for reusable beauty application products to make your beauty routine a lil more eco friendly and sustainable! I like using the LastRound for my ACV toner and the LastSwab to get rid of any makeup residue!
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