Three DIY Ways to Perfect Your Skin

When I was a teenager, I had perfect skin. Perfect. During the time when most of my peers were dealing with blemishes and acne, I didn't have to worry about it. (Sidebar: I had plenty of other awkward things going on, don't you worry.) Now, as an adult, I've had my share of skin troubles. Giant zits, often prominently showing on my chin, by my nose, or between my eyebrows (two brows make a nice frame for a zit!) as well as breakouts. I've tried so many face washes and acne treatments and none of them did anything. The only option was to cover them with foundation, which is fine because I really like makeup. But I have longed for that just-woke-up-and-my-face-is-naked-and-dewy-and-refreshed look for a long time.

So what did I do? I listened to the advice of friends and Pinterest, and I tried some more natural ways. What do I have to lose, anyway? 

The first thing I tried was tea tree oil as a spot treatment for acne. This one's easy. Get a bottle of tea tree oil (they sell it almost everywhere), wash your face, dip a q-tip into the tea tree oil, dab the tea tree oil onto your obnoxious little blemish(es). Done.

Here is good article on other ways to use tea tree oil
on your face. (Photo credit to this link.)

The next thing I tried was using raw honey as a face wash. My neighbor had been using it for a couple of weeks and her skin looks divine. So the proof is in the raw honey, apparently.

More on how to go about washing your face
with raw honey (and photo credit) here.

Finally, another friend (who also has an impeccable complexion) steered me in the direction of coconut oil for face washing and moisturizing... She's been using it for a while, but I finally hopped on the coconut oil bandwagon. I know, I know. I'm not on the cusp of the coconut oil trend. It's everywhere. Who knew that coconuts were the miracle cure to everything from hangovers (coconut water has a ton of essential electrolytes!) to teeth whitening (check out oil pulling! I've done it a few times and have whiter teeth and I've managed to put a halt to my chronic congestion that I've suffered from for years!).

More detailed description and photo credit here.

All you do to wash your face with coconut oil is take less than a teaspoon, smear it on your face, put a hot, damp wash cloth over your face for a few seconds to let the pores open up and take in the sweet, island-scented nectar, and wipe clean with the wash cloth. Boom. Done. I promise, if you do one or all of these made-it-in-my-kitchen beauty tricks, you will see a significant difference in your skin. And, added bonus, you will always smell of honey and coconuts!

The Outside In.

The way we take care of our inside is important. We have to nourish it with good, clean food. We have to hydrate it. We have to exercise it. But we also don't want to forget about our outside, too.

Here is a list of some of the beauty products I use. Most of them are natural, a lot of them are paraben-free, some of them I have searched and searched for.

1. My face wash. Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin.

This is the one that I dug for. I've used higher-end products, I've used bar soap, I've used middle-of the road and lower-end products. I have never been satisfied with them. I also am very displeased by the long list of ingredients, including a lot of parabens. (In case you don't know what parabens are, here's a great article on the L.A. Times website. In short, they're chemicals that preserve soaps, shampoos, etc. and have been linked to scary things like breast cancer.) I even looked through all of the options at my local coop and on almost every single one of the (overpriced) products they had to offer, there was a paraben. So then I hit up Walgreens. Because I had to. And there it was. $8 for a product that says "paraben-free" and "96% Natural Product" on the front of the package. I'll take it. And it smells AMAZING.

2. The soap I got from my friend Sarah. She makes it in her kitchen.

Not only does it smell fantastic, it works better than Irish Spring (my husband's soap of choice before we got this great stuff from Sarah.) It also works better than any body wash I've ever used. And it doesn't sting my nostrils like body washes. I don't know a lot of details on her soap, but she does have a shop on Etsy where you can get more information and buy a variety of different scents of her soaps. You can also contact her with any questions.

3. My hair products by Euphora International. Let me say something here. I'm a cosmetologist. I have A LOT of hair products from numerous brands. I love Redken products and Paul Mitchell products. I love Moroccan Oil (it is a MIRACLE PRODUCT.) BUT. My friend Meredith (also a cosmetologist) recently told me about Euphora products. I am hooked. A direct quote from their website, "Eufora products are known for quality ingredients, but almost as impressive are the ingredients missing from Eufora products. We don’t use synthetic fragrances, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, carcinogenic or suspected carcinogenic ingredients in any of our products." Seriously. And once again, their products smell good. Until about a year ago, I believed that all "natural" products (or "hippie products" as my husband refers to them) smelled like the inside of a health food store. I LOVE that smell. But I don't want my hair to smell like it. Just not my style. Euphora's products DO NOT SMELL LIKE THE INSIDE OF A HEALTH FOOD STORE. So neither will your hair.

4. And finally... The one thing that I'm still searching for. A good, inexpensive deodorant that is paraben and aluminum free. I have yet to find this. It's mythical thus far. I recently found this article on the supposed "9 Best Natural Deodorants." I still have one bar to get through that is completely ineffective, but I just can't bring myself to throw the $10 thing away. The other option (and the one I'm probably going to end up with inevitably) is to use essential oils as deodorant. Here is a decent article on doing that on the ever-so-helpful Livestrong website.

One final thing. I'm fast-becoming a person who believes that we should be respectful of the things we eat and use. That means trying to eat meat that had a decent life. Using cruelty-free makeup and household products. You know, all that. Anyway, here is a HUGE LIST of products that are cruelty-free. Check it out. You'll be surprised!