6 ingredients for glowing skin that you can find in your pantry
By Louise Belle BHSc (Nut Med)
Every product that you apply to your skin is absorbed and ends up in your bloodstream for processing – now that’s a scary thought! The scrubs, soaps, moisturisers and masks we use to keep our skin looking fresh may actually be doing more harm than good – read the label next time you go to use it and research the ingredients. There are many brands on the market now that manufacture chemical-free products that are free from harmful chemicals which is fantastic, but some of them come with a hefty price tag attached. Sometimes it’s best to keep it as simple and as natural as possible. You will be amazed by the products you can use on your skin that are sitting in your pantry right now.
1. Oats
Yes, that’s right, the porridge you whip up for breakfast is actually great for your skin. Oats are very soothing to the skin when applied topically and are great for skin irritations such as rashes or eczema. You can also use them as a scrub to gently exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Simply mix oats with a little milk – coconut is great.
2. Oil
I’m not talking about any old vegetable oil that you’d use in your fryer, but virgin olive oil and coconut oil in particular are great for applying to the skin. These oils are rich in vitamin E which is great for skin repair, they’re rich in antioxidants and fats which help to nourish the skin membrane, and also reduce dryness. You can use this as an all over body moisturiser.
3. Honey
Honey acts as a great cleanser or face mask, although it can be a little sticky! It has antimicrobial and healing properties, making it great for anyone with pimples, skin infections or dry, damaged or inflamed skin. It also has a pH similar to the skins’ pH which helps to keep it in balance.
4. Coffee grinds
The leftover coffee grinds that you would usually throw in the bin or on the garden make an excellent exfoliator that smooths the skin and leaves you feeling fresh. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants and can help to improve the look of skin and reduce signs of ageing.
5. Sugar
If you don’t have coffee grinds readily available for scrubbing you can use plain old sugar. When mixed with a little honey or coconut oil, sugar is fantastic at exfoliating the skin. Why spend money on store bought scrubs when you can easily make a chemical free version at home? You can even add in some lavender oil for a soothing effect.
6. Tea tree oil
Whilst it’s not a typical pantry item, most people have tea tree oil in their house for cleaning purposes. It has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties and is great to use topically on pimples or boils to disinfect them and to calm inflammation and redness. It is also beneficial for those with oily, dry or itchy skin and can be added to a face wash or mask. It is best to dilute tea tree oil with coconut or olive oil before applying as it can be a bit harsh.
Whilst there is a lot that we can do topically to improve the health of our skin, beauty really does come from within. Firstly, you need adequate collagen production for healthy skin as it is responsible for the texture and appearance of your skin – eating protein rich foods, getting plenty of vitamin C through citrus fruit and berries, drinking bone broth, eating Sulphur-rich vegetables and assisting your collagen production by taking Collagen Food powder is beneficial.
Secondly, if your gut is inflamed and overrun with bad bacteria, this can show up on your skin. It’s important to clean up the health of your gut by eating fermented foods, reducing intake of refined sugars, drinking bone broth, eating plenty of fibre-rich vegetables and taking a gut formula such as Ultimate Gut Health powder which helps to repair the gut lining and kill off candida overgrowth.
Doing a cleanse is also a great way to achieve radiant looking skin. If your body is clogged up with toxins and waste products and your liver and gut are sluggish, this can affect the appearance of the skin. The Dr Cabot 15 Day Cleanse is a fantastic program that supports your detox organs in clearing out toxins from your body.
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