Homemade Skin Remedies

Fashion and beauty blogger Carrie Riggin shows off the best home remedies for achieving a new look.

People’s bodies take a toll due to stressful lifestyles, lack of sleep and exercise and the high prevalence of processed and fast foods. This segment provides viewers natural, low/cost, homemade remedies to “reset” the mind and body for the New Year. And skin is the body's largest organ so we definitely want to take care of it!

But people don’t have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the popular anti-aging and moisturizing creams (most of which don’t work and have foreign ingredients that are toxic to the body). Some of the best, natural, and almost FREE beauty remedi es come from within your own kitchen! This segment is going to prove that you CAN look beautiful while on a budget. The secrets I’m about to share are some that I’ve sworn by and that industry experts swear by – these DIY beauty recipes are simply the best and easiest ways to get young, rejuvenated skin fast.
 
CONTENT
First, basic beauty begins with the glow of good health, which shines from within. So maintaining good nutrition and hydration, and managing things like allergies and hormone imbalances are essential for a radiant clear complexion.

What helps with all of the above? Antioxidants – whether you eat them or apply them – is the single key to young, glowing skin.  

There is research showing antioxidants can improve cell function, increase collagen production, improve elasticity, create healthier, younger skin cells, prevent wrinkles, and reduce sun damage.

1. Antioxidants inhibit free-radical damage to the skin whether from the sun, pollution or other environmental factors (free radical damage causes wrinkles and premature aging): When it comes to wrinkles, free-radical damage causes collagen and other vital skin functions to break down. A great skin-care product, whether it comes in a liquid, gel, serum, lotion, or cream, should contain a potent assortment of stable antioxidants to interrupt free-radical damage and keep it from harming your skin.
2. Do’s: green tea, grape extract, or vitamin C; Don’t’s: Avoid stimulants such as coffee, alcohol and sugar. Never wash face with soap
3. NOTE: What is collagen? Collagen is known as the “glue that holds the body together,” a protein that surrounds cells; in the face collagen works to plump up the surface of the skin, making fine lines and minor wrinkles appear less noticeable

Get rid of puffy eyes:

1. The area around the eye becomes thinner and more delicate as we people age. Salty food, alcohol, and lack of sleep don’t help and are the main culprits of puffy eyes. Drinking lots of water and cutting down on booze and processed foods will go along way.

   1. Best way to get rid of puffy eyes?                                              i.      Cucumbers: Reduce swelling, instantly tightening the skin.  Due to the high water content (about 90%), cucumbers have a hydrating effect, which fills out the skin

                Egg whites: Egg whites offer a temporary lift and tighten effect – great for right before big dates or special events. Smooth whipped egg whites thinly over the around-the-eye area, let dry and rinse.

                                                          iii.      Temporary tightening: Apply tomato juice (preferably fresh-squeezed) for ten minutes

                                                          iv.      Face too tight from too much sun: Apply plain yogurt to the skin and leave on for ten minutes.

1. Exfoliating:
   1. Why is it important?

                                                              i.      Exfoliation removes the dead cells from the layers of your skin to reveal the live cells beneath, providing a healthy glow.

                                                            ii.      Dead cells block off the oxygen to the skin, making it dull, and unable to breathe. This also contributes to pores filling up and causing breakout.

1.  
   1. Best way to exfoliate at home? Brown sugar, raw oatmeal, olive oil
   2. Recipe:

                                                              i.      1 cup brown sugar

                                                            ii.      1 cup raw oatmeal

                                                          iii.      1 cup olive oil

                                                          iv.      Mix all the ingredients together and then apply on dry skin, using your hands. Use your fingers and perform slow circles—this treatment is to be enjoyed and not rushed. (The real key is standing over a plastic bag or towel to catch the remains.) After scrubbing gently all over, step into the shower and rinse off. Your skin will be like butter.

1.  
   1. Ingredients/Show-and-tell items: Mixture – apply to skin in circles
2. Face Mask:
   1. Why it’s important? Face is the first thing people see and this is the quickest way to firm, rejuvenate and make skin radiate in now time.
   2. Best face mask: There are many that you can stick to, but whichever face mask you pick, make sure it incorporates HONEY. Why:

                                                              i.      Honey absorbs impurities from the pores on the skin, making it an ideal cleansing agent.

                                                            ii.      Honey’s natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays; honey supports the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple.

                                                          iii.      Honey's ability to absorb and retain moisture make it an ideal ingredient in a lot of cosmetics as it helps keep skin hydrated and fresh

1.  
   1. I like this one though: Honey, almond scrub. It is great for all skin types – you can’t overuse it – use it everyday if you want; you can make it in bulk and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This recipe comes from the popular Naturally Skinsational book. [Will combine ingredients if we have time or I can have mix pre-made]
   2. Recipe

                                                              i.      2 tablespoons honey

                                                            ii.      Thinly ground organic raw almonds

                                                          iii.      Half a lime

                                                          iv.      Mint: ground up

                                                            v.      Combine honey with finely ground raw organic almonds (provides an abrasive quality for exfoliating and softening the skins; also provides high amounts of vitamin E, copper, iron and Vitamin A; make sure to ground them up enough so they aren’t too rough on skin). Slice lime; juice half of lime into mixture (limes have acid that softens rough spots on skins and lightens dark areas; also one of the more powerful antioxidants). Mix in ground mint and stir. Apply to face and/or body. Refrigerate leftovers for next time.

1. Lustrous, silky, healthy hair and scalp
   1. Coconut oil:

                                                              i.      Great hair conditioner and moisturizer; perfect for protecting hair new growth

                                                            ii.      Can leave coconut oil

                                                          iii.      in overnight or condition with a heat cap if you are pressed for time. Coconut oil also provides shine, and some studies even claim that it helps penetrate the hair to make it stronger.

1. Dry cuticles: Rub olive oil into dry cuticles to soften them
2. Dry skin, dandriff, acne, rough, scaly skin: Eat fat! Imbalance of essential fatty acid signs: dry skin, dandruff, acne, rough scaly skin
   1. Add plenty of healing Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids (polyunsaturated fats known as good fats) to your diet
   2. Effect: Will moisturize the skin from inside out. Omega fats make the skin more supple and silky helping flaky, scaly, rough itchy skin
   3. Examples of omega fats: Nuts, salmon, berries, avocado, chia seeds, etc. (almost of all of these full of antioxidants too). Adding a fish oil supplement (very inexpensive) daily will help improve skin.
3. Extra dryness on skin: Winter is brutal on skin – you’ll experience extra dryness. To combat that try:
   1. Vitamin E oil: The key to super-soft and well-moisturized skin is a dime-size amount of vitamin E oil on your face under your moisturizer every night.
   2. Going to feel greasy, but it’s right before sleep so you won’t notice for long, but your face will thank you in the morning.
4. Face Lift Exercises [If time permits]
   1. Facial exercises offer several benefits like increased blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients for a glowing complexion. Plus, it helps firm muscles, lift sagging skin and accentuate lines in face (jaw lines).