Has anyone else tried this. . .?

[LadyFatima]

I remember a few months ago, I was reading this article on Yahoo about health and beauty items that people have right in their own kitchens.

One of the suggestions was the use of regular store bought sugar. The article said sugar was a great way of exfoliating the skin/removing dead skin cells. I read some of the comments beneath the article from ladies who had actually tried this method, and most of them said that it really worked!

I've been scrubing my face with sugar for about 5 months now but I only use it like every other day or every two days (don't wanna scrub off TOO much, you know?:lol
After scrubing my face, I use my regular face cleanser and mosturizer. . .TOTALLY leaves my skin feeling as smooth as it was the day I was born

I've also heard about rubbing warm olive oil or honey on your face and around your feet to make them feel smooth as well.

Have any of you ever tried these, or maybe some of your own "skin care products found in your kitchen?":lol:

 

[BellaBohemian]

Im actually making a "book" of all the at home beauty recipes and tricks that I know. A little something to pass on to my cousins/nieces.

Olive oil and avocado are both great for hair (and skin). I've never personally used sugar on my face because as soon as we buy some we mysteriously have cookies but no sugar! Walnut shells (ground up) are also good for the same purpose. Its really good for all over the body.

 

[Yame]

I've actually tried and do both of these regularly.

I use olive oil every night as makeup remover. I keep a flask of it in my bathroom. It's way better than any makeup remover I've ever used. The only drawback is that I still have to wash my face with soap afterward. The olive oil has the added bonus of really smoothing the skin, so on some days I will leave it on for a while before removing it. It does wonders, especially for me because I have very dry skin.

I also use sugar as an exfoliator a few times a week. I mix it with honey, apply it all over my face, and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Then I wet my hands and scrub it off... it's awesome!

I actually use no beauty product for these purposes (makeup removal and scrub). I use a special soap for my face and a moisturizer everyday, so aside from makeup these are the only beauty products I put on my face. I feel like it saves me so much money, plus these options feel much better on my skin and seem to achieve better results.

Now I really feel like putting some honey with sugar on my face. I'm off to go do that!

 

[Sara]

I use olive oil to for make up. Especially eye make up. I leave it on my face for alf an our and then steam it off.

Also I use apple cider vinegar as a toner every other day (1 part cider vinegar to 3 parts warm water). Sometimes I use apple slices warmed flesh side down on an oil free frying pan for a few minutes (so they don't burn) to rub on my face and it reduces redness.

I do tend to make up my own moisturisers. Well kind of. ^_^ I have at the minute oil of evening primrose cream which I blend in smaller pots with healthy amount of tea tree oil, a dash of coconut oil, and a fair bit of calendula cream (which is also good for acne as well as sensitive/sore skin relief. I LOVE it! )

Thanks for the honey and sugar tip btw

 

[Yame]

Wow, lots of new things to try when I get a chance! Thanks for sharing, guys.

I just want to add a few more notes for those of you who are thinking of trying the "olive oil as facial mask and/or makeup remover" thing:

Be sure to use it on your lips, and also on your finger nails. I used to soak my nails in olive oil, but I'm always either on the computer or dancing, I can never keep my hands still... so that didn't work out. But I find that just brushing some olive oil onto the nails right after I just rubbed it on my face (just using the remainder that is still on my hands) really helps keep my nails smooth and healthy-looking.

Honestly, I'd rub it all over my body every day, but unfortunately that would cause a real mess! So only my face and hands are getting the benefits

And yes, indeed, it's great for removing eye makeup. You can pour it onto a cotton ball or swab, or onto a Q-tip and work it around your eyes as you would any makeup remover. Or, you can always do what I do and pour some olive oil onto the palm of the hand, rub the hands together, and apply it to the whole face, using the fingers to work around the eyes. It just seems quicker and less wasteful that way, plus, I just like using my hands. I apply most makeup with my hands: foundation, concealer, blush, and even some eyeshadow (for certain looks I will use brushes, though).

 

[Safran]

If you have dry skin, olive oil does wonders.

For exfoliating I use "used" coffee powder. It is fine enough not to cause any damage to the skin + I love the scent it leaves on the skin.

Every now and then I rinse my hair with diluted apple vinegar.

The "problem" with all those natural home cosmetics is that they take time and usually cause a mess. So, instead of using them daily, I try to plan a "spa day" every now and then.

 

[Josephine]

Sugar with olive oil works great.
I have also used sea salt and olive oil to clear up acne. Salt can be drying to the skin so it shouldn't be done on a daily basis.

Be careful with the olive oil on your face/back 'cause if it's not washed off the surface of your skin completely, it can clog pores and cause breakouts.

 

[Shanazel]

I make a body scrub from sea salt and almond oil or sunflower oil that is nice. I don't use it on my face. I also used almond, sunflower, or similar oils for diaper rash on my children or grandson. Rose water makes a nice, light perfume that doesn't seem to bother anyone's allergies, perhaps because there are no synthetic compounds in it.

Have I already shared this? Seems familiar. If I did, sorry- I'm getting old and tend to repeat myself.

 

[onela]

I have combination, acne-prone skin so I'm terrified to feed the zits by using olive oil to remove makeup. I've been meaning to try the sugar thing, though.

 

[Sara]

Olive oil does wonders for acne and oil skin. Here's a link that I find useful.

The Ultimate Guide on Olive Oil & Acne

 

[Greek Bonfire]

Cucumbers put over the eyes helps reduce bags in the morning. And I've used sugar and olive oil on my legs before shaving. I got a very close shave without cutting up my legs too.

 

[LaVanessa]

Love the sugar tip! Will try that soon since my green clay is about to run out and I don't really have the cash for another package.

I've never tried it but supposedly the oil cleansing method is the way to go for skin. I'm like Onela, terrified to try it, but I've been slathering on vitamin E oil just before bed and my skin looks much better now.

I use quality coconut oil as a moisturiser for my body and my hair (little bit goes a long way for the latter).

 

[Yame]

I've never tried it but supposedly the oil cleansing method is the way to go for skin. I'm like Onela, terrified to try it, but I've been slathering on vitamin E oil just before bed and my skin looks much better now.

Maybe I will give that a try, too. I know just the olive oil by itself has done wonders for my skin, but I can give some other oils a try!

The whole idea that your body produces natural oils, and when you are constantly stripping them away your body reacts by producing more, is very true. It applies to hair, as well. Do you know how I "treated" my very oily hair? By washing it less, not more!

My hair was getting to a point where I had to wash it every other day, if not everyday. On the day when I washed it, it would look dry and frizzy, but the following day it would look very oily already. It would never be "just right," except for the times between late afternoon on wash day and early morning of non-wash day... lol

I read somewhere about people who stopped washing their hair altogether, and that cured all their hair woes. Well, I personally wouldn't be able to stop washing my hair altogether, since I believe it does need some cleaning once in a while and since I have a full time job and perform fairly regularly, all of which which require me to look clean and professional, which the long adjustment period for unwashed hair would not work so well with. So, I decided to just try washing my hair less often.

First, I started going 2 days without washing. Then, 3. Then 4. Right now, if I wash my hair on Monday I can go all the way until Saturday without washing it. On the last days it will be a bit oily, yes, I have to keep it up... but not unbearably oily. For someone with naturally oily hair like me, that is quite a feat... because before, by the second day my hair would be unbearably oily, ugly, and itchy. This doesn't happen anymore, and my hair looks gorgeous for 3 days after being washed... it also never looks dry and frizzy on the day that I wash it, unless the weather is unusually icky.

My hair looks and feels much healthier now, and all I had to do is shampoo it a little less. It also saves me a ton of money on shampoo, a small 8oz bottle lasts me 4+ months, whereas I used to go through one of those within just a few weeks.

 

[LaVanessa]

My hair looks and feels much healthier now, and all I had to do is shampoo it a little less. It also saves me a ton of money on shampoo, a small 8oz bottle lasts me 4+ months, whereas I used to go through one of those within just a few weeks.

Same here, I stopped washing my hair 'regularly' a couple of years ago now...like you, I can go about five days before it needs a wash. I use Lush shampoo bars and I still have one that I bought over a year ago, it's only half-used! I save a lot on conditioner too. I'm convinced that the 'rinse and repeat' (or, similarly, the 'consume quickly' instruction given on certain pre-packaged foods) are just schemes to get the consumer to use and therefore buy more.

Less is more!

 

[Greek Bonfire]

Same here, I stopped washing my hair 'regularly' a couple of years ago now...like you, I can go about five days before it needs a wash. I use Lush shampoo bars and I still have one that I bought over a year ago, it's only half-used! I save a lot on conditioner too. I'm convinced that the 'rinse and repeat' (or, similarly, the 'consume quickly' instruction given on certain pre-packaged foods) are just schemes to get the consumer to use and therefore buy more.

Less is more!

This is true. In fact, many aestheticians and hairdressers will tell you not to wash your hair so much as well as your face because it prompts the oil glands to produce faster. I have learned most of my life to live with a little oiliness and in the long run I ended up having less oiliness than when I rushed to wash it all the time.

 

[BellaBohemian]

Its true, washing too much does cause the oil glands to start producing more oils. It varies person to person how long you can go w/o washing your hair though. I usually wash after 2-3 days depending on where I have to be.

Witch-hazel makes a great toner, it also helps to soothe irritation, making it good for acne.

Take 2 eggs, separate the yolk and the whites. Mix the whites with a little bit of lemon juice for a face mask. Then use the yolk mixed with some olive oil, put it on your hair for a deep conditioner. (Use a shower cap to help contain heat, this will help to open the cuticle of our hair and allow the oil/egg to penetrate deeper)

A quick daily routine is to drink some lemonade, put rose-water soaked cotton pads over your eyes to reduce puffiness/dark circles, use witch-hazel on any irritated spots then moisturize.

I've also heard of carrot oil being used to diminish acne (since it has vitamin A and beta-carotene it helps to rejuvenate skin cells) I haven't tried this yet since I haven't found carrot oil yet.

Use beer to rinse your hair, especially after swimming, it helps to tame the friz.

After you dye your hair, rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar, this will help to close the cuticle of their hair as well as help to balance the pH.

Another mask I love to make in the summer is a cucumber and milk mask. You can also add yogurt or substitute the milk for yogurt. Sour cream is good too. Blend the cucumber, milk/yogurt together in a blender until creamy. (If using sour cream, blend the cucumber then simply mix the sour cream into the cucumber in a small bowl). Its very cooling and refreshing! Plus it will stay good for a bout a week kept in a jar in the 'fridge. Can also apply it to a sunburn to help soothe.

Oatmeal baths are good for sunburn. Also for people with rosacea or psoriasis, oatmeal can be used with olive oil to help remove dead skin without being as rough as sugar/salt.

I swear by rose water and rose oils. Plus rose water is easy to make! My grandmother uses lavender water and oil. Both help to soothe the skin, smell great and have many uses. They keep very well too! :dance:

 

[Shanazel]

Oatmeal and olive oil send my rosacea into the seriously red alert zone. I have found exactly one cleansing product that doesn't cause a flare and stick to it religiously. I also keep erythromyacin pads on hand for breakouts. I'd love to go natural on this, but water is the only natural ingredient that seems to work for me.

 

[BellaBohemian]

Oatmeal and olive oil send my rosacea into the seriously red alert zone. I have found exactly one cleansing product that doesn't cause a flare and stick to it religiously. I also keep erythromyacin pads on hand for breakouts. I'd love to go natural on this, but water is the only natural ingredient that seems to work for me.

Thats no good. But at least you have found one thing that works for you! Its gotta be tough going through the testing period with new products when you have such sensitive skin.

 

[Shanazel]

Not to put too fine a point on it: it is a royal pain in the patootee. Rosacea runs in my family so I was ticked, but not surprised, when I developed the problem in my forties. My doctor recommended Toleriane products put out by La Roche-Posay and they work great.

 

[PoleDanceABCs]

I have heard of it... I love all-natural body products.

Also you can make your own version of those brown sugar body scrubs. Normally they are so expensive but you can make them cheaper (and all natural) right at home! Check out some recipes HERE!