Natural Skin Care Regimes for Everyone (Part 2)

Natural skin care products are formulated to make our skin healthy, glowing and better looking. However, these products should be chosen carefully, as not all products and ingredients suit every skin type. The wise thing to do is to develop an at-home natural skin care routine. This includes using natural ingredients from your pantry to cleanse, exfoliate and nourish your skin on a daily basis. Last month, we presented twelve skin care recipes that could work for everyone. This edition features two basic skin care regimes, namely, cleansing and exfoliation. Moisturizing and the use of masks would be featured in the next edition.

Cleansing

Cleansing is the first and most important step of any skin care routine. Therefore, it is important to first determine your skin type and the ingredients that will suit it. However, we believe in a two-step, double cleansing process to ensure a thorough and deep cleanse. The first cleanse will take care of the superficial dirt and the second cleanse will address the deep-set oil sediments.

i. Dry Skin

       For dry skin, start your natural skincare routine by removing dirt and make-up using castor oil. Massage a few drop of the oil all over the face and wipe it off with a cotton pad. Follow this up with a paste of gram flour and yoghurt and wash off after massaging for a few minutes.

ii. Oily Skin

       At the end of the day, remove oil, dirt and make-up using coconut oil. Thereafter, wash your face using Fuller’s earth (earth clay powder) or Multani Mitti powder to remove excess oil.

iii. Combination Skin

      Those with combination and normal skin type can use olive oil for surface cleansing. For deep cleansing, make a mixture of ripe papaya (paw paw), milk and oatmeal. Massage all over the face and wash off.

iv. Sensitive Skin

        Honey is an excellent nourishing cleanser that seals the moisture in the skin. Mix a teaspoon of honey with some water and rub it on your face for a thorough cleanse.

v. Acne-Prone Skin

     Apple cider vinegar unclogs the pores and gently exfoliates the skin. This makes it an excellent cleanser for acne-prone skin. Dilute two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one cup of water. Gently massage your face with it and rise off to get rid of grime and impurities.

Exfoliation

Another important, but often forgotten skincare regime is exfoliation. This is essential for every skin type to slough off dead cells and reveal the healthy glowing skin underneath.  It is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin using a chemical, granular substance, or a tool. The skin normally sheds dead cells every 30 days or so, to make room for new ones. Sometimes, dead cells do not shed completely. This can result in dry, flaky parches and clogged pores. Exfoliation can help prevent this.

Use the following natural skincare scrubs for each skin type mentioned below:

i. Dry Skin

      A gentle scrub using sugar and olive can be massaged on the skin in gentle, circular motions to get rid of any dead skin. Do this only once or twice a week to ensure you do not ruin the protective barrier of the skin.

ii. Oily Skin

      To remove impurities, deep cleanse pores and get rid of excess oil. Mix equal parts of sea salt and olive oil and massage the face in upward circulation motions. Be gentle and use your fingertips while scrubbing the face.

iii. Combination Skin

          This skin type is a little tricky to work with, therefore we recommend using a mixture of brown sugar and honey. Massage all over the face in circular motions, focusing on the T-zone area rather than the cheeks, as sugar will help to absorb excess oil.

iv. Sensitive Skin

         When you have a sensitive skin, a gentle exfoliant is what you need. Oatmeal fits the bill perfectly. Grind whole oats, add a little bit of water and apply this on the face. Along with exfoliating your face, it will also cleanse it.

v. Acne-Prone Skin

        Do you love coffee? Your face will love coffee as much as you do, after it gives your skin that beautiful glow! A scrub using ground coffee and honey works wonders for acne-prone skin. Gently massage the scrub on your face and rinse it off.

**** What Does It Mean to Exfoliate? Why You should and How to Start by Cynthia Dobb, https://www.healthline.com; How to Build a Natural Skincare Routine that is Easy to Follow by Sanya Hamdani, https://www.bebeautiful.in.