I know there are so many people out there who love a good do it yourself (DIY) project. I happen to love whipping up different home remedies in my own kitchen. Some are duds — like my cocoa face mask that stained my skin so it looked dirty — but others actually work beautifully. If you are having a spa night with your girlfriends, making your own kitchen-inspired skincare can be fun.
Did you know that there are some ingredients in your fridge and cabinets that may help mild cases of acne? Today I am here to share two of my personal favorites. Know that these are not long-term acne solutions, nor will they work for difficult cases of of acne.
Strawberry Apple Cider Vinegar Astringent
Ingredients to gather up:
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1/2 cup of lavender sprigs from your garden
- 1 cup of aloe vera juice
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- Handful of chopped strawberry leaves
- 20 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
Why use these ingredients?
Strawberry leaves don’t look like much of anything when you’re cutting up your berries, but they actually have more than four times the vitamin C — in the leaves alone — than a large orange! Strawberries also contain natural salicylins. These are a natural source of salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid) and are oil-soluble, meaning they can penetrate into the pores and help “de-gunk”.
- Lavender is soothing and helps to keep the skin balanced. It is a gentle humectant. Many believe lavender may also help prevent ingrown hairs and clogged pores.
- Aloe vera juice is soothing and nourishing to the skin. It helps act as a gentle, protective barrier as well.
- Tea Tree Essential Oil is native to Australia and it has been used for years and years by aromatherapists to help prevent acne and maintain healthy, clear skin.
Combine ingredients and strain. Put in a bottle and store no more than a few days in the fridge. Apply with natural cotton pads as needed.
Tea Tree and Jojoba Spot Treatment
In a pinch and need to quickly fade a pimple? Try this homemade spot treatment using only two ingredients: Jojoba Oil and Tea Tree Essential Oil.
We just discussed the benefits of Tea Tree Oil. It can also work effectively as a spot treatment. It’s wonderful for oily skin, it’s antibacterial and helps to dissolve facial oils.
You will need a carrier oil to dilute your Tea Tree Oil as most find it too concentrated to apply directly to the skin. Try Jojoba Oil for this recipe, as it’s a lovely natural for acne-prone skin. Jojoba Oil is not really an oil in the traditional sense. It is a wax ester. This means that it mimics your skin’s own sebum, drawing excess oil out. Be sure to choose only 100% pure jojoba oil.
Add several drops of Jojoba Oil to the Tea Tree Oil. I recommend a ratio of three parts Jojoba to one part Tea Tree Essential Oil. Gently combine and apply directly to your pimples.
Do you like making homemade skincare in your kitchen? What are your favorite home remedies? Share them in the comments section below!