Saving on Skin Care

These days, almost everyone is tightening the reins on their budget due to the economical climate. Foregoing vacations, sticking to carefully planned grocery lists, mending clothing instead of buying new...these are all things that are becoming more commonplace. Even small steps can make a big difference, like switching to a generic brand of cleaning product or changing a light bulb to an energy saving model. People are definitely getting the hint. But, believe it or not, when it comes to beauty regimens, many people are not willing to give up their tried and true products, no matter what their cost.

Skin care for beauty has been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Our ancestors didn’t have the pharmaceutical smorgasbord we have readily available at our fingertips today. They relied on home-made skin care recipes handed down through the generations. Does this mean they weren't as effective as a $15 jar of exfoliator is today? Probably not - I think that if the recipes didn't work, they wouldn't have been passed along. Always interested in learning new techniques and saving money at the same time, I enlisted a few friends and the internet and put together this list of easy, affordable and natural skin care items you can make at home.

Exfoliators and Cleansers

Oatmeal Facial
1 cup oats
¼ cup oil (almond, untoasted sesame, canola or olive)
2 tablespoons honey

Combine the honey with a little water and mix the oats, oil and honey water in a medium bowl. Gently rub onto face in upward strokes. Wash thoroughly with warm water.

Brown Sugar Scrub (makes enough for 2)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup oil (almond, untoasted sesame, canola or olive)
1 teaspoon vitamin E (optional) – you can cut open liquid gel caps if you have them
½-1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix oil, vitamin E and vanilla in a medium sized bowl. Add brown sugar and combine. Use in the shower or bath for total body exfoliation.

Yogurt Facial Scrub
1 ½ cups plain yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and gently rub onto face until salt dissolves. Wash thoroughly with warm water.

Facial Masks

Dry skin: 1 mashed avocado and 1 teaspoon honey
Oily skin: 2 mashed bananas and 1 teaspoon lemon juice

After cleansing, evenly distribute mask over face, avoiding eyes. Allow to sit for 15 minutes, then wash thoroughly with warm water.

Honey Egg Mask
1 raw egg
2 tablespoons honey
splash of milk
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)

Separate the egg yolk from the white. If you have normal-dry skin, use the yolk. If you have normal-oily skin, use the white. Whichever part of the egg you use, mix it with the honey, oil and milk. Make sure to use a very small amount of milk to keep the consistency correct. Apply to face after cleansing and allow to sit for 10-20 minutes. Wash thoroughly with warm water.

All of these are very good for soothing and refreshing your skin on the outside, but it’s important to remember that the first step to healthy skin is taking care of it from the inside. A balanced diet full of fruit, vegetables and grains will provide your body with all it needs to make your outside radiant.