Initially I was looking for a good face scrub to use for face exfoliating but after hours and hours of surfing, I couldn't find an ideal product which has fantastic reviews, a proven record and friendly to my purse. So I decided, why not save some money and DIY a home scrub. I decided that my main ingredient was going to be a Green Tea, which was a powerful anti-oxidant (slows the aging process, rejuvenate skin cells - esp good for after-sun applications!) and also a good purifying ingredient for acne/zits. Lastly, I also incorporated oatmeal in my mask as I have been too stressed recently and pimples started to pop up randomly across my face *sobs*. So here goes, prepare for a long post! I sincerely hope that this may be of help to some of you out there!
So I ended up with a full regime after exploring - a face scrub, a toner and a mask for application. However, you may choose to take the scrub and mask on separate days as some people have thinner skin and too much exfoliation may be bad for the skin.
Let's get started on the recipes! Before I start let me outline the benefits of some ingredients I've chosen. However this is not to say that some other ingredients are no good, its just that I've chosen this for these home products!
Key Ingredients Benefits:
1) Sugar - naturally exfoliates dead skin and cleanses skin
- alpha-hydroxy (glycolic acid) rich which is crucial for maintaining healthy skin; does not clog pores; helps eliminate blemishes, restores balance to skin's oil.
- After dead skin is exfoliated (but not overly exfoiliated), your body organ works more efficiently to expel toxins and take in nourishment, thus giving a radiant glow.
- Sugar scrubs are also gentler than salt scrubs, making it suitable for all skin types.
2) Green Tea
- reduces sun damage and inflammation (free radicals) i.e. anti-oxidant (esp impt for me in a hot sunny Singapore!)
- slow down effects of aging
3 tips for using green tea as a facial ingredient:
(i) always put boiling water when making your cup of green tea so the full goodness is released from the tea bag/tea leaves;
(ii) always prepare the cup of green tea and use it immediately, don't wait.
(iii) never use cold green tea, make sure its just warm before application or adding to sugar.
3) Honey (some call it liquid gold!)
- hydrating and softening effects as honey is a humectant which attracts and preserves water,
- anti-bacterial effects - good for acne
- anti-oxidant (anti-aging)
- rich in nutrients and vitamins - vitamin B & C, minerals and amino acid
4) Oatmeal
- an astringent which draws out and absorbs excess oils from the skin
- draw and hold moisture
- exfoliates dead skin and clear up blemishes
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| You should still see the coarse sugar after mixing p.s. pardon the kiddy bowl! |
Ingredients:
3 tbsp white sugar, slightly coarse
1 tbsp green tea
2/3 tsp johnson & johnson baby oil or replaceable with almond oil or rose hip oil (optional)
1 tsp organic honey
How to?
(i) make 1/4 cup of green tea with boiling water. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
(ii) Add 1 tbsp of white sugar to your bowl
(iii) Stir the green tea and add 1 tbsp to the bowl
(iv) Add 2 more tbsp of white sugar
(v) Add 1 tsp of organic honey
(vi) Add 2/3 tsp of the oil you chose
Should you lack the above ingredients, remember that white sugar is always the key ingredient in a scrub. The next key ingredient is green tea.
[If you really lack everything, just have slightly coarse sugar on hand. Add 3 tbsp of warm water and gently scrub i.e. as if you are stroking a newborn!]
What does each selection of oil do?
- J&J Baby Oil: Softens skin, moisturizes but there are people who are against mineral oil which is the key ingredient in this product.
- Almond Oil: Nourish, smoothen and soften skin - relieves itchiness, soreness and rashes
- Rose Hip Oil: rich in vitamin C, rehydrates skin, reduces wrinkles and repair damange skin cells (i.e. scars recovery!)
Some may ask why I do not recommend Olive Oil as a replacement. I believe that the anti-oxidant used in the application may end up being too strong if added as both green tea and honey has anti-oxidant effects already.
It is also not recommended that you use more than 1 oil in this scrub.
Application Steps:
(a) just gently scrub (as if stroking a newborn) with a good cotton pad which picks up all the ingredients (rem to stir before each pick up). Rough scrubs would harm your face, especially if the sugar is far too coarse.
(b) Then use your fingers to give your face a 2nd round of gentle scrub.
(c) Repeat both steps (a) and (b) again before gently rinsing off the scrub. Viola, you're done!
Green Tea Toner / Acne Soother
It is as simple as getting warm green tea onto your cotton pad and gently pad the awesome natural and affordable toner into your face! Enjoy this simple goodness!
[You may choose to put your remaining green tea in the fridge. When sufficiently cold, use a cotton bud to pick up some tea and dab onto affected acne/zit. Allow the green tea to dry naturally on skin - it will help soothe and heal skin]
Green Tea Honey Oat Wash-off Mask
(Do not use this receipe if you are allergic to oats!!)
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| this is not a paste, continue stirring! |
2 tbsp organic rolled oats (use baby oats/ porridge oats if possible)
2 tbsp (+ 1 tsp) warm green tea
1/2 tsp organic honey
How to?
(i) Make 1/3 cup of green tea with boiling water. Let it cool for 3 mins.
(ii) Pour 1 tbsp of oats into bowl
(iii) Add 1 tbsp of warm green tea, stir
(iv) repeat steps (ii) and (iii)
(v) Add 1 tsp honey
(vi) stir until a thick paste is formed (add 1 tsp of green tea if paste is too thick)
Application Steps:
(a) Ensure you begin with clean hands and a cleansed face (oh and make sure to keep your hair back)
(b) Apply all over your face with a clean foundation brush, cover acne/pimples with more paste
(c) leave the mask to work for 20-30 minutes or until the mask is dried
(d) Rinse off gently with warm water, rub gently in circles all over the face.
(e) pat dry your face
(f) tone and moisturize, your face should be glowing!
I hope you've enjoyed reading these recipes and do let me know if it works for you! I'll post my other homemade recipes which I've experimented using ingredients such as milk, yoghurt and oats!
Unfortunately i'm still looking for dark eye circle remedies. I've tried all sorts of commercial brands out there - ranging from la prairie to garnier roll-on eye pens but none have quite worked miraculously though la praire's did aid. Its just getting from bad to worse... can't do without concealers anymore. HELP! I'll let you know if I do find a breakthrough. Meanwhile I've stopped most eye products (as they are either too rich, causing milia seeds and others giving crows feet *sobs*) and just purely applying a simple vitamin C serum with eye massages. Do let me know if you have a miraculous remedy!
*for the love of natural skincare*
If you want to rejuvenate your facial skin and help it look healthier than ever, it is really essential that you exfoliate your face properly and regularly. A high quality Green tea face scrub can make your dull skin glow immediately by gently removing the dead cells deposited over the surface layer of your skin over time.
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