From the thorough, healing touch of our aesthetician's hands to the magical ingredients that are used on your skin, you'd probably agree that few things compare to the feeling you have when you sit up after receiving a facial. And unless you're able to visit us daily, you've probably spent some time wondering how you can come close to achieving those results-and that glorious feeling- at home between your treatments.
While we can't promise ‘magic,' there are some simple ingredients that can help you out between visits. Not only are their properties similar to those in the products we use, but you can also find them at home in your very own kitchen.
Milk
If you're a fan of the youthful, glowing look your skin has when our aesthetician whips out the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), then you wont need to look much further than the milk carton or yogurt pot in your fridge. Milk contains lactic acid, which is an AHA, so it's a natural exfoliant. It's also rich in minerals and vitamins that are great for your skin, such as Vitamins A and D.
Just sweep your face with cotton pads that have been soaked in whole milk and allow to sit for a few minutes before rinsing to experience the benefits. Also try adding whole milk to warm bath water. It was part of Cleopatra's beauty regimen, and we all know that history remembers her as one of the most beautiful women who ever lived. For a more luxurious milk bath, try adding a few drops of lavender oil for its relaxing properties and a couple tablespoons of our next ingredient, honey, for it's antibacterial and moisturizing properties.
Honey
This gift from Mother Nature is packed with benefits for the skin and is even a favorite around the world. Honey is packed with flavonoids, potent anti-oxidants that help to protect the skin from environmental pollutants and slow aging. Honey is also a humectant, so it attracts moisture to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated. And if all that isn't enough, this magical ingredient, produced by tiny bees, is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-microbial, so it can be helpful in soothing irritated skin and treating mild breakouts.
Simply warm a tablespoon of raw, organic honey in your hands by rubbing your palms together, and then apply to your face, completely covering it. Allow it to sit on your skin for 10 minutes and then wipe with a clean, warm, damp towel. Finish up by rinsing your face with cool water.
Oatmeal
Like honey, oatmeal is great for soothing irritated skin, and is a great natural choice for sensitive skin types and those with any form of dermatitis or eczema. The polysaccharides found in oatmeal form a gel when mixed with water. This gel softens and nourishes the skin, creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture. This makes oatmeal a great option for dry skin in winter months. Oats also contain natural cleansers called saponins that gently purify your pores.
Add just enough warm water to half a cup of rolled oats (not instant oatmeal), to make a paste. Rinse your face with warm water and then massage the oatmeal paste into your face using circular motions. Let the paste sit on your face for five minutes and then remove using a clean, warm, damp towel. Rinse with cool water.
Sugar
For a ‘sweet' between-visits treat, open up your sugar jar. While you may skimp on it in your diet, sugar can be incorporated into your beauty regimen to achieve smooth, glowing skin. The grains in brown sugar can be used to scrub away dead skin cells, making it a great natural exfoliant. It also contains glycolic acid, which, like the lactic acid found in milk, is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid, and it helps to maintain healthy skin.
Simply add two to three tablespoons of virgin olive oil to half a cup of brown sugar and stir. In the shower, wet your skin with warm water and massage it with the sugar scrub. Let the scrub sit on your skin for a minute or two and rinse with cold water. You can also add a tablespoon of raw honey to the mixture for moisturizing benefits.
Coconut Oil
This natural moisturizer can be incorporated into both your skin and hair care regimen. Coconut oil contains nutrients like Vitamin E and K and can actually help to protect your skin from sun damage. Like honey, coconut oil is high in antioxidants and can therefore prevent premature aging.
Using coconut oil as a moisturizer in your skin care routine couldn't be simpler. Just massage it into damp skin after your bath or shower. Be sure to use virgin coconut oil, and if you are experienced with essential oils, you can add your favorite for scent.
You can also substitute coconut oil for olive oil in your sugar scrub recipe.
You can also substitute coconut oil for olive oil in your sugar scrub recipe.
From the exfoliating properties of milk to the moisturizing benefits of coconut oil, these natural skin care options offer convenient, effective and affordable ways to keep your skin glowing between visits. Scientists are also really beginning to appreciate all of the skin care benefits Mother Nature has to offer. Just take a look at the labels on some of your favorite skin care products. You just might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.