Natural Skin Care

The last time I talked about natural beauty products I wasn't quite ready to tell you what I thought about my face care routine.  I've been testing a few things on pregnant skin and didn't want any hormonal issues to be messing with my results.  Now that I'm settling into the 2nd trimester and feeling much more like myself, I feel safe in making a few recommendations.

image via meyenberg.com

Powdered milk is the best face wash I've ever used.  It worked when my mom convinced me to try it in college and it works just as well now.  I wish I could remember why I gave it up (probably got lured by some corporate advertising) but I'm back and loving it.  Milk naturally exfoliates and softens the skin.  It also leaves behind a bit of moisture which feels so much better than squeaky clean skin.  I'm using a hormone free goat's milk now, but any powdered milk will do.  Just put about 1/2 a teaspoon into the palm of your hand and add just enough water to make a thick paste.  Give it all a good rub and then rinse as you would with any cleanser.

Image via desertessence.com

JoJoba Oil is my new natural moisturizer of choice.  If you're like me, then the thought of rubbing straight oil into your sometimes oily skin is a little scary.  I've tried using coconut oil and olive oil as facial moisturizers in the past and felt like they caused break outs, so I was especially wary of yet another oil.  As promised by countless sources, including my favorite, acne.org, jojoba oil is great for all skin types.  It mimics the skin's natural sebum and helps to balance oil production.

Image via wellsphere.com

Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant and anti wrinkle properties.  Because jojoba oil absorbs so well, I sometimes feel like I should be doing a little more around my eyes which are starting to wrinkle.  When I think of it I'll break a Vitamin E capsule and mix it with a bit of jojoba and then dab that around my eyes.  It leaves a greasy and almost sticky sheen, so I only do this at night.  I've also used Vitamin E mixed with jojoba to treat Leif's dry and rashy cheeks and chin after he's eaten too many acidic foods.  I rub it in before bed and by morning his skin is clear. 

Why buy a product that contains natural ingredients (plus dozens of other stabilizers, thickeners and chemicals) when you can head straight to the source?  Cheap, easy and completely natural, these ingredients have replaced and out performed everything I've tried before.  They're yet another example of the formula that seems to be proving itself to be true everywhere:  simpler is better.