Minimalist Beauty

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No More Chemical Skin Care - Part 4 - Treatments & Body Care

Simple 100% natural skin care is what I love. Here are some wonderful DIY skin care masks and treatments which can be incorporated 1-2 times per week for healthy vibrant skin.  Each treatment focuses on different skin needs and can be easily made at home with simple organic ingredients.  The DIY body care ideas are very easy to make too.

Facial Masks & Treatments

DIY Ayurvedic Turmeric Facial Mask

The DIY Ayurvedic Turmeric Facial Mask is my rendition of a traditional Ayurvedic mask used for centuries especially for brightening the skin of brides before their wedding day.  This mask includes turmeric for healing acne, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation as well as increasing the skin's elasticity.  This mask also contains besan flour which smooths the skin like nothing else I've ever tried, raw honey, along with yogurt, coconut milk (avoid if acne prone), or water to create a creamy consistency.  I honestly prefer to use yogurt in this recipe which contains lactic acid for brightening and smoothing the skin.

DIY Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask

While on vacation in Maui, I ate as much organic papaya as I could since it is one of my favorite fruits.  Instead of just tossing what wasn't eaten, I would scrape the rind and use the remaining papaya juice for a very easy to make enzyme facial mask.  Papaya contains antioxidant rich vitamins A, C, and E as well as papain which is the enzyme that gently exfoliates dead skin cells and increases skin cell turnover.  This simple mask is extremely affective.  Read more here.

Herbal Facial Steam

Steaming my skin with dried flowers and herbs is one of my favorite facial treatments.  This treatment can be used in conjunction with any mask to open the pores for a deep cleansing like nothing else I've experienced.  I purchase my dried flower and herb mix which includes organic comfrey leaf, organic chamomile flowers, organic rose petals, organic calendula flowers, and organic sweet orange essential oil.  I explain in detail how I steam my skin here.

Simple Body Care

Rhassoul Body Wash

I've been raving about rhassoul clay forever now.  Mix rhassoul clay with aloe vera juice to create an all natural body wash.  You can create a diluted mix for daily use or make a thick paste for more exfoliation.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a natural fragrance.  You can read about the benefits of rhassoul clay here.

Oatmeal Body Scrub

I mentioned the benefits of using oatmeal for the face in this series on simple facial cleansers.  Well the same goes for using oatmeal for the body.  Oatmeal contains gentle saponins which cleanse and soothe dry irritated skin.  Two simple ways to use oatmeal as a body wash is to put whole oats into a natural mesh bag and use as you would soap or make a paste with oat flour and water to use as a gentle body scrub.  Add your favorite essential oils for extra beauty benefits and for a beautiful scent.

Sugar/Sea Salt Body Scrub

I enjoy using sugar in my beauty care for its natural glycolic acid content.  I love making a simple body scrub using sugar or salt with vegetable glycerin because it moisturizes the skin without creating a slippery shower or tub.  This simple scrub can do wonders for your skin.

Dry Body Brushing

Dry body brushing is an incredible addition to all body care as it exfoliates the skin and also improves lymphatic circulation in the body.  It is best to dry brush your skin prior to bathing or showering.  There are so many benefits to dry body brushing.

More from this entire series...

No More Chemical Skin Care - Part 1 - Introduction

No More Chemical Skin Care - Part 2 - Simple Facial Cleansers

No More Chemical Skin Care - Part 3 - Hydrating & Moisturizing

Image by Dawn Michelle