
This article contains sponsored links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.
With so many beauty products on the market, we are lead to believe that we need to use a lot of different things to care for our skin. There is a much simpler cost efficient way to care for our skin that is also much healthier for our bodies. Our skin is our largest organ and also called our “third kidney”. I’ve mentionned before the importance of eliminating toxic chemical ingredients from all of our beauty products, and also everything that we can consciously think of by educating ourselves on ingredients and how products are created. This is the best way that we can take control of our health and beauty.
During my minimalist journey I’ve played around with ingredients that you usually find in your household that can be whipped up, mixed used in synergistic ways to create a balanced skin care routine. I’ve also tried many different natural oils and butters to see what I liked and disliked. Here are a few suggestions on things to try for a beautiful radiant complexion in a very cost and environmental friendly way.
1. Makeup Remover
Jojoba oil is a wonderful makeup remover, especially eye makeup. It is very close to our skin’s natural sebum, and absorbs extremely quickly without the greasy feeling. I’m not crazy about using oil cleansing as a primary facial cleanser, and also believe it is better not to use makeup to hide behind yet to enhance our natural beauty. If you wear less makeup, you’ll have less to remove, and will then be more gentle with your skin on a daily basis. If possible allow your skin to breath by being makeup free whenever you can. That way you can skip this step as much as possible.
Update: If you are acne prone and interested in oil cleansing or using oils to moisturize your skin, then read my latest oil cleansing regimen and also learn more about high linoleic oils. This is more recent information that has been extremely helpful to me and a lot of my readers.
2. Cleanse
Oh how I love honey! Raw honey is the perfect facial cleanser! Surprisingly it is not sticky to use while cleansing the skin and rinses off with ease.
I’ve noticed my skin become brighter with a glow. Honey has a slow release of hydrogen peroxide when it comes in contact with water and the natural pH of skin and therefore is antibacterial. It also has amino acids which are moisturizing, and antioxidants that protect the skin from free radical damage. Raw honey has gluconic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid responsible for honey’s acidity.
Cleansing with honey alone does not remove makeup, yet it does make a wonderful overnight spot treatment for blemishes. Just dab a tiny bit on the blemish and you will see great improvement in one or two days. Mix a drop of honey with your evening moisturizer for extremely soft skin. Raw honey is more nutritious to the skin still containing all of its healing properties that have not been pasteurized or eliminated with high heat temperatures.
3. Tone
This is one step that I skipped for about a year and a half once I decided to simplify my beauty routine. Well I’m back to it and for good reason. Using a toner really does benefit the skin and is also so refreshing.
My DIY Soothing Antioxidant Toner is a wonderful toner, yet sometimes I like things even more basic. Green tea and apple cider vinegar are the main components of my toner recipe, yet apple cider vinegar and aloe vera juice are also perfect. The pH of healthy skin ranges between a 4 and 6.5. Apple cider vinegar has an ideal acidity pH level of 5-7 as well as malic acid which clears the skin of blemishes and scars, minimizes pores, and brightens the complexion. Aloe vera has an average pH of 3.5 with vitamin B12, vitamin C, amino acids, minerals, and salicylic acid. An imbalanced pH value of skin is one of the major cause for acne and other skin ailments.
For my extremely simple toner I use a 4:1 ratio of aloe vera juice to apple cider vinegar. It is very important to always dilute apple cider vinegar. Aloe vera is the perfect pH balancer and would make a good toner on its own as well.
4. Moisturize
I’ve tried many different natural oils and butters to moisturize my skin and have come across a few that I truly love. Tamanu oil was my very first love and I also use it in my DIY Healing Face Body & Hair Oil which I also include my other favorites coconut oil and wheat germ oil. Tamanu oil is extremely healing because it is antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties, and possesses many antioxidants. It completely regenerates new healthy skin which is why it is so valuable to good skin care. To read more on tamanu oil go here.
My newest favorite is camellia oil. Camellia oil is extremely close to our natural skin sebum therefore absorbs quickly into the skin. It is one of the highest oils in oleic acid and is oxidation resistant . I am looking forward to creating some new oil and butter mixes with camellia oil.
Skin care doesn’t have to be expensive to be affective. My skin now is the best that it has ever been by using simple natural products. Simple green beauty really is the best beauty!
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
br3 says
love your blog
had a question about the oil cleansing method…why arent you a fan of it?
the reason i ask is because i have acne so i wear foundation during the day…so oil really is the best non toxic way of removing my makeup without over drying my skin (although the hot water compress probably is what made my skin drier)
i use organic extra virgin cold pressed olive oil mixed with a little bit of organic lavender essential oil.
id love to here your thoughts on this. thanks in advance! C:
Dawn Michelle says
Hi br3!
It was the oil cleansing method that began my journey of looking for natural simple inexpensive ways to maintain beautiful skin. At first it worked wonderfully. My skin was glowing and felt extremely moisturized. I loved that it was one product for cleansing and moisturizing. Over time it clogged and enlarged my pores. Enlarged pores usually are a sign of congested skin.
I then moved onto using rhassoul clay which pulled all of the impurities out of my skin and brightened my complexion. When my skin was finally balanced honey became my favorite cleanser. If my skin looks or feels congested I will use rhassoul clay. I don’t always use rhassoul clay because I have combination skin. I pay attention to what my skin needs and use honey and rhassoul clay accordingly. Another wonderful thing to add to honey is amla powder which is extremely rich in vitamin C.
I feel better using jojoba oil as a makeup remover since it is very close to our skin’s sebum versus other oils which tend to be much heavier. I usually follow up by cleansing with honey or leaving honey on my skin for a few minutes like a mask. I’ve even mixed honey with rhassoul clay to cleanse my skin after wearing makeup. After my skin is cleansed I feel more comfortable to apply a heavier oil like tamanu oil or camellia oil.
I try to be conscious of which foods may have contributed to any blemishes on my face or body as I know that my skin is only trying to get rid of any impurities. It is also so evident when I look at my face if I’ve been drinking enough water. I’ve found that when I eat alkaline foods, take omega supplements and vitamin E, drink tons of water, and keep active/exercise my skin, hair, and nails look the best.
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
mangomadness says
Sweet! I cleanse with honey (regular honey…I’ll try raw honey soon) and use a green tea/tea tree oil toner. Right now, I moisturize with sunflower oil but I’m thinking of other natural alternatives. Anyways, I love my honey face wash and tea toner. They’re super gentle on my dry skin, keep it clear and give a nice glow.
Dawn Michelle says
I’ve used both raw honey and regular honey to cleanse and both are good, yet raw honey is better. I love that simple skin care works really well.
saffron says
your posts are so thoughtful. I would like to know if you have any recommendations on reducing pore size? and are there other ways of decongesting pores? And how about premature undereye wrinkles and circles? I am thinking shea butter may be of some help. thank you so much!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Saffron! Clays can help decongest pores. Rhassoul clay is my favorite. You can also try bentonite or green clay. I prefer to mix my clays with honey for hydration. For premature wrinkles I like shea butter and also mango butter. Mango butter must be mixed with another oil to be pliable. Rosehip seed oil is wonderful for premature wrinkles. Also adding a drop of honey with your moisturizer is also really nourishing to skin.
Best wishes!
Nadine says
This has sparked my interest! I want to start a natural anti-aging regimine. However- at 32years old I still suffer from acne. I am afraid to just “let go” of some products (specifically retin-a) although after year and still acne-ridden I’m not convinced.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Nadine,
Try the DIY Gentle Exfoliating Mask. This is one of my favorite go-to products for breakouts and brightening the skin. It has natural glycolic, citric, and lauric acid in it yet is extremely gentle on the skin. This is one of my all time favorites. A wonderful natural oil to use alone or add to an anti-aging product is rosehips oil. Even tamanu oil would be wonderful for its healing and intense regenerating properties.
Best Wishes,
Dawn Michelle
Naika says
Hi! Love everything about your blog! Love this post!
Question-have you ever used jojoba oil as a moisturizer as well?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Naika! Glad you love the blog, that means a lot! Yes I have used jojoba oil as a moisturizer and it is wonderful. Have a wonderful day! Happy Valentines Day!
Nicole Reed says
This is a great blog! I searched but did not see anything on what soap you use to clean your body. I sometimes have an issue with break outs or skin irritations and I use the mildest soaps or natural soaps.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Nicole,
I don’t usually stick to one specific body cleanser. I’ve used clay soaps, black soaps, oatmeal soaps, shea butter soaps, and other natural body washes. I usually purchase them from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or the farmer’s market. I always look for vegetable based natural soaps.
If you are concerned with break outs, I’d look to see what ingredients are in the product that you are currently using. If you are using commercial body washes with sulfates, that could be what is irritating your skin. Just as sulfate based cleansers are drying to hair, they are also drying to skin. Check out cosmetic ingredients to avoid to educate yourself on what is in your beauty products. I hope that this is helpful.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Kara says
I discovered your blog last week and am LOVING it! I have a question about the aloe vera/ACV toner. Do you have to refrigerate that? I have read you can add rosemary oil as a preservative (among other things), but can’t seem to find a definitive answer.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kara,
I’m so glad your loving the blog. To answer your question, I would refrigerate all DIY products to ensure a longer shelf life. Have a wonderful weekend!
Peace,
Dawn Michelle
Jen says
Love your blog! Have you ever used almond oil in your hair/skin routines? Thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jen, I’ve used almond oil in the past yet not in a long time. It is a wonderful oil though. So glad you love the blog. Thanks so much!
Lisa says
Aloha Dawn Michelle,
You da bomb! for sharing your passion for DIY beauty products with us…Thank you and blessings upon you from the land of aloha!
Lisa
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you so much Lisa!
Kat says
Hi, Thank you for sharing these natural beauty solutions! For the aloe vera juice and Apple cider vinegar toner, must you put it in the fridge after mixing? how long does it last?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kat,
With the aloe vera and apple cider vinegar toner I suggest diluting the apple cider vinegar with water. Aloe and apple cider vinegar without water is a bit too potent. Anything mix that has water should be refrigerated. This toner is usually good from 1-2 weeks refrigerated. So glad you are enjoying the blog!
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Christine says
Heya! I have a question: do you refrigerate your acv/aloe toner?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Christine,
Vinegar is a natural preservative but any DIY beauty product that I make that contains water or aloe vera I refrigerate anyway since natural preservatives must be used in synergy with other natural preservatives to create a product that doesn’t need refrigeration. Best wishes!
BIMBO MICHAELS says
hi beautiful blog, I have issues with finding the right oil to use as a moisturiser, the only oils I can get easily over here is castor oil, olive oil.which one do you advice I use or do I make a mixture.
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Bimbo Michaels!
It really just depends on your skin’s needs. If you are not acne prone then olive oil would be great. If you are acne prone go with castor oil. You can read more about oils for acne prone skin here if you are. <3