I was blessed by the skin Gods and somehow never had acne in my teenage years. However, a year before my wedding, I developed what my facialist called “cystic acne”. It didn’t look all that terrible, but it was deeply rooted under my skin hurt like a mo’ fo’. I’ve since learned how to control it with the product I use and by avoiding certain foods (sugar tends to make it flare up).
When my friend Adina told me that she was writing a book about how to eat for your skin, I could not have been more excited. She is one of the funniest yet knowledgable people I have ever met. And her book, Skin Cleanse, does not disappoint. Her writing is equally as hilarious and smart as she is.
{I’m giving away a copy of the book today so scroll all the way down for the deets!}
I wanted to share a few things that I learned from Skin Cleanse that are guaranteed to help you out, no matter what your skin type.
5 foods that you can put on your face (or eat, whatever):
1. Apple cider vinegar is the best astringent in nature because it helps balance your skin’s pH, making you both less oil and less dry (win/win!). Apply one part vinegar and four parts water to your face with cotton or a spritzer.
2. Coarse sugar makes a great body scrub. It’s like a natural version of a chemical peel! Scrub it on your body while you’re in the shower, so it melts quickly, leaving your skin cleansed and smooth.
3. Coconut oil is an amazing body moisturizer that soaks in quickly, leaving you hydrated for hours. It’s antibacterial and antifungal, meaning it will help heal rashes, scars, infections. and acne. Apply it right after you shower, when your pores are hydrated and ready.
4. Honey kills bacteria while soothing an moisturizing skin. It’s also anti-inflammatory and hydrating to your pores. Rub it on your face and leave for a chunk of time. Rinse with warm water and a wash cloth.
5. Fine-grain sea salt is especially great for acne or quick treatments during flare-ups. It also cleans deeply, removes dead skin cells and balances moisture. Wet your skin, put some sea salt on your wet hand so it sticks, then pat it gently on your skin. Leave it for a few minutes or rinse immediately.
A deoxifying face mask recipe:
Chickpeas are an amazing detoxifyier. They pull out harmful toxins, neutralize free radicals, heal sun damage, and energize your skin. Turmeric regulates oil production, reduces inflammation, and heals scars, especially those from acne.
Ingredients:
– 1 tablespoon chickpea flour or mashed chickpeas
– Generous pinch of turmeric powder (enough to tint the mixture yellowish)
– 1 tablespoon water
Directions:
– Combine chickpeas and turmeric in a small bowl
– Stir in the water
– Apply with your fingers (It will feel like you’re putting hummus on your face . . . you kind of are)
– Let it dry before washing off
– Keep it sealed in the fridge for up to a week
– Will make 2-3 applications
Take Adina’s Skin Cleanse challenge:
– Go completely makeup/product-free for one day (2 days if you¹re feeling bold!)
– During this time, substitute your regular skincare and personal care products with natural, food-grade ingredients (see above!). The book has a myriad of recipes which will help guide you through this process!
– Eat clean during your “cleanse.” Your diet and skin health are directly related, so eating plenty of whole foods and vegetables, drinking a lot of water, and eliminating processed foods is critical.
– Share your experience! Tell me about your skin cleanse experience. Journals are encouraged, as is photo documentation of your DIY concoctions or beautiful bare face!
I’m not just saying this because she’s my friend. I’m saying this because the book is damn funny, incredibly informative, and if you have ever had any issue with your skin ever, it will help you. I promise. Buy the book. Trust me on this one.
Giveaway!
Comment below with your favorite natural skin care secret. I’ll randomly select a winner tomorrow (Thursday) and announce it here. Good luck!
Great post! One of my go-to natural masques is made using powdered goats milk blended with raw honey. It restores my glow and leaves me hydrated. The chick pea masque will def be next on my list to try! Love all the suggestions.
Great post! I still struggle with acne! I use tea tree oil as a spot treatment and wash my face with jojoba oil!
Water, water, and more water. I did struggle with acne as a teenager and into my 20s. In the lead up to my wedding I continued to have skin problems and of course like every bride wanted to have clear skin. I read somewhere about nine months before my wedding that drinking plenty of water would help clear up acne. So I started, not overdoing it, but just making sure to frequently drink at least 8 oz. many times throughout the day. When you do that, you naturally eliminate other beverages that are not good for your skin or really anything else. Turned out my skin was so beautiful and clear on my wedding day that in the 25 years since I never returned to drinking soda and have always consumed at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day–often many more. I do not have good genes when it comes to aging skin, but I am frequently told how beautiful my skin is for my age. Two years ago at the age of 47 I started seeing a dermatologist just for an annual skin check to keep track of any spots that might occur. Even the dermatologist said for my age I have terrific skin all over, not just on my face, and I was not kind to it in my youth. I spent way too much time in the sun both as a teenager and into my late 20s since we had a boat and spent a lot of time on the lake. The short story is, my natural product is water. I now have two teenage daughters. One struggles mightily with acne and I wish I could convince her that diet has more to do with it than she realizes. She does take my advice about water and tries to remember to drink plenty. She also eats more cleanly and more wholesome foods then the average teenager, but I still don’t think she consumes enough water every day.
I have been slowly transitioning my skin -care routine to an all-natural approach and I’m finally in a place where I have found products that not only work, but my skin is better than ever! One thing I recommend everyone splurge on is a Clarisonic face brush…changed my lfie! I also make an astringent with ACV but add tea tree oil…game changer!
I use coconut oil all over…it’s the best moisturizer!!
This is my favorite post to date, I love learning about skin care! My best skin care secret is plain and simple H2O. My mother always encouraged us to drink water over any other drink growing up (and a lot of it!) – I have never had an issue with acne or anything on my skin and I totally believe that it is because of all of the water I drink. Thanks for the informative post 🙂
I apply castor oil to my brows- helps encourage growth! And if I’m in the kitchen without lip balm on hand, I apply a dab of honey to keep the moisturized.
xx
Kira
This is a great post – I would love to learn more about natural skin care routines! For me, WATER and COCONUT OIL work best! Since I struggle regularly with dry skin and spurts of acne, I also find the food I eat help with this issue! Thanks for the informative post!
I’ve been loving Vitamin E Oil!
Water, sleep, and suncreen! I’m not sure any of those are “secrets” but rather not always easy to remember or do.
Drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugary foods helps keep my skin clear. I like the Body Shop Vitamin E line of moisturizers.
Love you Julia! I take better care of myself because of you, too.
Love this post. My secret is aloe vera gel as a moisturizer! I mix it with argan oil in the winter for extra moisture.
I use Dr. Bronner’s castille soap as face cleanser, then coconut oil to moisturize at night. Then in the morning, I rinse my face with warm water, and apply argan oil for some extra moisture.
-Aloe Juice: I try to get 8 oz of this in every day. It works wonders for the skin as well as tummy troubles.
-Sleep: I aim to get 8 hours a night during the week and 10 a night on the weekend.
How do you take the aloe juice – straight or mixed into a smoothie/other drink? I have been wanting to try it out!
I love this blog post! Coconut oil is my biggest secret! I use it for everything: nails, hair, face, skin, and teeth. I love it! I also try to make sure that I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and drink 80 ounces of water everyday! It’s amazing what sleep and water will do for your mind and body! I’ve been dying to read this book so I hope I win!!
I mix honey and granulated sugar to use as a lip exfoliator! Makes them silky soft!
Ooh drinking water! Divide your weight in half and that’s how many ounces you should be drinking each day. It keeps me awake AND helps keep my skin clear!
I also love using coconut oil, but I have been doing oil pulling rather than using it as a moisturizer. It sounds gross to swish around oil for 20 minutes at a time, but I really feel like it has improved my skin and whitened my teeth!
I love to use coconut oil for a hair mask! It works great for damaged hair.
I’ve been using Coconut oil with vitamin E in it on and off as a moisturizer. I’ve been exploring essential oils and have heard that lavender and frankincense are great for the skin too! Planning to put those in my coconut oil soon!
What shirt are you wearing in the photo? It’s so cute!
Jojoba Oil is another amazing moisturizing carrier oil for skin, scalp, hair, lips, and nails! Our customers swear by it!