14 replies to this topic

[Ukulala]

There is so much discussion on here of diet and such (obviously), but as it is a holistic forum, that means approaching ALL sides of the organism, hm?

So I'm curious to take a survey of my fellow naturophiles (ha) and their topical skin care routines.

What do you do or apply to your face / body?
Do you use only water? Do you use a face wash you swear by? Do you do masks? What do you do?

Thanks - I think this information, all compiled in one place, will be beneficial. :}

Edited by Ukulala, 31 January 2012 - 10:32 AM.

[dejaclairevoyant]

I use a gluten free soap, a little tea tree oil on minor breakouts (doesn't happen too much) and on major breakouts (after a gluten exposure) I have to use BP. Nothing other than BP has ever helped if I'm actually having a flare. But I don't really get flares anymore other than accidental exposures (usually can be avoided) or if I'm intensely detoxing while fasting.

Other stuff I do are natural scrubs and masks... I do one that is organic coffee + olive oil. Another that's brown sugar + honey. And I also do a clay + apple cider vinegar mask that works good to heal red marks and scars.

Oh and also the only moisturizor I use is grapeseed oil. I put that on top of BP whenever I use it, and also around my eyes at night. Plus I use it to remove my eye makeup, it works great!

Edited by dejaclairevoyant, 31 January 2012 - 10:59 AM.

[bobbi364]

Other than water only, I use bentonite clay masks once a week, it helps to exfoliate and pull toxins out of the skin, without any drying effect. It is all natural, no chemicals, and to me can be the best thing for acne, I wish I knew about it when I did have acne.

http://www.aboutclay...o/Uses/acne.htm

[dejaclairevoyant]

Yep that's the sort of clay I use. It's great!

[bobbi364]

dejaclairevoyant, on 31 January 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

Yep that's the sort of clay I use. It's great!

Do you use it with water or ACV? I have found it best with ACV, it gets to a more creamy texture compared to a clumpy water mixture.

[dejaclairevoyant]

Yeah I use raw ACV and its definitely creamly, like a chocolate mousse or something, spreads over your face super easily.

[takenimpulse]

A quick rinse with luke-warm water in the shower, use jojoba oil as a moisturizer before bed since I live in a cold winter climate, and an aspirin mask once a week to exfoliate.

[Ukulala]

So far, everyone seems keen on at least weekly exfoliation. Iiiinteresting. I really want to try this clay business!
As I'm trying to figure out the most travel-friendly regimen, I wonder what my best option would be ... I'm thinking I'll just purchase this cleanser I used for a while that I did very well with at the time. Though - I'm also a bit wary, because at that point, I was using epiduo as well, so I'm like "I COULD HAVE HAD A REACTION AND NOT KNOWN!!" haha.
...That's silly, though. It made me very clear and glowy and happy and etc, etc. Anyway, it includes clay and jojoba beads for exfoliation; I'm thinking if I just use that about once a week, it should be helpful.

Thanks for the info, keep it comin'!

[bobbi364]

Yes, you should exfoliate at least once a week, and clay masks are great for that. The one huge thing that I really like about them is that they are 100% organic and they do not dry out my skin, it literally feels like I didn't do anything really, however the benefits speak for themselves. I could literally do like 100 bentonite clay masks a day without it negatively affecting my skin, hard claim to make with anything else, at least for me.

[alternativista]

Cleanse with water only or oil cleanse to remove makeup. apply my on concoction of aloe vera gel, oil, niacinimide and green tea to most areas. Sometimes a commercial product on eyes and other spots prone to showing age. Mineral powder makeup

Edited by alternativista, 31 January 2012 - 07:47 PM.

[jennifer36]

morning
wash body with homemade oatmeal patchouli soap
wash face/chest/back in shower w/ manuka honey
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face, chest, back)
moisturize if needed w/ Green Beaver brand aloe & green tea moisturizer

night
remove makeup with jojoba oil on the rare occasion that I wear it
manuka honey mask for 30+ minutes
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face)
tone back/chest w/ chamomile lavender tea mixed with tea tree oil
spot treat face w/ jojoba and tea tree oil mixture

I really want to try a homemade clay mask once a week... Last time I tried a clay mask (store bought, derma e brand) it gave me cysts so I've been scared away ever since. I think I'll go buy some bentonite clay at some point this week!

I love learning about what works/doesn't work for other people, great thread!

[bobbi364]

jennifer36, on 31 January 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

morning
wash body with homemade oatmeal patchouli soap
wash face/chest/back in shower w/ manuka honey
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face, chest, back)
moisturize if needed w/ Green Beaver brand aloe & green tea moisturizer

night
remove makeup with jojoba oil on the rare occasion that I wear it
manuka honey mask for 30+ minutes
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face)
tone back/chest w/ chamomile lavender tea mixed with tea tree oil
spot treat face w/ jojoba and tea tree oil mixture

I really want to try a homemade clay mask once a week... Last time I tried a clay mask (store bought, derma e brand) it gave me cysts so I've been scared away ever since. I think I'll go buy some bentonite clay at some point this week!

I love learning about what works/doesn't work for other people, great thread!

I use Aztec Healing Clay, it is great, 100% organic. If you have a lot of acne, I would recommend using it much more than once a week. Here is a good article on it:http://www.aboutclay.com/info/Uses/acne.htm

[Ukulala]

jennifer36, on 31 January 2012 - 04:40 PM, said:

morning
wash body with homemade oatmeal patchouli soap
wash face/chest/back in shower w/ manuka honey
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face, chest, back)
moisturize if needed w/ Green Beaver brand aloe & green tea moisturizer

night
remove makeup with jojoba oil on the rare occasion that I wear it
manuka honey mask for 30+ minutes
tone w/ chamomile lavender tea (face)
tone back/chest w/ chamomile lavender tea mixed with tea tree oil
spot treat face w/ jojoba and tea tree oil mixture

I really want to try a homemade clay mask once a week... Last time I tried a clay mask (store bought, derma e brand) it gave me cysts so I've been scared away ever since. I think I'll go buy some bentonite clay at some point this week!

I love learning about what works/doesn't work for other people, great thread!

Me too!

How is Manuka working for you - and what level or number or whatnot do you have? I purchased the first one I found at the local shop, and it's 15+; Ive since read that 16+ is where the real benefits kick in. D'oh. And applying it a number of times didn't seem to do much for me ... but then again, that was also when I was applying the makeup I've since realized was breaking me out D: D'oh x 2!

And you're 90-95% clear with this, you say? Nice!!

alternativista, on 31 January 2012 - 04:28 PM, said:

Cleanse with water only or oil cleanse to remove makeup. apply my on concoction of aloe vera gel, oil, niacinimide and green tea to most areas. Sometimes a commercial product on eyes and other spots prone to showing age.

Hm! I'm intrigued by your concoction. Could you tell me more about it - like why you chose those ingredients, and what sort of oil? Thank you!

[jennifer36]

bobbi364, on 31 January 2012 - 05:25 PM, said:

I use Aztec Healing Clay, it is great, 100% organic. If you have a lot of acne, I would recommend using it much more than once a week. Here is a good article on it:http://www.aboutclay.com/info/Uses/acne.htm

Hmm, that looks like something worth trying. My skin's in pretty good shape since starting my whole acne diet, but anything natural that helps seems like a great idea to me. I'll check that out more later on! Thanks!

Ukulala, on 31 January 2012 - 06:21 PM, said:

Me too!

How is Manuka working for you - and what level or number or whatnot do you have? I purchased the first one I found at the local shop, and it's 15+; Ive since read that 16+ is where the real benefits kick in. D'oh. And applying it a number of times didn't seem to do much for me ... but then again, that was also when I was applying the makeup I've since realized was breaking me out D: D'oh x 2!

And you're 90-95% clear with this, you say? Nice!!

I bought the UMF 16+! I find the mask helps the most, but I'm not a morning person and don't want to get up an extra half hour early in the morning to do another mask! Haha. I credit my better skin mainly to my diet changes, but have noticed an improvement with the manuka honey, especially in terms of scar reduction. Although the chamomile lavender really helps with scars!

[corgisoulpower]

Mine's all over the place and changes a lot.

Camellia(just ran out)/jojoba oil to cleanse occasionally, usually water though. Just bought some avocado oil to cook with and used that in the shower yesterday and really like it! I also used it to take off my makeup last night, just put it all over my face and used tissue to absorb+pull off makeup, then splashed some cold water on face. I have tea tree oil but usually use it under my arms, rarely on my face. Used to do oatmeal masks/put them in the bath, I'll only do this now if I feel like cleaning up oatmeal from the bottom of the tub/my sink. Also used to use lemon juice and ACV, I don't think I ever diluted it enough then used it consistently to see results. Never tried green tea or chamomile either. I like raw honey but only as a once-in-awhile thing now. Used to do aspirin masks but not really into those anymore.

EPSOM SALT, which I partially dissolve and use as a light scrub or spot treatment which I wash off after ten minutes or so. I dissolve it in baths, my body+skin love it. I also put a little of the salt crystals on my new piercing, it's an effective disinfectant I feel. Also supplies you with some much-needed magnesium, absorbed through the skin. Swish with it for kanker sores, gargle for sore throats, drinking a little bit of it relieves constipation+is used in various cleanses (haven't tried it this way). A cardboard container of it is $6 but I know dollar stores carry it too (there aren't any near me =( ). Lasts me for awhile. Good product to have in bathrooms.

For the last two days I've been getting pre-cycle spots and have just worn like. A mask of makeup. PCA hydrating sunscreen, maybelline mineral concealer and faerie organics mineral powder on top. Little eyeliner/mascara. A new foundation/tinted moisturizer with natural ingredients/good consistency would be awesome. I love just covering my scars and having my whole face being even-toned once in awhile but the way I go about it now just makes it look dehydrated and cakey. Maybe I'll check out the makeup forum about it, see if anyone recommends anything. Or look into paula's choice foundation.

My cabinet has hyperpigmentation serum and a&c serum, which make my whole face feel tight and lightens marks but also turn it somewhat of a yellowish/tannish color, so I only use it at night. Anti-redness serum and rejuvenating serum (which smells good) for moisturizing I guess. Age defense/acne serum with sal acid for spot treatment, idk how effective it is sometimes I just spot treat with it. Pure aloe vera gel which I never really use. LHA cleanser/spray toner which I never ever use and plan to send back soon, sometimes I use the cleanser before a peel. There's also a bottle of sensi TCA peel and a little container of ultra peel which are chemical peels that are literally the most effective in lightening scars/PIH in the shortest time possible, you can do it once a month I'm kind of behind with doing it again. My esthetician day-spa owning momma gives me all this stuff. I grew up on the topicals she's given me but now use them sparingly. My favorite ever was nucelle mandelic, it was a little starter/travel kit.

She's been into holistic stuff since forever and recently went gluten-free/low-sugar/limiting grains for her thyroid issues and just told me about "oil pulling" where you swish with a little coconut+other kind of oil in your mouth and spit it out, it's supposed to "pull" toxins out or w/e. I'm not sure how accurate this is since I haven't looked into it yet. But I tried it a little with avocado oil in the shower and ended up swallowing part of it...oops.

Oh damn my post was long.