Homemade Products For Your Face and Hands.

 I have made my own beauty products in the past but due to the fact I live in the middle of nowhere it is actually easier for me to use commercial.  I know that home made products can work well but I also know it is better to have only small amounts made because it is possible these products can become contaminated with bacteria.

One should be careful about one's sensitivity to certain ingredients and it is possible to develop a sensitivity to ingredients over time so always be on the look out for that.

Many homemade products are easy to assemble with just a few ingredients found around the house but know that not every product works for everyone.    I'll share a few recipes with you, ones that don't need a ton of ingredients and are easy to make and hopefully you'll find things that will work well for you.

As we all know it is winter, when your skin dries out and you tend to look a bit older but there is a quick fix for that. Take one tablespoon of cocoa powder, mix it with one tablespoon of sour cream, one tablespoon of honey, and one egg white.  Smooth this mixture all over the face and allow it to dry before rinsing it off.  This mask is full of antioxidants.  The sour cream is filled with lactic acid that hydrates the skin while exfoliating it at the same time.  The honey boosts hydration while the egg white helps firm and tighten your skin.

Is the winter drying your hands out? Are they rough and flakey?  Take two to three cups of whole milk and heat until warm.  Submerge your hands in it for 5 to 10 minutes so the milk fat will help hydrate your skin while the Vitamin A and E help nourish your dry skin.  This is a great reason to keep a half gallon or gallon of whole milk in the fridge.

Does your face run oily rather than dry?  Try mixing three teaspoons of ground up oats with a quarter teaspoon of apple cider until it has formed a smooth paste.  To this add one quarter teaspoon lemon juice and a half teaspoon of brown sugar.  Mix well and then smooth over freshly washed skin and leave five to ten minutes before smoothing in circles all over the face to exfoliate it.  Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  The apple cider contains alpha-hydroxides that remove excess oil and the oats  make a great cleaner.

In today's world our skin is constantly exposed to a variety of environmental issue, some of which damage our skin.  One way to counter it is to take one tablespoon of ripe, crushed blueberries, one tablespoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of cucumber juice, two tablespoons of baking soda, and two tablespoons of water.  Mix before applying to face and letting it set for 15 to 20 minutes.  Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  The blueberries are filled with antioxidants and help repair damage done to your face.  The vitamin C added by the lemon juice helps brighten your skin.

Now for those patches of dry skin we all develop, especially during the winter.  Grind up enough rice in a blender to get one half cup.  Add one half cup of coconut milk from a can, one quarter cup brown sugar, and one and a half tablespoons of ground ginger to make a paste.  Apply the mixture to dry patches of skin or all over the whole body, rub in a circular motion and rinse off at the end.

These should help you get through the winter wonderfully.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.