i mentioned
a while ago that i have been trying to go all natural when it comes to my skin-care routine. since then, i have gotten even more strict about what i use, and i have found some pretty amazing stuff. it's a slow-going process, but i started to think that what i put
on my body is as important as what i put
in my body. i am fairly conscientious about what i eat, so why not be the same way about my skin care? i am not 100% there yet, but i am getting there. i realized after
i burned my eyebrows that maybe retinol isn't the best thing to be putting on my face, and i decided to research some other anti-aging natural face regimens. (and by research, i mean i read what other bloggers use on their skin and then i bought it all. you will see soon that i am not kidding.)
so here is my face-care routine. it's fairly regular, but i do switch up what oils i use when i am feeling like i need a change. there is nothing scientific about what i am doing, but i do love it nonetheless.
here's me straight out of the shower. no makeup, no lotions, no nothing. it's like the US Weekly "stars without makeup", except i'm not a star, and i really don't have any makeup on! (so nothing like it at all.)
about two months ago, i never would have showed you a picture of me with absolutely no makeup on. i had a lot of red, rosacea-like patches on my skin and many wrinkles. i still have the wrinkles, but they look better. happier, if you will. they love the all-natural tastiness that is my routine.
and here is what i do.
morning routine
while the shower is heating up, i rub honey all over my face. i use raw honey, which to me smells disgusting. it's actually sometimes gag-worthy to me, but i use it...i figure it's better than an acid peel, right? all i know about honey is that it's antibacterial, drying and moisturizing at the same time, it's good for all skin types, and bears love it. maybe that's why bears have such nice skin. i've never seen a bear with acne, have you? i love the effect that it has on my skin. it makes it glow. and it makes me feel like i've just used a biore strip on my whole face. i let it sit on my face while i shower, and only wash it off right before i wash my face, which is the last thing i do in the shower.
i then use the "yes to" brand of face wash. i love this stuff. you can buy it at target and it's at least 95% natural and paraben free. the
yes to carrots exfoliating cleanser is amazing. it has finely ground bamboo that gently exfoliates the skin, and it smells like a dream. the
yes to blueberries smoothing cleanser also smells delicious and is a very gentle and creamy milk-based cleanser. i don't feel that my skin gets as clean with the blueberries one, so i only use this one maybe twice a week.
sometimes i then will rub a lemon slice on my face. i do this in lieu of using a toner, and i don't do it every day ~ mainly because i'm lazy and i don't feel like walking downstairs to my kitchen. maybe i need a mini-fridge in my bathroom. anyways, the lemon is nice. it is meant to be an exfoliant, like a very mild vitamin c acid peel. i can't use it every day because i do have fairly sensitive skin, but since i do not use any chemicals to get rid of my wrinkles, i do like to use a lemon slice when i am feeling motivated enough to walk the stairs!
and now for the moisturizer! this is my favorite part. it's new to me, and i was an instant convert. i use coconut oil. seriously, have you guys ever read up on this stuff? it's a miracle oil. the best thing since...i don't know, olive oil? read
here and
here for all the magical and wondrous things you can do with coconut oil. in fact, i have now just started using it on things i'm not even sure it will fix. (mosquito bite? throw some coconut oil on it. heat rash? coconut oil! big zit? why not try coconut oil?) since i have bought my jar, i have used it on my face, as deodarant (yep, i just rub a little under my arms every day*), as dry scalp treatment, and as sunblock. i love this stuff. anyways, i began by using it as a nighttime face lotion because i assumed it would be too greasy to use during the day. the morning i woke up after first using it, my skin was glowing and i knew i had to use it in the morning, too. and lo and behold, it's not too greasy! i love this stuff...i rub it sparingly all over my face, neck and lips. the smell isn't too overpowering, as you might think. it's just like a slight breeze that made it's way from jamaica and planted itself ever so lightly on my face. isn't that poetic? but seriously, buy this stuff. it's amazing. it's also antibacterial, full of antioxidants, and goes a long way to prevent aging. ok it doesn't prevent aging, but it does help "delay" wrinkles and sagging, and even improves the look of existing wrinkles. it's the benjamin button of fruit oils.
nighttime routine
that third bottle you see up there is part of my nighttime routine. i wash my face with grapeseed oil and i love it. i know you're thinking that i must be an oily mess. but really, washing your face with oil is pretty amazing. you can google what oils will work best with your skin type. i just happen to love grapeseed and olive oil for my face. i simply rub the oil all over my face, throw a hot, wet towel over it for about 30 seconds, and gently wipe it all off...my makeup is very gently and effectively removed in the process. i then slather my face with a more generous amount of coconut oil than i use in the morning and go to sleep (dreaming of beaches and little umbrella-ed drinks).
and that's it. oh, except for the natural oil apothecary that is my nightstand. i have all of these on hand, just to switch it up a little every once in a while. i am a firm believer that your skin likes a little change up every few weeks. so some days i will wash with these oils, and some days i will moisturize with them. i also use them on my feet, body (because feet aren't part of your body???) and cuticles. the possibilities are endless! the tea tree oil is used for cuts and bruises and mosquito bites on the kids. although now maybe i will just start using coconut oil for all of that!
read more about jojoba oil
here, vitamin e oil
here, apricot oil
here and tea tree oil
here.
so there you have it...a very long, and not so comprehensive essay on how i nourish my skin. i truly do love this regimen, and have decided that my new philosophy is that if i can't feel safe rubbing it on my lips, i don't want to rub it on my face. i told you, very scientific!
what do you use on your face? would you every try an all-natural approach?
xo,
megan bird
*the main reason i bought coconut oil was because of mary's recipe for deodorant. i have yet to make it, but can't wait to give it a try.
