Recipes For a Youthful Skin

This month at Pasture Living, we are doing a series on how to take care of our skin naturally. The skin is the body’s largest organ and it absorbs everything we put on it directly into the body’s bloodstream; bypassing the organs that would filter out harmful ingredients. This is why it is so important to know what we put on our skin.

Now that we know how the basics of nourishing our skin naturally, let's take a step further and enjoy a few simple recipes that we can make at home to tone our skin as well as to slow down the skin aging and wrinkle formation.

Toning the Skin

After you cleanse your face, especially using steam to unclog pores, such as in oil cleansing method, you need toners to tighten pores and control the oil, and gets the skin ready to absorb nutrients from other skincare products such as moisturizers. It is especially beneficial for those with oily skin. Witch hazel and cucumbers are both astringents that tone our skin. 

Slowing Down Skin Aging and Wrinkle Formation

As we get older and as we are constantly exposed to sun damage and harsh chemicals in skin care products, our skin loses the ability to produce antioxidants that are important to reduce oxidative stress and slow down the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals cause collagen to break down, which impair the skin's ability to heal, thus premature aging, formation of wrinkles, etc. That said, it is important to consume food rich in antioxidants as well as applying them topically. 

Green Tea Toner: Green tea is wonderful as toners as it has astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is high in antioxidants, which helps to slow down the signs of aging. Brew green tea, let it steep, and then refrigerate it for a cooling and refreshing toner.

Honey Mask: Honey has anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties that is not only nourishing for our skin. Click here for ways to use honey to make scrubs, moisturizing packs, and lotions. 

Brightening the Skin

Milk powders

Fruit Acids Masks: You may have heard of Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA), an ingredient found in many whitening and anti-aging or wrinkle creams. They are natural acids found in fruits and milk that loosen the bond between the dead skin cells and the skin, promotes the growth of new skin cells and collagen production, as well as helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars over time. Dead cells make our skin dull as it can't breathe and absorb nutrients effectively. The lactic acid in milk is an AHA and fruits such as pineapple and papaya are also rich in AHA. They make excellent face mask to exfoliate, unclog pores, improve, and brighten the skin, making our skin fresh and healthy. Simply use the fruit juice or make a paste of milk powder and apply onto your clean face, leave it for five to ten minutes or so to let the acids work its magic, and wash off with water. 

Ground Coffee and Milk Scrub: Ground coffee exfoliates the skin as well as remove excess water from skin tissues. Milk contains lactic acid that helps to get rid of dead skin cells, which improves the appearance of your skin. This is one of my favorite scrubs! I make equal parts of ground coffee and milk powder, put it in a glass container in my bathroom, mix it with a bit of water, and scrub away. Wash off with water.

What is your favorite recipe to pamper your skin?