Having endured the ever-so-lovely adult acne in my early 20s, I found that the more I slathered on unpronounceable-chemical-laden creams, lotions, and gels, the more my skin became agitated – angry really, regardless of how expensive the product was. In the matters of skincare, simple is undoubtedly the key ingredient to “successful” skin. As I type this week’s article, I proudly rock one of my many less-than-a-dollar skin masks, consisting simply of avocado and lemon juice. Happily, I don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to have beautiful skin, and nor do you! Here are a few of my favorite inexpensive, natural, to-the-rescue skin products that are not only extremely effective, but tasty too!
Avocados
Chucking a slightly over-ripened avocado in the garbage is like throwing away one of your skin’s most treasured moisturizing masks. Don’t do it! Instead, mash that avocado and smear it all over face. Seriously. Avocado is super rich in Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that prevents premature aging and fights free radical damage. Endure a 10 minute session of “green monster face” and I guarantee when you wash it off you will find your skin looking much smoother and hydrated. Use this mask two-three times per week and you will most certainly see (and feel) the difference.
Lemons
You know that friend back in high school who swore by her lemon-juice and sunshine highlights? That’s what I was reminded of when I came upon using lemon juice as a skin lightener. Soon I found that not only does it lighten age spots, lemon juice exfoliates, tones, and diminishes acne scars. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C, another potent free-radical fighter, and citric acid, which helps tone and brighten the skin. Before you go to bed and after you wash your face, apply a layer of lemon juice all over the face, of course avoiding the eyes, and never before heading out into the sun, as lemon juice enhances the skin’s photosensitivity. After just a few days, you’ll begin to notice how much brighter and even your skin looks.
Honey
I learned of this beauty secret from the same woman that taught me the immense benefits of juicing vegetables on a regular basis. At first, I thought that honey would cause my skin to break out due to the sugar content, but that turned out to be far from true. In fact, honey has improved my skin immensely over the years and here’s why: honey is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. So all of that gunk that builds up in your pores will be easily removed with use of a honey mask just a couple times a week. Allow me to note that I am referring to raw organic honey – not the kind that you find in the cute little plastic bear next to the maple syrup. Raw honey is usually a pale yellow and quite opaque. It also has a very fine grain to its texture, making it a wonderful exfoliant. Note: Your hair should be pulled back tight while your honey mask is on, otherwise it may turn into a, quite literally, sticky situation.
Any of the above “products” can be used in conjunction with the other, or you can add a bit of turmeric, organic coffee, or coconut oil for extra complexion-enhancement. You may find that the hundreds, if not thousands, spent on expensive skin treatments may need not happen ever again; a mere trip to the grocery store is all it takes!
