DIY Skincare: So Clean You Could Eat It!

The fall brings with it an abundance of colours, sights, smells, and tastes, including a plethora of organic produce from fresh harvest soils. While you’re enjoying the fresh squash, zucchini, and apples from the farm and taking care of your inside health, it’s also time to start thinking about your outside health–your skin and hair. The change of season and drop in temperatures can be a bit harsh on our skin, especially with more wind outside and dry heat inside at our workplaces or homes. Before you worry about the toll fall will take on the glowing skin you worked hard to achieve in the summer, read on for some amazing tips for fall beauty that are completely do-it-yourself–and edible!  

Today we’re posting the first step to DIY fall beauty–stay tuned for steps 2 and 3 tomorrow!  

Many people think of skin and hair care as part of the shallow side of the natural health industry.  In reality, taking care of your skin and hair with the right products is vital to your overall health and wellbeing.  Many of the conventional products being sold to consumers today are full of chemicals, fragrances, parabens, phthalates and so many other synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients.   More than 10,000 ingredients are being used in personal care products and more than 90% of them have never been tested for their effect on our health.  What does this mean for you?  Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and whatever you put onto it is immediately absorbed into your body and bloodstream.  You wouldn’t smear your liver with toxic chemicals or put them in your mouth – so why put them on your skin? We need to feed and nourish our skin and hair, not just treat them with chemical laden products.  

The good news is that natural and organic ingredients can actually be more powerful than the chemical laden specialty products on the market.  Here are some simple steps and remedies that you can use to ensure a beautiful transition from summer to fall for your skin and hair.  These treatments are made out of ingredients found in your kitchen, and are quick and easy to throw together. Try some out and see what they do for you.  

STEP ONE: CLEANSE!  

Manuka Honey Facial Cleanser
Rather than using harsh soap-based cleansers made of countless artificial ingredients which strip your skin of its natural oils, try switching to a cleanser that moisturizes while it purifies.  Manuka honey is a raw, unpasteurized honey packed with live enzymes and antioxidants which neutralize free radicals and stimulate skin repair.  It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which allow it to draw impurities from your pores, leaving your skin soft and clear.  Best of all it’s a natural humectant, which means your skin will stay moisturized and glowing!  

For Everyday Cleansing:  Apply to wet skin and massage for 1-2 minutes, then wash off with a warm cloth.  For an intensive treatment:  Slather a layer on clean skin, and leave on for 10 minutes. 

Balancing Hair Rinse
1 part Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 part water.  Mix together and rinse over freshly shampooed hair.  Let it soak for 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and follow with conditioner.   The vinegar will break down all the buildup left by shampoos and styling products, balance the pH, and leave your hair shiny and silky smooth.