Skincare is difficult any time of the year – a harsh winter can dry skin out, and a hot, humid summer can lead to oily skin and acne breakouts. It’s important to have a good skincare routine to protect against all the havoc that the elements can wreak against your skin. If you run out of your go-to skincare products, not to worry, these five everyday foods can be used to solve any number of skin related catastrophes.
So the next time you get an unexpected spot or a case of dry skin, skip the bathroom and take a look in the kitchen for these natural skincare remedies.
Avocados
The oils found in avocados are very close to the oils found in the human epidermis, so they make a great moisturiser. An avocado facemask is a great way to replenish dry-looking skin. you might think that facemasks are primarily a woman’s thing, but if you think having cracked and painful skin is primarily a man’s thing, it might be time to come out of the dark ages.
SEE ALSO: 9 Fruits That Will Give You Glowing Skin
How to make an avocado mask
To make an avocado facemask, mash half an avocado in a bowl with a fork. Then, mix two cups of water with a teaspoon of honey and add it to the mashed avocado. Spread the mixture evenly on your face and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Wash the mixture off with some warm water and you are good to go.
The good thing about this recipe is that it only requires half an avocado, so you’ll have some left over to make some guacamole!
RECOMMENDED: Organic Avocado Oil from FUSHI
Tea Bags
Have you ever spent a long night out on the town and don’t want anyone at work to see it in your hungover face the next morning? Placing tea bags over your eyes can help correct puffiness and dark circles caused by lack of sleep. The caffeine in tea shrinks blood vessels, thus reducing the swelling around the eyes that can occur because of sleep deprivation.
How to use tea bags over the eyes
Let two tea bags steep in a cup of boiled water. Then, refrigerate the tea bags for about 10 minutes. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the tea bags (they should be damp but not dripping wet), and lay down with your eyes closed, one bag over each eye.
Stay like this for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags, wash your face as you normally would, and no one will be any the wiser about your wild night out.
Warm milk
Prolonged exposure to the elements can leave your hands looking and feeling dry and cracked. A little bit of milk can help heal hands that have been damaged from the outdoors or from physically demanding hard work. Milk’s high fat content acts as a natural moisturiser, and the lactic acid in milk removes the layers of dead skin that create dry, calloused hands.
How to use milk for your hands
To moisturise your hands and protect them against the elements, boil 2 cups of milk. Pour the milk into a bowl and let it cool until it’s lukewarm. Then, submerge your hands into the bowl and let them soak for 10 minutes. Remove your hands from the bowl and rinse them in cold water. This treatment will not only help heal rough hands, but it can also be used to prevent future dryness and flaking.
Egg yolks
Raw egg yolk can’t prevent a breakout, but it can act as a spot treatment to reduce the swelling and potential scarring of spots. That’s because egg yolks are full of vitamin A, which is the main ingredient in the most acne-fighting topical creams.
How to use egg yolks for acne
Simply crack an egg, separate the yolk, and the whip the yolk with a fork until it’s well mixed. You can apply the mixture to the whole face or just dab some on to the spot itself. Wait for the yolk to dry, once it becomes uncomfortable and itchy, wash it off with warm water, and your spot should shrivel up in no time.
Salt and olive oil
Feet can get really grimy really quickly. You can show your feet a little love by exfoliating them in a mixture of olive oil and salt. Olive oil is full of omega acids and vitamin E, which keeps skin smooth and prevents wrinkles. Salt helps to remove dead skin cells that lead to dryness.
How to use olive oil and salt for your feet
Mix a half-cup of olive oil with a quarter cup of salt (sea salt works the best, but table salt will do just fine). Before taking a shower, rub the solution on your feet, and then allow it to rinse off during the shower. This will leave your feet feeling well-moisturised and healthy, so you don’t have any embarrassing incidents when taking off your socks!
