9 Home Remedies That Will Make Your Skin Glow

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While we can’t all be timeless like Cindy Crawford, we can at least try. The idea of having smooth and glowing skin is something we all strive for. Sometimes obstacles get in the way, like a tight budget or a burning desire to stay away from commercially produced skin care products. Homemade skin care remedies are easy to whip up and you probably have a couple of the ingredients already lying around your kitchen. Complete transparency is easily attainable, especially when it comes to preserving the natural moisture in your skin. Here are 10 home remedies that will make your skin glow.

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Turmeric Face Mask

Since turmeric is among the food trends exploding in 2017, take that spice bottle and put it to good use. Make a turmeric and lemon brightening face mask to help with acne-prone skin and watch it bring you a glowy complexion. As an ingredient, this gold-tinted powder can help treat rosacea, breakouts, and red spots with its skin-calming properties.

How To: Combine one teaspoon of turmeric with one teaspoon of raw honey. Additionally, if you’re up for it, add one teaspoon of coconut oil for antibacterial properties and hydration. Apply the mask to a clean, dry face, and leave it on for 20 minutes. Turmeric tends to stain so you might consider wearing a T-shirt you don’t care about. Gently cleanse your face to remove the mask, and keep in mind that turmeric might leave behind a slightly yellow tint.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If Disney had created a Mary Poppins 2.0, the nutritional sequel, Julie Andrews would most likely have carried around a bottle of apple cider vinegar in her magic bag. This nutritional all-star can be used for everything from teeth whitening to weight loss to fighting acne. Usually made from fresh, organically grown apples, apple cider vinegar matures in tanks and goes through a natural fermentation process. When it’s matured, the vinegar contains a web-like substance called the “mother” (a complex structure of beneficial bacteria).

How To: For the best results, combine one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water and wash your face with this mixture daily, or you can soak a cotton pad and dab the vinegar onto your skin that way. This home remedy is an antibacterial and antifungal substance that helps to balance the pH levels of your skin, preventing it from becoming too oily or too dry. There’s no need to buy drugstore acne cream when you have a bottle of this liquid gold in your cabinet.

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Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an all-natural and edible oil containing vitamins E and K, and it’s better than most moisturizers out there. Although it’s solid at room temperature, coconut oil melts upon contact with your body. The healthy oil is known for its ability to deeply penetrate the skin, so a daily application can help keep you wrinkle-free and smooth out some already existing age spots. Other health benefits include weight loss, hair strength, and heart health.

How To: The coconut oil will spread fairly easily so you only need about 1/4 teaspoon. Gently massage the oil in after washing and drying your skin. Wait five to 10 minutes, let it sink in, and lightly wipe off any excess with a soft towel. This is an awesome method for removing all kinds of makeup.

Baking Soda

There’s a good chance you have baking soda lying around from your latest baking adventure. Sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda, is composed of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions that appear as a fine powder. You can use baking soda in place of deodorant and toothpaste, and sparingly as a skin exfoliant. Since the white powder can act as a base or an acid, it’s useful for correcting the pH balance of your skin which contributes to acne formation.

How To: Mix about two tablespoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of water until it forms a paste. Wet your face or other areas of skin and apply the baking soda, massaging in a circular motion to exfoliate.

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Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been called the “miracle plant” and has been used in herbal medicine for over 2,000 years. While there are over 400 species of aloe, aloe vera is the most common. Researchers believe that together, all of aloe’s 75 compounds contribute to its robust healing abilities. This miracle plant has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, magnesium lactate that can alleviate any itching sensations, and it can remove excess oil and dirt.

How To: Use aloe vera gel to help diminish acne scars or other skin blemishes. Apply a thin layer to your skin before you go to bed and wash it off in the morning. If you use aloe vera regularly, you’ll most likely see results within a few weeks. Feel free to use the gel on your back or neck or any other acne-prone areas — but it’s for external use only, so don’t eat it.

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Oatmeal

Breakfast or skin care regiment? Let’s go with both. Oats are one of the few natural ingredients to receive recognition as safe and effective by the FDA. In addition to being hypoallergenic, oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties that will soothe your skin, good fats that can help to moisturize, and saponins that will remove dirt and oil. You can also use oats as a natural scrub for your whole body.

How To: Take a half cup of oats and mix them with warm water and a teaspoon of raw honey to make a thick paste. Rub the oat mixture onto your skin in a circular fashion and rinse, or you can leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water later.

Egg White Mask

It looks like your breakfast foods are doubling as skin care products, so you better stock up! Our skin is constantly exposed to the elements, including radiation from the sun, even when we least expect it. The answer to keeping skin youthful has been in our fridge all along. Egg whites contain a boatload of nutrients; protein for wrinkle-free skin; potassium for moisture and hydration; riboflavin for eliminating toxic and cell-damaging free radicals; and magnesium for a youthful glow. The collagen and Vitamin A in the egg whites can come to the rescue with rosacea, large pores, acne, and other unwanted rashes.

How To: Whisk one egg white with the juice of one lemon until it becomes frothy, then add the honey and mix well. Wash your face with warm water to open up your pores and then spread the mixture onto your face with cotton balls or clean hands. Let the mask sit for around 10 to 15 minutes and then gently scrub it off in a circular motion with a soft towel.

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Tomatoes

If you have plans to make a big pot of tomato sauce for pasta night, save a tomato or two for your skin-care regiment. Tomatoes are known for having a high antioxidant content, thanks to a rich concentration of lycopene (a carotenoid pigment associated with its deep-red color). These antioxidants can act as an anti-aging product and help to prevent the reddening of your skin. Tomatoes also contain Vitamins A, C, and K, which can help to clear up acne.

How To: Shrink your pores by combining one tablespoon of tomato juice with a few drops of lime juice and apply it to your face using a cotton ball. You can also cut the fruit (yes, a tomato is a fruit) in half and apply the inside part to your skin. For severe acne, mash up the tomatoes and spread the pulp on your face. This is the perfect time for a nap or meditation. Let the tomato mask sit for about an hour before rinsing.

Homemade Sugar Scrub

There’s no need to buy expensive sugar scrubs when you can easily make your own at home. It’s important to exfoliate at least once a week to keep your skin fresh. You can use this homemade sugar scrub on your face, body, and especially your over-worked feet. It’s worth the extra effort for silky smooth results. The whole process will take less than 10 minutes.

How To: Combine 1/2 cup of sugar (organic white or brown sugar) with 1/2 cup of coconut oil. Mix the ingredients well and apply by the tablespoon as needed. Remember to be gentle to avoid any irritation.