Not sure how we got here, but suddenly it’s that time of year again – temperatures are dropping, leaves are turning red and fall TV is in full swing. Depending on where you fall on the autumn-is-the-best-no-it’s-the-worst personality scale, we’re guessing that the new season will prompt you to do one of the following:
A. Organize your life (or at least your closet.)
B. Finally get that gym membership.
C. Burn scented candles and drink lots of tea.
D. Netflix and chill, period.
Autumn does different things to different people. But no matter how autumn gets to you, one thing’s for sure – it plays a real number on your skin.
The combination of dry air, cold wind and robust indoor heating can cause your skin to dry up big time. But there’s no need to lose that hard earned summer’s glow just yet.
As we go from sweltering heat to brisk autumn winds, it’s a good idea to update your skin care routine. These natural skin care recipes will help you recapture the magic of that supple summer skin without breaking the bank. Chances are, you’ll find most of the ingredients already lying around in your kitchen.
As with any new skin care routine, it’s best to start with baby steps and see what works for your skin. Even with a bit of trial and error, nothing will go to waste as you can simply use the leftover ingredients in the kitchen!
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Coconut Oil
The many benefits of coconut oil have been touted to the point where many an Internet meme suggests rubbing it all over your life, period. You can use coconut oil for your hair, you can cook with it, bake with it, you can shave your legs with it and heck, it’s even part of Gwyneth Paltrow’s beauty regimen. While it might not fix, say, your dating life, coconut oil really can work wonders on dry skin when used as a natural moisturizer. As a yummy added bonus, it’ll leave your skin smelling all nice and tropical in the middle of all that autumn gloom. -
Olive Oil
Like its more tropical cousin, olive oil is a real multi-tasker. It’s a key ingredient in the oh-so-glamorous Mediterranean diet and Italian screen siren Sofia Loren has even claimed to bathe in the stuff. To access the many benefits of olive oil, you don’t need to go to those extremes. Instead, apply olive oil to problem areas as you would a toner by dipping a cotton pad into oil and applying it onto dry skin. Let your skin soak up all that natural goodness for a few minutes before rinsing. Olive oil is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, which can seriously help soothe dehydrated skin. -
Coffee
While it’s important to moisturize dry skin, sometimes you need an extra push to get that added glow. Exfoliating your skin helps shed dead skin cells and as a result, leaves your complexion looking more radiant. We all know that first cup of coffee can make you all bright-eyed and bushytailed – who knew it can do the same for your skin! Coffee is naturally high on antioxidants, while caffeine improves circulation and might even work on cellulite. You can create a homemade facial scrub at a cinch by mixing the following ingredients:- 3 tablespoons of coffee grounds
- 1 tablespoon of the natural oil of your choice (we prefer coconut oil simply because the combination of coffee and coconut smell is to die for)
- If you want extra exfoliation, add a little organic sugar to create a natural sugar face scrub.
Mix all the ingredients together, apply the scrub on your face with gentle circular movements and rinse off with warm water.
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Banana
As any nutrition buff will tell you, bananas are packed with potassium and are full of moisture. As well as working as a healthy snack, bananas can make a real difference to dry skin. You can simply mash up a banana and apply it to your skin, then rinse out after 10-15 minutes. And don’t be too quick to throw out the peels either. Rubbing banana peel on your skin is said to soothe inflamed skin and may even help with acne. If you’re looking for a bit of extra pump and exfoliation, try this heavenly face mask:- 1 ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons of oats
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey
Mash the banana and mix in with the oats and honey. Apply to your face for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water.
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Honey
Speaking of honey, this is one of the best natural ways to get glowing skin. You can apply honey directly on to your face, let it sit for 15 minutes and then simply rinse off with warm water. It might take some trial and error to find the exact honey that works for your skin, but it’s always best to opt for unfiltered raw honey. Many women swear by manuka honey. Once you’ve found your perfect match, you can expect to see drastic changes as the nutrients and antioxidants soften your skin. Besides making dry skin all nice and glowy, some users even report honey working wonders on skin prone to acne. -
Avocado
The avocado facemask has become something of a phenomenon with everyone from Miley Cyrus to Kim Kardashian sharing their green-slathered faces on social media. Thanks to the fruit’s nourishing natural oils, you can use avocado as a natural moisturizer simply by mashing one up like you would for a bowl of guacamole. Lather the green paste on your skin, let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse. For added oomph, create a mask targeting dry skin on your face:- 1 avocado
- 1 tablespoon of plain organic yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey
Mix the mashed avocado with the yogurt and honey. Apply to your face for 15 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
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Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is used in many natural beauty products and no wonder – there seem to be countless reasons to love this plant. For one thing, aloe makes for a really cute and low-maintenance houseplant! To get to the juicy moisturizing goodness, simply cut off one of the leaves (the wider, the better) and squeeze out the gel-like liquid. The best part is that once you own an aloe plant, you really don’t have to worry about running out any time soon. As a testament to its amazing healing qualities, an aloe plant swiftly regenerates itself after a part of it has been cut off.
We’d love to know – how do you tackle dry skin? Let us know in the comments and share the glowing skin love!