Organic Radiance: Kitchen Ready -

Did you know that the most efficient skin care products are lying in your kitchen right now? You can use them for literally zero additional cost for a beautiful and radiant skin.

Background

It is important to take care of ourselves from all perspectives:

Spiritually
Physically (body, skin and hair care)
Financially
Emotionally
Psychologically/Mentally
Socially

When we talk about physical care, I don’t believe much in commercially available beauty products. I just don’t want to expose my skin to more chemicals than I do with makeup.

Earlier on Organic Radiance, I talked about Why I Prefer Natural Skin & Hair Care, My 7 Favorite Natural Products, My Tried Out Natural Solutions and Natural Haircare. Today we’re talking about some solutions which are ready for you in your kitchen right now.

I would never like to endorse a fairness cream.
I believe in natural beauty.- Esha Gupta

I am excited to announce that in today’s post, we are covering the following natural solutions:

Coconut oil
Honey masks
Oatmeal
Tomato
Cucumber
Lemon
Peach
Papaya

Read about their brief benefits below so you can get motivated to use them for a naturally radiant skin.

Coconut Oil

It is my new secret weapon. It can lower your risk of heart disease, seizures, improves brain functions can kill bacteria and infections. When applied, it can improve the health and appearance of skin and hair. It is a great moisturizer and effective sunscreen as it blocks about 20% of sun’s ultraviolet rays. It can also be used as a mouthwash which can kill some harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath.

It can also be used as a makeup remover, an eye de-puffer, and shaving cream. Then there’s your hair: It repairs damage, smooths frizz and flyaways, and can add major shine. In winter, Coconut oil turns solid so you would have to take it out in a spoon. It is used as a balm in winter. In summers, it will be in liquid form. Its other advantages are that it lightens age spots, prevents stretch marks, recovers split ends of hair and stimulates hair growth. It’s a great lip balm.

Natural beauty products are a must! I use coconut oil a lot and I slather almond oil on my hands to soak while I watch a movie – Phoebe Tonkin

When applied, it can soothe dry hands, can be used as a natural cheekbone highlighter and as a body moisturizer. It can be used to clean your face as it has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can be used under your eyes to reduce the lines and the appearance of under eye bags. For hair, it can be applied to moisturize it and to add shine. Keeping in view its countless benefits, let’s all keep a bottle on our bedside table.

Honey Masks

On its own, honey has amazing powers. Try honey on your face for an extra-moisturizing, antioxidant mask.

Mix it with a little rose water and apply on the skin.
Honey and lemon face mask is known for its cleansing properties. It’s also a great cure for pimples & acne.
You can also mix honey and oatmeal to make a mask.

Apply it on your face and neck in gentle circular strokes and wash it off after half an hour. These masks are known to deep cleanse your pores without drying the skin. They exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells and reveal healthy and glowing skin. If applied to a burn, honey it can decrease the pain, while helping you to heal without scarring.

I have noticed that if I have any pimples or spots, honey makes them disappear in a day.

Honey is good to apply directly on to the hair and scalp by mixing it with water alone. Apply it as if you apply shampoo to damp hair. Honey can also be mixed with only vinegar or to only olive or coconut oil and applied directly. These masks give the hair extra moisture and conditioning. You can simply make the solution in a bowl and apply it on your hair using a hair dye brush. You can wear a shower cap for about 15-30 mins for maximum benefit and then take a shower.

Note: Remember honey is really sticky and gooey so time it before a shower and keep hair and clothes away from it.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal cleanses your skin and locks the moisture in.

Oatmeal is a great natural exfoliator. It strips away dry skin while moisturizing, tightening, and smoothing it. Puree ¾ a cup of oatmeal, one egg, ¼ cup mineral water, and ¼ cup of raw honey at room temperature in a blender. Apply to your face and leave for five minutes, or until your face begins to feel tight. Then rinse.

A mask of oatmeal, honey and egg white can be used to cleanse, exfoliate and firm the skin. Only oatmeal, some warm water and a little honey can do the trick as well.

If you take soaks, then adding some oatmeal into your bathtub will help cleanse your skin. Oatmeal baths also soften and moisturize your skin, which helps lock in moisture and protects skin from exterior irritants. For a truly relaxing bath, pour a cup of plain oatmeal into your tub as it fills up with warm water. Then add a few drops of lavender oil or a pinch of dried lavender. Soak in this aromatherapy solution for 15 to 30 minutes.

Other items from your fridge

Other natural products to be applied directly on to your face for 15 minutes or more. Only one item should be used in a day. Just take a slice or two of any one of the following and dab it on your face and neck. Keep it on for at least 20 minutes and then wash it off. There is absolutely no harm that these can do so anyone can use them. They make your skin and face glow as long as you are consistent. These are as follows:

Tomato

If you consume tomato and tomato products abundantly, the lycopene content in your skin will increase and naturally, your skin will naturally be like a baby’s skin. Moreover, skin with high lycopene content is not affected by the harmful rays of the sun. The common view of the nutritional experts is that tomato protects your skin against ultraviolet lights. Tomatoes enable your skin to take in oxygen, delaying aging and wrinkling. Consuming minimum 200 g of a cooked tomato a day ensures your skin to look young at all times.

Applying tomato on the face, removes tan, clears the skin, combats acne, lightens dark patches on the skin. It can also be mixed with either honey or lime. Mixing honey and tomato juice and applying on the face will result in a glowing skin. Mixing lemon juice with tomato juice and applying it on the face will make your pores shrink thus minimizing the chance of dirt in pores.

Cucumber

It helps in reducing swelling around the eyes or big dark circles under your eyes. Whenever you feel tired or your eyes feel heavy, you can sooth them by lying down and applying a slice of cucumber. It soothes and softens your skin which can relax you in no time. It rejuvenates your skin and improves your complexion. It also fades scars and pigmentation on your face. It can speed up the process of removing a sunburn. It tightens open pores. It reduces the overall appearance of freckles over time.

Lemon

It is a great skin brightener. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C and citric acid so they can help brighten and lighten the skin. It can be used as elbow and knee bleacher by simply applying it there. It can be used as a blackhead treatment, as cleansing wipes, teeth whitener, shine eliminator, nail strengthener etc. Keeping in view its benefits, one can simply rub half a lemon on face, neck, hands, elbows, knees, feet etc for at least 15 minutes for instant radiance right before a shower.

Peach

It is a great source of vitamin A and C which are highly essential for skin health. It has antioxidants that protect the skin. If you use a slice of peach on your skin once a day, you would have glowing and flawless skin. It is also good to rub it to your skin to help get rid of dark circles and wrinkles.

It moisturizes the skin, improves skin texture and makes it soft and supple.

Papaya

Papaya contains many healthy components that are good for skin and makes your skin glowing and healthy.

Papaya is the only fruit that is available all through the year. Papaya is a wholesome fruit that offers many benefits for your skin. Papaya is also called as “The Fruit of the Angels” as it is liked by one and all because of its delicious taste, texture and the health benefits provided by it.

Along with the Papain enzymes, it is a good source of antioxidants and nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B, carotenes, and flavonoids, fiber and minerals like magnesium and potassium. Papaya’s pulp is used as a fundamental constituent of many shampoos and facial creams. It is an inexpensive fruit that is available to the common man and is useful in many ways.

Its main benefits are the removal of dead skin cells, skin hydration, pimple, acne & blemish reduction, soft & supple skin by applying directly or by eating it. The skin shines everlastingly with the application or consumption of papaya on a regular basis. Mashed papaya can also be used to treat cracked and painful heels.

It acts as skin exfoliator, that cleans the skin and makes it healthy. It helps your skin discoloration, with the application of papaya on a regular basis. Papaya peel can not only whiten the face but also helps in whitening the arms and legs. It also helps you in reducing the signs of aging on the face.

Papaya does not only benefit your skin but also benefits of your hair. In addition to the amazing skin benefits, papaya also provides hair care benefits (consumption and application). Papaya helps in nourishing the hair shaft and creates volume. Other hair benefits of papaya are mentioned below: Preventing balding.

Boosting hair strength and growth
Controlling and preventing dandruff
Reduce hair thinning by adding papaya to your regular diet
Removes excess oil, chemical buildup and dirt from your hair naturally
Strong, thick and shiny hair by applying a papaya hair mask

You can also mix mashed papaya with yogurt till smooth, and apply it on your hair for an hour before taking a shower.

Working out a routine

Most of us don’t have any doubt about the good capabilities of these natural products but the only thing that keeps us away from applying them is that we don’t set a proper system for them. Following are some ideas to make it work:

Keep a face brush and a bowl in the kitchen cabinet only for applying natural products on the face. This will help you quickly make face masks and give you more motivation to apply them e.g., oatmeal, honey, lemon, Ubtan, rosewater and Sandlewood powder.
The best time to apply natural products on skin and hair is before a shower. So time it in advance so you apply your natural face mask 15-20 mins before a shower. After application, complete cleaning or tidying up till your shower.