Skin is the largest organ of the body and taking care of the skin should be an essential part of one’s healthcare routine. The skin needs the right balance of nutrients to carry out its essential function of acting as a barrier that protects the rest of the body from the environment. Nowadays, everyone is looking for natural beauty tips instead of relying on artificial beauty products.
Overview
It is important to feed the skin well from the inside to help keep it looking, working and feeling good. Vitamins are essential for the optimum functioning of body and some of the important functions of vitamins involve good skin health.
Antioxidant-rich foods, well-balanced diet and a low stress environment are vital in having good skin health. All these vitamins and antioxidants come from natural sources like plants, fruit and vegetables.
Why you should consider only natural beauty tips
Some people are born with a naturally beautiful skin. Genes play an important role in determining the person’s skin type and quality. Apart from genetics, other factors like lifestyle, stress, eating habits, exercise also play a role in improving skin health.
There are various expensive, cosmetic procedures available for skin beautification. They yield results at the cost of a lot of things and may not be a wise option for the long run. Trying out natural remedies that are inexpensive, easy to make or easily available are more reliable and have fewer or no side effects when used on skin over time
Here is the list of natural beauty tips for all skin types
Cold tea bags for baggy under eye
Cold tea bags are one of the widely used natural beauty tips. The skin area around the eyes is more soft than other areas of the face and hence more sensitive to aging, inflammation and changes in routine like lack of adequate sleep, hormonal changes, stress can cause tired, puffy eyes. For this, chilled green tea bags work wonderfully. The antioxidants, tannins in the tea helps in decreasing the inflammation and soothe the irritated skin area. The anti-inflammatory function of green teas causes easing out the fluid accumulation under eyes, improve blood circulation around the eyes and gives a refreshing feeling.
How to use Cold tea bags for your skin?
Steep 2 green, black or chamomile tea bags in hot water for a minute and remove the tea bags, let it chill for some time in the refrigerator. Once cold, keep one bag each over closed eyes and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Hydration with coconut water
Due to environmental toxins, pollution and climate changes, the skin tends to dry out and deteriorate in its suppleness. Although there are many hydrating lotions, gels and creams available, correcting it from within goes a long way. Coconut water is a coolant, and acts as a detoxifier, naturally soothes the skin. It moisturizes the skin from within without adding excess oil. It contains potassium, a mineral that regulates the inflow and outflow of contents from the cell, thus maintaining fluid balance.
The best way to use coconut water is by adding it in your daily routine, for example – having fresh, unsweetened coconut water the first thing in the morning
Papaya face mask
Skin is an organ that constantly sheds of dead cells and regenerates new ones. But, when the dead skin cells or debris accumulate on the skin’s surface, it gives rise to clogged pores and blackheads. The best way to prevent this is to exfoliate the skin. There are many commercially available exfoliants available. But these may sometimes irritate the skin and cause more damage. Therefore, it is always safe to use natural exfoliants like papaya or pineapple. Papaya contains the enzyme called papain, which is a protein-dissolving compound, that naturally clears dead skin cells and rejuvenates the skin.
How to apply papaya face mask?
Unripe papaya contains more papain, so use those. Take some raw papaya, and mash it to make a paste / puree. Apply this over the skin and let it stay for 10 minutes. Wash it off with cold water
Tea Tree oil
Essential oils like tea tree oil is been increasingly popular as an alternative for treatment of acne. Research shows that 5% tea tree oil solution helps in reducing the amount and overall severity of acne.
The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil can reduce oiliness on the skin which can lead to reduction in acne breakouts. The antimicrobial function of the oil is due to its capacity to damage the cell wall structure of bacteria.
How to use Tea tree oil?
Few drops of tea tree oil can combined with a carrier oil like almond oil or olive oil and applied on any affected areas with pimples or acnes or acne scars
Argan oil
Argan oil is a plant-based oil made from kernels of argan tree that is native to Morocco. It is one of the most commonly used moisturizers. It is one of the components of many body lotions, soaps and hair conditioners. For the daily moisturizing effect for your skin, the topical application of argan oil can help. .
Argan oil contains a lot of Vitamin E, which helps to maintain cell structure and improve water retention in the skin, thus sealing in the hydration inside the skin.
Not only does Vitamin E in argan oil act as a major anti-inflammatory agent for reactive skin, but it also helps in controlling the skin’s oil production by balancing the sebum levels.
Ways to use Argan oil for your skin
Moisturizer: Applying a few drops of argan oil over the face can help maintain cell structure and improve water retention in the skin.
Serum: Adding drops of argan oil to the serum and let it soak in before the other skincare routine
Baking soda
Baking soda helps in reducing scars by balancing the skin pH and acts as a natural exfoliator. By doing this, it clears the skin debris and improves the damaged skin cause by acne.
How to use Baking soda for skin benefits?
You can make a paste or a mask using baking soda and water and apply it on the affected areas.
Turmeric
For centuries, turmeric has proven to be very beneficial to the skin. It is one of the most used natural beauty tips by many women. The humble spice, found in every household and kitchen is excellent for keeping the skin naturally healthy.
Turmeric has natural antiseptic function, which is why it is an excellent remedy for acne and any resulting scars.
The anti-inflammatory compounds can act on pores and soothe the skin. A recent study showed that curcumin combined with lauric acid found in coconut oil is an effective way to combat acne causing bacteria.
It is good for oily skin because it helps to regulate the production of sebum – an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands
How to apply?
Turmeric paste can be prepared with milk or honey or coconut oil and can be applied all over the body or the face for desired results
Green tea as a toner
Among the best natural beauty tips, Green tea is one among them. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and some studies have shown benefit on application of green tea for cleansing and toning. It exerts its function due to the flavonoids and tannins which have anti-bacterial function and anti-inflammatory.
These active components have also showed benefits in reducing the sebum production and restrict the growth of acne causing bacteria.
How to use Green Tea as a toner?
The leaves can be mixed with honey to make a face mask or applied directly on the skin like a cleansing toner
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is the oil pressed and extracted from the fruit of Avocado (Persea americana), is native to south and central Mexico. It can be used for itchy and chapped skin, skin with UV damage and dehydrated and dry skin.
The primary benefit of avocado oil is that it soothes and acts as a humectant – which retains and preserves the moisture the skin because of the high percentage of Vitamin E, potassium and lecithin.
Humectants work by drawing water molecules to the skin by bonding with the water molecules already present in the skin, increasing and enhancing the body’s natural water content. The plant sterols in avocado are responsible for keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated
How to use Avocado oil on skin?
Avocado oil can be included as a part of skincare routine in many ways. It can be incorporated as a massage oil, a face mask, or in-shower lotions. It can be safely used every day or few times in a month without any adverse effects.
Banana mask
Banana peel mask is a good option for a natural moisturizer for the skin and helps to maintain skin’s natural glow, thanks to the carotenoids that it contains. It also helps to prevent skin from drying. It can be made at home and it is inexpensive.
Applying the banana peel on the skin can help in reducing signs of aging, especially wrinkles. It is most inexpensive and natural anti-aging substance that reduce the appearance of wrinkles due to the presence of Vitamin C, which is a potent antioxidant. Banana peel can be applied over the eyes and under eye area to reduce puffiness and fatigue
How to make banana face pack?
Face masks made with banana peel and yoghurt, eggs, apple cider vinegar, almond oil, honey and coconut milk can be applied over the face and hair for the desired results
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is an age-old plant based remedy for many skin conditions. The leaves of the plant contain a gel like substance that can be used directly to apply on the affected areas on the skin.
It is a potent anti-inflammatory, which helps in the reduction of acne and acne scars. It improves skin texture and is suitable for all skin types
How to use?
The leaves of the plant have to be sliced open and the translucent, gel-like substance can be directly, gently massaged on the face
Coconut oil
The lauric acid in coconut oil has a beneficial effect on collagen production. Collagen is a vital skin nutrient that helps to maintain firmness and elasticity of the skin tissue. By promoting collagen production, it helps in eliminating fine lines and wrinkles, and play an important role in wound healing.
Because of its detergent effect, some people use coconut oil to remove make up. This works even for the stubborn eye make-up and foundation, because of coconut oil’s cleansing properties
Ways to use coconut oil for your skin
Coconut oil can be dabbed under eyes or on the face and rinse off after 10-15 mins.
Steam Inhalation
This is a traditional method which can work to reduce the clogged pores. Facial steam helps in opening up the blocked pores and reducing sebum production, which gives a clear and glowing skin. You can do this once in a week or fortnightly.
Diet and lifestyle
One of the ways to have a good skin health naturally is by restricting the dairy products intake in your diet. Products like, refined carbohydrates, sugar laden foods and other processed foods you should avoid them to get good skin health. These foods are pro-inflammatory.
Switching to a plant-based, vegan diet that includes consumption of raw foods like fruits and vegetables will be beneficial to your skin health. Consuming foods with Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and antioxidants; maintaining good hydration and regular exercise play a key role to combat acnes.
Exercise causes reduction in stress levels and improves blood circulation in the body. It also causes some sweating, that helps to eliminate toxins and clogged pores on the skin
Conclusion
Maintaining and following good skin hygiene like washing the face, following a healthy lifestyle and including exercise, using natural home remedies for improving skin health are some simple practices that can help in improving skin health.
Most of the home remedies are safe to use and serve as a good alternative for conventional, medical methods for improving skin health. Since all the above mentioned are natural beauty tips, one must not face any side effects in using them.
Sirisha B