How To Achieve A Perfect Glowing Complexion With Turmeric
Two days ago I was at the bank and the teller began enthusiastically complimenting my skin. "You're skin is so flawless, it's like porcelain! You have to tell me what you use on your face." I replied that it was a secret and went about my day feeling quite good about myself. The thing is, I get these sort of comments all the time. Friends, neighbors, strangers, and family members alike seem to adore my skin and they all want to know how I keep it this way. My solution to skin care is so simple - so easy - and so cheap. No expensive cleansers, toners, and moisturizers are needed. As women we have been brainwashed into thinking that in order to have perfect healthy glowing skin we must slather an array of beauty products on our faces. The truth is that the answer does not involve layer after layer after layer of chemical laden products. The answer lies right in your kitchen.
A personal care product use survey of more than 2,300 people, conducted by EWG and a coalition of public interest and environmental health organizations, shows that the average adult uses 9 personal care products each day, with 126 unique chemical ingredients. More than a quarter of all women and one of every 100 men use at least 15 products daily. Think about that for a moment. Is it really necessary so spend all that time and all of that money on products that don't improve your health and may actually be harmful? When it comes to living a healthy and natural lifestyle, what you put on your body is just as significant as what you put in your body. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it is porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health looked into the skin’s absorption rates of chemicals found in drinking water. It showed that the skin absorbed an average of 64% of total contaminant dosage. Other studies found the face to be several times more permeable than broad body surfaces and an absorption rate of 100% for underarms and genitalia. And another peer-reviewed study showed 100% absorption for fragrance ingredients. It is easy to see that what we use on our skin ends up inside our bodies. So it is important to pay close attention to the ingredients in our skin care products. If the products you use contain harmful ingredients such as harsh, toxic chemicals, colors, and fragrances, those ingredients make their way into your body, your blood and lymphatic system. The majority of mainstream body care products contain a cocktail of carcinogenic chemicals, allergens, and irritants. To eliminate a lot of toxic chemicals, preservatives, and fragrances that are harmful to our bodies, choose certified organic and natural skin care products. It is important to read labels and become educated about what ingredients to avoid when selecting body care products. A good motto to go by is if you can’t pronounce it or have only seen it in chemistry class, don’t use it!
I believe that simplicity is the key. So here's my secret and it works. I have not washed my face with soap in over 2 years. Cleansers strip your face of the natural oils that it needs to be healthy and clear of blemishes. I know a lot of people believe that oil causes breakouts but I disagree. It's actually a lack of oil that creates breakouts. Unfortunately, in ‘modern’ society, we have become used to cleansers that foam and suds when we wash and have formed an attachment to the notion of ‘squeaky-clean’. However, prolonged use of these types of cleansers, strip the skin of its natural oils that keep us looking young! They severely over dry the under tissues and consistently alter the pH of the skin, making us reliant on toners to rebalance again and again and again. A true roller coaster ride is what these types of cleansers offer and yet we wonder why our skin breaks out or looks dull or oily or is hard to keep balanced.
Why all of this when nature has given us the perfect cleansers already; pure, healing plants that are profoundly effective. Did you know that you can wash your face with natural herbs and spices? Cleansing with herbs has so many benefits: they remove deep-seated dirt and toxins without causing irritation nor the degeneration of skin tissue; when massaged into the skin they promote healthy exfoliation, increase circulation, stimulate skin's metabolic processes and even deliver protein-rich nutrients that visibly rejuvenate the complexion, all without altering the natural pH of the skin.You can! With my recipe you can wash, exfoliate, and remove makeup without cleaners and without stripping your face of moisture.
Here are some recipes that I use for you to try. You can experiment by mixing and matching ingredients to find what works best for you. I suggest starting with a basic herbal cleansing recipe like this one:
Basic Herbal Face Cleanser:
(For daily use)
Mix ¼ teaspoon organic turmeric powder + 1 tablespoon organic chickpea flour.
To this mixture add:
For dry skin: 1 tsp sweet almond oil or sesame oil + 2 Tbsp. water
For sensitive skin: 2 Tbsp. of milk only
For oily skin: 2 Tbsp. water + 2 drops of lemon juice
Combine to make a liquidy paste. Massage all over the face in circular motions while cleansing and gently exfoliating. Rinse.
Turmeric Yoghurt and Honey Facial Mask
1 Tbs Organic Greek Yoghurt (can also use milk or sour cream)
1 tsp Turmeric
a few drops of honey
1/2 tsp lemon juice (optional)
Combine to make a paste. Apply to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse. This mask is amazing for balancing the skin, lightening sun spots and acne scars, and treating/preventing acne.
Lentil/Mung Bean Face Cleanser and Mask
(Kenzie's Holy Grail face wash)
1 Tbs Lentil or Mung Bean (green gram) powder
1 Tbs Organic Powdered Milk
1 tsp sandalwood powder (optional)
1 tsp lavender powder (optional)
1 tsp orange peel powder (optional)
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp coriander (optional)
1 tsp neem powder
Combine ingredients in powder form. This will make enough for multiple uses. Keep in a jar. To wash face scoop out about 1 teaspoon of the powder into your wet palm. Slowly add about 1 tsp of water and rub palms together to make a thick paste. Scrub your face with the paste. You can leave it on as a mask (about 10 minutes) or rinse right away. To remove makeup you may have to repeat once more.
