Exfoliation is key to soft, radiant skin, but finding the right
exfoliant doesn't have to be expensive, or include ingredients you can't
pronounce. In fact, to get one, you don't even have to leave home. All
you need is olive oil and sugar to unveil skin that glows.
Sloughing off dead skin cells keeps nasty black heads and white heads at bay. It promotes collagen production, which helps minimize wrinkles, improve skin tone and creates a smoother, more even complexion. Pores also appear smaller after exfoliation.
What woman doesn't want all of that?
For a while I used an expensive product I picked up at a salon. I loved it, but didn't have the money to replace it when the tube was empty. I needed something more affordable. I picked up some St. Ives at Target one day hoping its bargain price didn't mean I was compromising the health of my skin. On a camping trip shortly thereafter I met a woman who is a professional esthetician and asked her what exfoliation products she would recommend that were inexpensive. Wouldn't you know the first thing out of her mouth was, "Whatever you do, don't use St. Ives. It's horrible for your skin."
Oopsie!
Well, as time has passed, I've become more natural and health minded with my food choices as well as my skin care and household products. With some research I discovered the joys of creating my own olive oil and sugar scrub. I like that it's natural, affordable, easy to use, and I love how my skin feels afterward. I always have sugar and olive oil on hand, so I never have to go shopping for an exfoliator.
OLIVE OIL IS GOOD FOR SKIN
Olive oil is safe to use anywhere on the body. It will not clog pores and it is effective in helping skin retain water during exfoliation.
WHITE OR BROWN SUGAR?
There are exfoliation recipes with brown sugar and others with white. I have tried both and prefer white. For one thing, if the brown sugar gets a little dry and hardens, it is very difficult to use as an exfoliator. Having said that, I believe either works effectively as long as the sugar is loose.
HOW OFTEN?
Two to three times per week is recommended for people with oily, combination or normal skin in warm or humid weather and one to two times a week in cold or very dry weather. If you have dry, sensitive or mature skin, you can exfoliate one or two times a week in warm and humid weather and less in cold or dry weather.
Be aware that your skin may appear a little red right after exfoliation, but this only temporary.
HANDS AND BODY TOO
Exfoliation is not just for the face. During the winter my hands can get pretty dry. I pull off my rings and scrub my hands with my olive oil and sugar mixture, making sure to get the areas between my fingers and inside areas of my thumbs. Those areas tend to get particularly dry and rough.
You can also step in the shower and scrub down your entire body. Just be aware that the oil will make your shower slippery.
RECIPE
There are varying recommendations for the ratio of olive oil to sugar. A good place to start is a 2:1 ratio of sugar to olive oil. If you use one cup of sugar, add half a cup of olive oil to it. You can change it up to whatever suits you. Adding water as you exfoliate will help the mixture spread more easily if needed.
The first several times I did this I simply put a couple of spoonfuls of sugar directly in my hand and poured some olive oil over it. I have since designated a small glass bowl with a lid to keep my pre-made exfoliation mixture in.
HOW TO USE IT
Spread the mixture on skin and gently rub all areas to slough off dead skin. Use warm water if needed to activate mixture and help it spread more easily. Be gentle with the delicate skin around the eye area.
Rinse with warm water.
If you want to remove excess oil, use facial cleanser for your face, hand or body soap for other areas of your body and rinse.
Pat dry with a towel.
Apply moisturizer and your skin will look and feel oh so good!
Originally written for and published on HavenJournal.com.
Sloughing off dead skin cells keeps nasty black heads and white heads at bay. It promotes collagen production, which helps minimize wrinkles, improve skin tone and creates a smoother, more even complexion. Pores also appear smaller after exfoliation.
What woman doesn't want all of that?
For a while I used an expensive product I picked up at a salon. I loved it, but didn't have the money to replace it when the tube was empty. I needed something more affordable. I picked up some St. Ives at Target one day hoping its bargain price didn't mean I was compromising the health of my skin. On a camping trip shortly thereafter I met a woman who is a professional esthetician and asked her what exfoliation products she would recommend that were inexpensive. Wouldn't you know the first thing out of her mouth was, "Whatever you do, don't use St. Ives. It's horrible for your skin."
Oopsie!
Well, as time has passed, I've become more natural and health minded with my food choices as well as my skin care and household products. With some research I discovered the joys of creating my own olive oil and sugar scrub. I like that it's natural, affordable, easy to use, and I love how my skin feels afterward. I always have sugar and olive oil on hand, so I never have to go shopping for an exfoliator.
OLIVE OIL IS GOOD FOR SKIN
Olive oil is safe to use anywhere on the body. It will not clog pores and it is effective in helping skin retain water during exfoliation.
WHITE OR BROWN SUGAR?
There are exfoliation recipes with brown sugar and others with white. I have tried both and prefer white. For one thing, if the brown sugar gets a little dry and hardens, it is very difficult to use as an exfoliator. Having said that, I believe either works effectively as long as the sugar is loose.
HOW OFTEN?
Two to three times per week is recommended for people with oily, combination or normal skin in warm or humid weather and one to two times a week in cold or very dry weather. If you have dry, sensitive or mature skin, you can exfoliate one or two times a week in warm and humid weather and less in cold or dry weather.
Be aware that your skin may appear a little red right after exfoliation, but this only temporary.
HANDS AND BODY TOO
Exfoliation is not just for the face. During the winter my hands can get pretty dry. I pull off my rings and scrub my hands with my olive oil and sugar mixture, making sure to get the areas between my fingers and inside areas of my thumbs. Those areas tend to get particularly dry and rough.
You can also step in the shower and scrub down your entire body. Just be aware that the oil will make your shower slippery.
RECIPE
There are varying recommendations for the ratio of olive oil to sugar. A good place to start is a 2:1 ratio of sugar to olive oil. If you use one cup of sugar, add half a cup of olive oil to it. You can change it up to whatever suits you. Adding water as you exfoliate will help the mixture spread more easily if needed.
The first several times I did this I simply put a couple of spoonfuls of sugar directly in my hand and poured some olive oil over it. I have since designated a small glass bowl with a lid to keep my pre-made exfoliation mixture in.
HOW TO USE IT
Spread the mixture on skin and gently rub all areas to slough off dead skin. Use warm water if needed to activate mixture and help it spread more easily. Be gentle with the delicate skin around the eye area.
Rinse with warm water.
If you want to remove excess oil, use facial cleanser for your face, hand or body soap for other areas of your body and rinse.
Pat dry with a towel.
Apply moisturizer and your skin will look and feel oh so good!
Originally written for and published on HavenJournal.com.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Suchey
