Five Ingredients from your Kitchen to use in your Natural Skincare Routine

Here are five ingredients that may sound like the basis for a recipe but are in fact items that most of us have in our kitchen cupboards that can be great as part of a natural beauty routine.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is very gentle and is an excellent moisturiser. It’s a great all round oil so you can you use it to boost moisture in your hands and feet, it’s a great after sun and it gives your hair a super conditioning boost if you apply it to your hair and scalp about half an hour before you shampoo.   

Olive oil really is an all time favourite and you can read more about it in an earlier blog here.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has grown in popularity as a cooking ingredient and most people will have some coconut oil in their kitchen cupboard these days. As for skincare it’s a very effective moisturiser. It is great ‘food’ for your skin as it’s full of healthy fats and antioxidants.

Coconut oil also has antibacterial and antifungal properties which may help to heal and soothe rashes, scars and infections.    

Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil is a very light moisturiser which is easily absorbed. It has anti-inflammatory properties and it can be used to help heal acne and eczema.

Oats

Oats are extremely healing and soothing and can reduce skin inflammation. For a simple and soothing soak simply pour a cupful into a warm bath and relax. You can also wrap the oats in muslin and hang from the hot tap when running a bath so all the goodness will run into your bath.

Oats are very effective for relieving dry and itchy skin.

Ground oats can be used as a gentle exfoliant.

Sugar

Sugar can be used as a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling super smooth and squeaky clean. It is a natural source of glycolic acid which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). It can promote cell turnover and reveal fresher looking skin. For a simple and effective facial scrub mix some brown sugar with olive oil.