HOW I FACE : My Super Simple Natural Face Routine
Whatever we choose to put on our skin, we should always opt for all natural and if we can—edible! Our skin is our biggest organ & it is super permeable, so what we put onto our skin goes straight into our bodies! We are already exposed to thousands of chemical pollutants on a daily basis that if we had a choice I would certainly opt out of, so here is a moment when we actually do have a choice!
This is how I do face:
OIL CLEANSING METHOD
HOMEMADE BRONZER
SOAP THE BROWS
LIP BALM HIGHLIGHTS
All of this stuff is safe & if you ate it you wouldn’t die. In fact some of it would be quite tasty! ;)
OIL CLEANSING
THE OIL SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR YOUR FACE
It may take 3–4 weeks of regular oil cleansing to achieve balanced skin. Resist the urge to use harsh soaps or facial cleansers during this time, as it will disrupt the adjustment! Some people find their skin gets worse initially, which can be a detox reaction as impurities are pulled from the skin.
1. Massage your dry face. Pour 1⁄2 to 1 teaspoon of oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Using a circular motion, gently massage the oil into your face for a few minutes. This softens hardened plugs of sebum lodged in pores, breaks up blackheads, releases dirt and removes make-up. It also helps to release tension and improve circulation, thus firming up skin.
2. Steam. Run a soft washcloth under hot water, wring it out and cover your face to open your pores and hydrate your skin. Repeat as much as feels good. This will create steam to open the pores and help remove any impurities in the skin. Leave the washcloth on for about a minute or until it cools. Remove eye make-up last.
3. Clean. Gently wipe your face with the hot washcloth. Try not to drag your skin – it's delicate at this stage. It should feel soft and clean.
4. Tone. Spritz your face with your chosen toner. This restores balance to the skin’s pH.
5. Oil. While your skin is damp, lock in that moisture by massaging in a drop or two of your favourite facial oil (see below).
CHOOSING THE RIGHT OILS
Opt for pure, unrefined cold-pressed oil from nuts or seeds. These contain beneficial antioxidants, fatty acids and other nutrients. Olive oil is the most popular choice, with coconut oil second. Never use vegetable, canola, shortening or corn oil! Avoid oils stored in plastic.
The following is a basic list. I’ve been able to procure all of these in glass with metal lids.
✲ Oily or acne-prone skin: sunflower, apricot, grapeseed, sesame, rosehip seed
✲ Normal skin: olive, sunflower, almond, apricot, sesame, rose hip, jojoba
✲ Dry skin: avocado, olive, macadamia nut, almond
✲ Aging skin: sunflower + rosehip seed (great source of vitamin C), macadamia, coconut
Try these with friends, so that you don’t waste money on a whole bottle. But hey, if there’s one you don’t like on your skin, you can always use it in the kitchen! Woohoo!
PANTRY BRONZER
I make my own bronzer from fully edible spices & powders I find in the pantry.
There’s a certain amount of trial and error involved in finding the right combinations for homemade make-up: what you add to the base will depend on your skin tone. Use arrowroot powder for lighter skin and turmeric powder and/or ground paprika for warmer skin. I add cardamom to my basic face powder, but you’ll want to go for a really finely ground powder. For my bronzer, I add cacao powder.
Once you get the blend of edible, face-safe powders right, you’ll be able to top them up as required from your pantry! My face powder is made from pretty much the same ingredients as my morning tonic! That’s a pretty epic endorsement for the health factor, y’all.
The Goodness
BASE
2 teaspoon cacao powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
OPTIONAL
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon ground paprika
The Magic
Using a teaspoon, you might start off making your face powder with some cacao and cinnamon as the base ingredients, then applying it to your skin with your powder brush to see how it looks on you.
If too dark, add some cardamom or arrowroot.
If the colour isn’t warm enough, add a pinch of turmeric or paprika.
Continue to blend and experiment. Be sure to write down each addition and in what quantity.
Store in a repurposed container and apply to skin over the top of your homemade skin-tinted sun cream (especially if you’re in summer or Australia!)
SOAP THE BROWS
I fluff up my brows with a brush or fingers, using a nail brush I give the long wild ends a trim, straight across. Then I use a bar of natural soap, rub my finger along the damp bar so it’s lightly coated in soap, and fluff the brows up. The soap dries the hair in place & they hold their shape!
Thanks @krystlerising for this amazing tip!
LIP BALM HIGHLIGHTS
I make my own lip balms too! It’s super easy and so nice to know exactly what you’re putting on your lips, which are attached to your mouth, which is an open orifice into your precious body! So yes please non toxic thanks! ;)
The best part about this hack is you just need to carry around one container to keep your face looking GLOWY all day. I carry my little tub of lip balm and apply to my lips and also use as a highlighter to highlight and accent my cheekbones, the tip of my nose, and my brow arches! It helps to make you look ultra fresh and dewy, whilst accentuating your natural features.
Make your own:
(use all organic ingredients, local if possible)
1 tablespoon locally sourced ethical beeswax
1 tablespoon cacao butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon almond oil
If you want to make it vegan, just take out the beeswax and double the cacao. Watch this video to understand why I think it is ethical to use certain beeswax.
Melt all the wax, butter and oils in a double-boiler.
Stir with a toothpick until fully blended.
Add in the powder and stir again.
Pour into your lip balm container.
Good luck, enjoy, and please tag me @plasticfreemermaid if you try any of these! It’s so fun to experiment and make our own products, AND it’s good for the Earth! <3