A Few Favorite Au Naturale DIY Recipes

Style Mar 22, 2014

So I recently revealed a few of my favorite natural beauty products that can be found in your kitchen; Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite things to do with them (: Let me know how well they work for you or if you have some of your own recipes you’d like to share!

FAVORITE FACE MASKS

Oats + Honey Mask 

You’ll need

  • oats
  • honey

This mask is great for moisturizing dry skin and very convenient since honey and oats are quite common in the kitchen. The two ingredients are safe for all skin types, and the oats will act to soothe rough skin. Mix together equal parts of honey and oats until a thick paste has formed. Apply evenly to the face while gently scrubbing in a circular motion. Wash off in the morning for smooth, moisturized skin!

Coconut Tea Tree Serum

You’ll need

  • coconut oil (room temp)
  • tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties will help to treat and prevent blemishes that appear on the face.

Coconut oil is incredibly moisturizing and filled with vitamins and minerals, which it locks securely into your skin.

When these two oils are combined, it produces a serum that will help reduce redness in rashes and acne. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil to a spoonful of coconut oil and combine until a clear serum has formed. Spread evenly on the face before bed and wash off in the morning!

Honey Avocado Yogurt Mask

You’ll need

  • half a ripe avocado
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup honey

Mash the avocado; add the ½ cup plain yogurt and ¼ cup honey. Mix until well combined then dab on lightly (with a sea sponge if you have one).  Leave on for up to 30 minutes then rinse off with warm water.

Avocado is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin K, fiber, folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, copper and potassium and have been used in treating a ton of skin ailments.  They are known to have a anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Yogurt lactic acid and enzymes in yogurt help to hydrate and sooth the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. As a sunburn remedy it soothes the pain and improves redness. When combined with honey, yogurt makes a moisturizing and exfoliating mask, great for softening the face and neck and minimizing discoloration.
Honey is a natural antioxidant and anti-microbial to help protect the skin from the damage of the sun’s rays, support the skin’s ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple. Honey absorbs impurities from the pores on the skin, making it an ideal cleansing agent.

 

FAVORITE BODY SCRUB

You’ll need

  • 1/2 cup ground coffee
  • 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Coffee is rich in antioxidants, making it an awesome anti-inflammatory ingredient. It contains caffeine, which draws out excess moisture from your skin, causing it to look and feel smoother and firmer. In this scrub, coffee acts as a mild exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and exposing fresh, soft skin.

Coconut oil is one of my favorite natural beauty ingredients- have you figured that out yet?

Coconut palm sugar acts as a second exfoliant in this scrub. For more of a deep exfoliation, you can use a sugar with a coarser texture, like organic cane sugar.

Cinnamon helps to clear your skin of any bacteria. It also brings blood to the surface of the skin, helping to smooth out any lines that may be present.

 

To make the scrub, mix all of the ingredients together until well-combined. If your coconut oil is solid, gently heat it until it melts, but wait for it to go back to room temperature before adding the other ingredients. This is to ensure that your exfoliants don’t dissolve in the oil! Once mixed, store your scrub in an air-tight container.

FAVORITE HAIR MASKS

Honey Oil Mask

You’ll need

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon epsom salt or magnesium flakes (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk/blend well. You may have to heat the coconut oil slightly (if you don’t live in a warm climate like Thailand) to get it in liquid form. The epsom salt will still be a little gritty but will dissolve and work in to your hair once it’s applied.

Over a sink or shower, massage the oil through your hair and scalp. Put a shower cap on (or old towel) and leave on for up to 30 minutes.  I use this time to catch up on some reading or emails.

In the shower, rinse well, then shampoo. If still oily, massage a small amount of baking soda through the hair to remove or use dry shampoo after the shower.  I like to use this when I’m working a lot and my hair is getting brutally damaged by blowdryers, hair curlers, and hair straighteners.  Also, I have very long hair, you may need to cut the recipe down a bit to suite your hair length (:

Banana Almond Mask

The banana softens your hair and protects its natural elasticity, while the almond oil keeps the moisture locked in. You’re left with smooth, soft hair that’s protected from the drying effects of dry, cool weather

You’ll need

  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 tsp almond oil

Mash up your banana, add in the almond oil, and mix well. Massage into your hair, concentrating on your ends, and let sit for about 30 minutes. Wash and condition your hair as usual.

Avocado Peppermint Mask

The avocado, honey, and olive oil lock moisture into your hair, while the peppermint tea invigorates the scalp, leaving you with luscious, moisturized locks and a fresh, clean feeling.

You’ll need

  • 1 avocado
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp loose peppermint tea

Mash up your avocado, add in the honey, olive oil, and tea, and mix well. Massage into your hair, concentrating on your ends, and let sit for about 30 minutes. Wash and condition your hair as usual.

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