My Natural Tips for Glowing Skin

Coconut Oil 
The benefits of coconut oil are numerous! I use it for my hair and skin in a variety of ways, but my favorite use for coconut oil is for makeup removal. I would hate when trying to wash off my makeup in the shower and I come out with mascara smudged all around my eyes because it didn’t wash off completely with just soap and water. I would also hate using makeup removal wipes because it felt like I was wiping forever, and never getting it all off. So a year ago I started using coconut oil for its anti-fungal properties ( a plus for controlling my acne), how smooth it left my skin while easily getting all the makeup off (even waterproof mascara), and mainly because I knew exactly what I was putting on my skin and essentially into my body. 

My main reason is the theme of this entire post! I keep seeing studies come out about food and products that we’ve been using in our communities for decades "suddenly" being harmful to our health, so I made the commitment to myself to live more consciously. I've also become passionate about sharing the knowledge related to healthier living! I’m no expert by any means, but I can share information I come across and point you in the direction of the experts, as well as share what’s been working for me.

Back to the coconut oil makeup remover! 

1. Use virgin coconut oil at room temperature. 
2. Scoop out about a tablespoon and massage it all over your face for about 3 minutes. Close your eyes and rub off mascara and other eye makeup. Don’t forget your lipstick!
3. Saturate a washcloth with warm water and wipe off the oil. 
4. Rinse the rag and wipe your face one more time.

Your face will be a little oily but that’s fine! It’s well-moisturized! Get some sleep! The coconut oil doesn’t typically cause acne since it’s an anti-fungal so no need to wash your face after removing your makeup. The massage you just gave yourself also helps with lines, blemishes and the overall appearance of your skin. 

Coconut Oil Scrub
If you have oily skin like me, you may be worried about cleaning your face with an oil. I can testify that this method does not leave me super oily or cause me to breakout. But if you want a deep clean maybe once a week, you don’t have to use a harsh scrub or cleanser with unknown ingredients. You can make your own scrub with virgin coconut oil and baking soda. 

1. Mix about 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Add more of one or the other to get a thick paste-like consistency.
2. Scrub your face with the mixture using just your fingertips. It will feel rough--just take it easy. 
3. Saturate a washcloth with warm water and wipe off the oily scrub. 
4. Rinse the rag and wipe your face one more time.

If you have sensitive skin, the baking soda may cause your skin to burn or tingle a little. This doesn’t bother me, but you may choose to use less baking soda and more coconut oil in your mixture.  This scrub gets deep down into the pores to remove dirt and oil, and it leaves your skin moisturized and more radiant. 

Aloe Vera Facial
I’m always tempted to try those masks packets I see a lot now in Target, Walmart, and other drugstores, but I don’t know what’s in them! I can’t read or pronounce half the ingredients and that’s a No-No for me. I’m also cheap, so I want a facial that’s not going to cost me more than a few dollars for a one-time use..

My favorite, low cost, and highly effective facial has only one ingredient--aloe vera. You can buy aloe vera leaves from the supermarket for no more than $3.

1. Trim the prickly edges off the leaves first.
2. Cut out a 2 inch section. You can save the the rest for future use. Store it in the fridge for no more than a week. It will start to go bad after that.
3. Slice it open, poke it in a few places to release more of the gel
4. Simply take the two sides and rub it directly onto your face.
5. Leave it on your face for at least 20 minutes. Your face will feel tight as the gel dries. I sometimes leave mine on for an hour while I do other tasks.
6. Rinse off when you are ready to reveal soft and refreshed skin.

Other benefits of the aloe vera facial include clearing up acne when used regularly, fading of scars, and it relieves irritation and rejuvenates skin.

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African Black soap
After trying different brands of cleansers and soaps, making my own body wash, and buying natural handmade soaps, I’ve finally found the perfect soap for all my skincare needs. Raw African black soap--not its cousin that we typically see at the drugstore or beauty supply store--is made from all natural ingredients including: Coconut Oil, Cocoa Pod Husk, Unrefined Shea Butter, Plantain Skin Ash, and Natural Vitamin E. It fades scars and evens out skin tone; it’s an anti-fungal, and a natural shampoo. I love how it naturally cleanses my skin without stripping it, and leaves me glowing. If you haven’t tried it yet, you can purchase a bar for only $4 from my Etsy shop.

Body Butters of course!
Visit my Self Care page to read my story about how I started making body butter as a solution to my dry skin woes.