Mix equal parts of fresh lime juice and milk and use a cloth or cotton ball to apply the resulting mixture to the inflamed areas.  Let sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse clean.

Yogurt and oatmeal make a wonderful acne healing mask for the face.  The yogurt’s lactic acid content can serve to soothe the skin, reducing inflammation and cleansing pores.  Oatmeal can soothe irritation and reduce inflammation also.  Mix plain yogurt with enough finely ground oatmeal to make a paste.  Apply the mask to a clean, dry face and let sit for about 15 minutes.  Rinse gently with warm water and pat dry.  If necessary, apply a light oil such as olive or sunflower oil to moisturize your face.

Ripe tomatoes are a natural astringent for the face and are great for oily skin.  Simply cut a ripe tomato in half and apply to the acne areas.  Leave the juice for about 20 minutes, then rinse clean.  You may also use tomato paste for easier application.

Please remember to do a skin patch test before applying any of these recipes to your skin and/or face.  This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any condition.  Consult with your doctor or medical professional before undertaking any type of treatment.

Homemade Remedies for Skin

Your skin plays an important role in your life.  Not only does the skin protect our bodies and our internal organs, the skin has a great impact on our appearance and how others see us.  Because of this, most of us are constantly on the watch for ways to improve our skin or repair skin damage such as rashes, sun damage, eczema issues or dry skin.  Although there are a countless number of easily available skincare products that claim effortless skin repair, there are also many natural skin remedies that can safely give you comparable effects for a fraction of the cost.

Here are a few of the common epidermal concerns that many of us suffer and the homemade remedies:

Dry flaky skin – Proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E and vitamin C can assist with peeling skin by providing the body with requisite nutrients and oils. Salmon, eggs, carrots, milk, cheese, green vegetables, and citrus fruits should be consumed on a daily basis in order to provide the body with the vitamins and minerals it needs.  Juices can also be used for further nutrients, but make sure they are pure juice with no added sugars!

Eczema  – The skin condition eczema can be harmful on several different levels because it often brings about the irrepressible urge to scratch.   This can result raw or scraped skin, which may increase the chances of developing an infection.   I recall when my little girl had terrible eczema breakouts.  I would see where her little nails had
scratched into her tender skin.   Taking 1000 mg of flaxseed oil daily can offer protection against eczema occurences.  Certainly, keeping the affected area moisturized with oils and/or butters such as coconut oil or olive oil will also help.

Razor burn  -  The easiest way to avoid razor burn is by careful shaving.    Warm water should be used first to help soften the hairs, making shaving easier.  Using shaving soap or gel is a must, as it can help the razor to glide over the facial skin, resulting in less nicks and cuts.  If razor burn does develop, crush a few strawberries and mix them with one tablespoon of sour cream.  This mixture should be applied to the affected area and left on for 10 to 15 minutes.  Apply daily until the razor burn is no longer an issue.  Surely, if you are sensitive to strawberries, this remedy should not be tried! Add some sugar to the leftover portion and you’ve got a neat dessert!

Sunburn  – There are a few of homemadecures that may minimize the pain from a harmful sunburn.  Aloe Vera gel, which is readily available in drug stores, is one of the most familiar natural remedies for sunburn.  Apply the aloe vera gel to the painful area.  Or you might try the cucumber and milk natural remedy:  Place slices of raw cucumbers to the burned area for relief and a reduction in skin inflammation.  Soak a napkin or washrag in milk and gently place on to the skin.  Milk tends to have a calming effect on irritated skin.

Dry skin – A squashed ripe banana is a perfect way to alleviate dry skin on the face and neck.  Though it will work on the entire body, it might get a bit messy.  Other easy ways to remedy dry skin on the entire body are taking a milk bath (use the dry milk that comes in packets) once or twice a month or the addition of oils to the bath such as olive or avocado oil.

You’ve all heard that the skin is the largest organ on the body; not only does it help protect your body; it is an important part of your appearance. However, it can be difficult to keep the skin healthy at all times – rashes, sunburn and acne may occur and compromise the health of the skin. When this happens, it is not always necessary to reach for an over the counter remedy that may or may not work. Natural remedies are often better for the skin and are more effective.

Natural remedies are safe, but it is also important to proceed with caution where the skin is concerned. They should be treated with the same caution as an over the counter remedy. Each person’s skin reacts differently to different medicines, including the ingredients in many home remedies.

“Natural” does not always mean that it’s right for everyone. After all, arsenic is natural! Don’t use any natural remedies that contain an ingredient to which you are allergic. In addition, be careful with large portions of the skin that need to be treated. For example, if your arm has broken out in an eczema rash, test on a small part of your arm before covering the whole area. By doing this, you ensure that the natural remedy that you use will not irritate the skin condition any further.

Here is a quick list of natural oils that are good for the skin:

Shea Butter – A product of the shea nut, shea butter can be used on the skin for the treatment of sunburn, eczema, stretch marks, scars and wrinkles. Shea butter may be combined with a liquid oil to improve skin “spreadab

lity”. Of course, it is advised to do a small patch test on your skin to determine there is no allergic reaction.

Hemp Seed Oil – Products that contain hemp seed oil can help reduce inflammation in the skin, such as what occurs in eczema outbreaks and penetrates deep into the skin to help alleviate dry skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Virgin Coconut Oil – An excellent oil for the skin, virgin coconut oil (VCO) may help delay wrinkles and serves as a great moisturizer for the skin. VCO is also wonderful for skin massage.

If you try these natural oil remedies for the skin or products that contain these natural oils, you may find out that they work better for you than those over-the- counter remedies.

Please note that this information is not meant to diagnose or treat any skin condition or disease, nor is it meant to give medical advice. Contact a medical professional on advice on how to treat your specific skin conditions.

Choosing a skin care cream is a matter of personal preferences, which accounts for the fact that there are so many lotions available on the market. It seems though, that many consumers prefer a non-greasy skin care cream as opposed to a heavy, oily cream that may leave the skin feeling coated and greasy. Furthermore, as the natural products trend continues, consumers are even beginning to read the labels to choose a skin care product that contains more natural ingredients.

A skin care cream choice is personal for the consumer. If a person is suffering from dry, cracked skin, it is much better to choose a product that is more natural. Natural ingredients have been in use for years – there should be no reason to choose an artificially created ingredient when a natural product will do just as well, or better.

Cocoa butter is a great emollient. It can help fade stretch marks and keeps the skin moisturized and flexible. It is also used in many natural skin care products but careful reading of some of these labels show that while cocoa butter is featured on the label, it is not high up on the ingredient list. The same goes for shea butter or other exotic oils/butters that are being used in skin care products. More often than not, mineral oil or petrolatum jelly are the main “emollients” in these natural products.

The best choice is to choose a cream or lotion that has the most natural ingredients possible with a minimum of extra chemicals or preservatives. Read your labels and be aware of what you are putting on your skin.