It is in our nature to overwhelm ourselves while trying to come up with a solution. This is true with skin care. We waste money trying out the newest miracle skin care product. We waste precious time going from one product to another, time that could be used to do simple things to improve our skin. Skin care doesn't really have to be that expensive. All you need are ingredients you use every day anyway and desire to give the skin what it deserves: the best nature can offer.
Take milk, for example. It is packed with ingredients beneficial to the skin. It contains lactic acid, a kind of Alpha Hydroxy Acid - AHA, an excellent exfoliant and collagen production stimulant. The proteins that milk contain help smooth the skin out, while the enzymes aid its rejuvenation.
Why not indulge yourself with a long, soothing and above all, skin rejuvenating bath? Also known as Cleopatra's Milk Bath, this bath leaves your skin soft and smooth. Prepare a bath and add up to 5 cups of buttermilk. If you are feeling especially creative, feel free to add a few drops of jojoba or aromatic lavender oil. Relax and let your skin soak in on all the powerful milky ingredients. Simply wash off after 30 minutes.
Feeling the effects of sun-tanning? Skin all tingly and red? The solution is as simple as applying some yogurt on your skin. It will help soothe the irritation and cool the skin down.
Remember that orange vegetable called carrot you add to your meals? That same little vegetable is filled with Retin A, the fancy sounding substance the big brands brag about. They certainly haven't reinvented the wheel. It is enormous in its ability to rejuvenate the deeper layers of the skin, but has also been present in a form of carrot as a facial masks' bases for ages.
Next time you are peeling carrots, boil 2-3 separately. When cooked, mash them and mix with 4 tablespoons of honey. Apply to your face, keep on for 10 minutes and wash off. Your skin will feel smooth and elastic.
These two are just a tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of ingredients we use and never think of the magic behind them, the real magic nature can only provide. Walk to your kitchen, peek around and see what you can find. Don't be afraid to experiment and try out some of these simple tips. See what happens. Remember, great skin is just a kitchen away!
Biljana Drake has been an avid collector of homemade skin care recipes. For more great tips, skin care and facial masks recipes, visit her website http://www.skincarefromscratch.com