(Beauty)

4 Natural Skincare Recipes To Try Now

by Stephanie Montes

Ditching all your chemical-infused beauty products can be difficult so we tapped skincare guru Adina Grigore for a more natural approach to our daily regimen. From an almond oil and aloe makeup remover to a papaya body scrub, these recipes are all you need to look your most beautiful sans the harmful ingredients. We love it when we can do that!

Be A Natural Beauty

Photos: Courtesy

Body Exfoliator

"Think of this exfoliant as an at-home chemical peel (minus the chemicals). Sugar is a great allover exfoliant, and the vitamin C in lime makes your skin firmer and more youthful. Papaya is high in vitamin A, which brightens the skin."

What you need:

¼ cup papaya chunks

¼ cup coarse sugar

Juice from ½ lime

It’s easiest to whip this recipe up in a blender, but you can mash the papaya with a fork in a small bowl, then mix in the sugar and the lime juice until you form a paste. Before you shower, rub the paste on your entire body in circular motions to stimulate blood flow. Leave on for a few minutes then rinse clean.

Makeup Remover

"Of course, you can use simple kitchen oils to remove your makeup, but these feel heavy–here, the aloe in this remover dilutes the oil. Sweet almond oil is gentle and kills bacteria as it’s wiping away your makeup. The best part is you don’t need to wash it off after."

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil

1 tablespoon aloe vera leaf, juice or gel (For fresh aloe, just cut it open and use a knife to scrape out the inside)

Combine ingredients in a small jar and seal it shut when storing for daily use. The remover will settle and separate, so shake well every time you use it. Store in a cool dark place and use within two to three weeks.

Deodorant Spray

"Store-bought deodorants can contain aluminum and other harmful ingredients. Taking the DIY route is not only good for you but it can be more cost-effective."

3 tablespoons pure witch hazel

2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Large pinch baking soda (no more than ¼ teaspoon)

8 drops of your favorite deodorizing essential oil (like lavender, tea tree, cedar, lemon, or lemongrass)

Add all ingredients to a small spray bottle and shake for 1 minute until the baking soda has dissolved and the essential oil is well mixed. Let stand overnight, then in the morning give it another shake and spritz. This recipe lasts a couple of months; shake well each time you use it.

Face Exfoliator

"This recipe is great for all skin types because it is gentle yet abrasive enough to provide a deep clean. Olive oil and oats offer all kinds of benefits for your skin, and jojoba oil gently combats dryness and kills bacteria. Berries are full of potent antioxidants and collagen-boosting vitamin C. Coconut flour soothes and smoothes the skin."

3 strawberries

10 raspberries

1 teaspoon ground oats aka oat flour

¼ cup coconut flour

2 tablespoons olive oil or jojoba oil

Mash strawberries and raspberries together with a fork in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine oats and coconut flour, stir olive oil, then add the mashed berries. Try to use all at once as it spoils quickly. If you do have any leftovers, store in the fridge and toss after a couple of days.