Monday, May 16, 2011

Homemade Beauty: Facial Cleanser

This is the second post in my series about homemade beauty products that are simple, affordable, and easy alternatives to the beauty products we all buy at the store. Most skin care lines recommend a daily cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Facial cleanser washes away impurities on your skin like make up and dirt. A toner gently exfoliates dead skin cells away and a moisturizer replenishes your skin.

Today, I am going to talk about the first step in the process. Using a few simple ingredients, it is easy to make your own facial cleanser. I recommend purchasing a castile soap which is gentle on the skin and doesn't contain petroleum derived products or foaming agents. Any brand will do. The one that is most common is Dr. Bronner's liquid soap made of organic oils. It can be found at natural foods stores and big box stores like Target. If you get a big container of it, it will last you a long time. You can also use it in cleaning products, in the shower, and washing your floors. It is an all purpose soap. I highly recommend it. Mixed with a small amount of water, you can use Dr. Bronner's in your facial cleanser too. Your facial cleanser can be as simple as two ingredients, soap and water. I also like to add a few drops of essential oils as well as chamomile tea. Below you will find my simple recipe for a gentle facial cleanser you can make at home, which is an affordable alternative to store bought cleansers that can be irritating on the skin. It works great, smells lovely, and is very affordable.

Rose Petal Facial Cleanser

1/2 cup castille soap (Rose)
1/2 cup chamomile tea
Up to five drops rose essential oil (optional)

Combine the ingredients in a bottle. Use a small amount each day to wash your face. Essential oils are optional in this cleanser. They can be purchased from natural food stores. Essential oils are completely natural and safe but potent so be sure to read the safety labels. If you decide to use essential oils, store the cleanser in a dark glass bottle. This helps protect them because they have a tendency to break down when exposed to light.

photo: botanical.com

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