BASE LAYER | Natural Face Cleansers

By Aja Lake

In the continuing column where we cover wellness and beauty, I'm thrilled to introduce new contributor Aja Lake of Lake & Co. Her first piece is about three common household items found in your kitchen and pantry that also can effectively double to clean, tone and remove makeup. I can see these tips coming in super handy while traveling, camping, or as a new daily regimen. Thanks Aja. 

1. COCONUT OIL: Dr. Bronner's Organic Coconut Oil ($12) There are a myriad of ways to use coconut oil, but employing it as a makeup remover is my all-time favorite. Coconut oil is naturally nourishing and aids in gently sloughing dead cells, resulting in supple and smooth skin. Plus it's antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial. Look for extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil. To use, swipe a cotton pad with coconut oil and apply generously to dry skin. Rinse with warm water. 

2. HONEY: Raw Colorado Honey ($9) Honey is both antibacterial and antimicrobial, making it a potent yet soothing facial cleanser. Suited for all skin types, its healing qualities will leave your face feeling soft and fresh. To get the most beauty benefits, use a raw and pure honey, and, when possible, buy local. Since it won't remove makeup, honey is best when used as a morning cleanser. Just moisten your face with water, rub a quarter-size amount of honey between fingers, and massage onto face. To lock in honey's moisturizing properties, rinse with cool water. 

3. LIME JUICE: The mild, astringent properties of fresh lime juice create the perfect natural facial toner. Lime juice removes dirt and oils from skin, without causing irritation. Plus its acidic base gently exfoliates, delivering skin-brightening benefits. Simply squeeze lime juice onto a cotton pad and apply to face, or combine lime juice and water in a small spray bottle and mist face, wiping clean with cotton.

Comments

Jo said…
Great column, I love honey and coconut oi. If youre in sunny places however, please be careful of skin + lime + sun. It can cause an extremely painful reaction called phytophotodermatitis. I learned the hard way in Mexico :(
Aja Lake said…
Great point, Jo. Lime should not be used before exposure to ultra violet light. I also learned the hard way (and in Mexico:). Thanks!
Makenzie said…
Coconut oil is wonderful, but it has a tendency to break people out, especially those predisposed to acne. For some of the same benefits, you can use grapeseed or apricot oil. Jojoba oil and argan oil are also good for faces.

Citrus juice is iffy for use on face. It can disrupt the PH balance of your skin and it makes you more susceptible to skin damage.
Anonymous said…
Oh I love this! Will you cover Apple Cider next? There is too much info out on the web, I need an edited version.
whatever said…
Coconut oil is extremely problematic for blemish-prone skin. Lime juice (as with all citrus) is also a known skin irritant. Wish this column had been better researched.
Aja Lake said…
Hi Mackenzie and Kelly,

Thanks for your comments. Actually, my skin is prone to breakouts, and coconut oil has helped to really change--and balance--my skin. I also love argan oil, and the others mentioned all have their own benefits.

As for the citrus juice, you could liken it to a natural version of an acid peel. This type of treatment is not for everyone, but I've used lime (which is gentler than lemon) for years and, other than the caution Jo and I mentioned above, I've had great results.

Good luck!
Poppy K said…
I'd love it if you could mention some natural alternatives to the face scrubs that use tiny plastic beads - just heard something on NPR about how they are polluting our lakes and oceans because they don't decompose. I know sugar is a great alternative but I'd like to know what to mix with it.
Ali said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ali said…
I love these natural tips and definitely plan on trying these at home. Poppy, turbinado sugar is a great exfoliant. I have made body scrubs using that combined with almond oil and lavender oil. That would probably be too oily for a facial scrub, but it leaves the skin feeling amazingly smooth and soft. I can't wait to test the lime juice. Certainly, lime juice will be a gentler and more natural alternative to a peel. But, as always, if you have super sensitive skin than you know it is always wise to spot test before going big. Thanks Aja!

Anonymous said…
Definitely going to have to give the honey a try! And the photo is beautiful.
binker said…
I like Ava Anderson....very gentle and non-toxic. Started by a teenage girl.
vijitha said…




Hi, thank you very much for help. I am going to test that in the near future. Cheers


Natural Facial Cleansers


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