Over the last few years we have been working towards living a more natural lifestyle, one that puts less toxins in our bodies, as well as into our environment. Once we adapt a real food diet, this seems to be a natural next stop for most of us. As we become more connected with the food we eat and how it’s grown and raised, we start looking at other aspects of our lives more critically.
I think the best way to make this transition without becoming overwhelmed, is to change out one thing at a time. One of the first things I changed was my all purpose cleaner. Once I saw how easy and inexpensive it was to make my own, I was less intimidated by the next DIY project.
Another baby step I took when I first started this transition, was as I ran out of skincare products and cosmetics, I would replace them with ones that are rated favorably by the Environmental Working Group. If you aren’t familiar with this resource, the EWG does research on skin care products, and rates each product according to the level of toxicity in its ingredients, they then publish the results in a very helpful database.
Then as my skincare products started running out, I started to make my own. As you can see, it was a slow transition for me with lots of baby steps! It took me several years to get to where I am today. If you are new to Paleo, don’t feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to purge all your skincare products and start DIY-ing up a storm. Just start with one step at a time. If you see a DIY skincare recipe that appeals to you (like this one … 🙂 ), give it a try. But, no need to go dump everything in your medicine cabinet.
I mostly use this honey almond scrub on my face, but you can use it for your entire body. It works as a gentle exfoliant, leaving your skin feeling smooth and fresh. I use this about once a week, and I find that my make-up glides right on afterwards.
This mixture doesn’t only make your skin feel soft, it is also full of minerals and nutrients! Honey is a superfood for the skin. It has an ability to absorb and retain moisture, which helps skin feel hydrated and fresh. It is a natural antioxidant and has anti-microbial properties, it also supports the skin in rejuvenating and refreshing depleted skin.
The cooling effect of the peppermint essential oils is really refreshing. Take care to keep this exfoliator away from your eyes, as peppermint essential oil can be quite strong.
Honey Almond Facial Scrub
Ingredients
1/4 cup almond meal (I like the one from Trader Joe’s for this project because it is more coarse, you can always make your own too!)
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon jojoba oil (like this one)
6 drops of Peppermint essential oil (Where to find high quality essential oils)
- In a glass jar, mix together almond meal, jojoba oil, honey and peppermint oil. Stir until well combined.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
To use:
- Take about 1/2 a tablespoon of the mixture in your hand and add a few drops of water (in your hand, not in the jar)
- Scrub the skin gently, letting the almond meal do the work of exfoliating
- Lightly massage all over your face for several minutes
- Remove with warm wash cloth or warm water
For more DIY Beauty Recipes, I highly recommend this book. Learn more about it HERE!
oooh i need to make this! 😉
This facial scrub sounds amazing. I am definitely going to try it. I love diy beauty products… so much more cost effective!
Arsy, I relate so much to this post. I have only been eating whole foods for a year now. Now, this fall, I\’m finally taking steps to slowly phase chemicals out of my home and body care. It\’s definitely an evolution, not a revolution. Looking forward to the day that my home is chemical free and that I\’m more confident making my own DIY products. Thanks for this recipe!
Can I substitute grape seed oil for the jojoba?
I am honestly not sure, as I haven’t worked with grape seed oil much. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
Sure will..I ran out of jojoba oil which I used to cleanse my face with, switched over to grape seed oil and found it to be as good, if not better, than jojoba. It doesn’t make me break out, is light and easily absorbed, and best of all, it helps shrinks pores! A definite bonus for me.
Thank you for sharing this DIY face scrub. I’m a bit of a scrub addict which isn’t great for your skin but it’s somewhat addictive. I’ve gotten better about this (a Clarisonic helps) but I still love a manual scrub every now and then. Does this need to be refrigerated at all? I noticed you said you use this about once a week; how long does this amount last?
It doesn’t have to be refrigerated, as long as you keep it in a cool, dark place. Since I don’t use mine that often, I keep it in the fridge to help it last longer. I would say, this amount lasts me a couple of months, as sometimes I use it more frequently. Hope that helps!