From Dry Skin to Beauty

I've been looking through beauty care recipes for quite some time and only recently did I finally figure out a beauty regimen that works for me. This is formulated specifically to fit the needs of those with dry skin.For years I have suffered from pain on my face because of dry skin. I was never able to use soap without it drying out my skin and so I continued for years to only use water to wash my face, which leaves something to be wanted. Recently I read that you can use oatmeal in place of soap. VERY simple and I have been doing this for two weeks so far and it has done wonders for me! My skin no longer hurts. Which is a big change for me!
Here is my regimen:

Start with body brushing before showering in the morning. Get a small natural bristle brush and brush your whole body always working towards your heart. For example, start at your feet and hands and work your way in. This helps with circulation and also brushes off dry flakes of skin sticking to you.Do this gently or it will only irritte your skin, let the brush do the work for you and use very light pressure.
Next, while in the shower you can use ground oatmeal(just grind it up real quick in a food processor) as a body scrub(directions below). Just scrub it over your entire body and rinse. Quick, easy, and cleansing!
I then use a homemade shampoo for my hair and rinse. The recipe is below.I sometimes also use this shampoo mixture for other parts of my body(particularly places like the feet and armpits) since the oatmeal doesn't have much scent to it. Before exiting the shower after turning off the water I pour an apple cider vinegar rinse over all of my hair then towel dry. Apple cider vinegar restores your pH balance. You can use this same rinse to spritz your body and face, after washing. Then follow with a moisturizer(recipe below).

Oatmeal Scrub:
-Grind some oatmeal in a food processor, leave some small chunks since they work as scrubbers.
-Put a little water into the ground oatmeal to make a paste. Let sit for 1 minute before use
-Can be used as full body wash including a daily facial cleanser for those whose skin dries out with soap.

Shampoo:
-8 oz bottle unscented liquid castile soap
-8 oz distilled water(using distilled water prevents product from going bad quickly)
-20 drops essential oils of choice (I personally use a mix of peppermint and tea tree, and sometimes use sweet orange)
-1 tsp jojoba oil(I didn't use this in mine and it still worked fine, you could probably use extra virgin olive oil or something in place of it if you want)

Mix all ingredients together. Best to store in a blue or brown colored glass bottle, but I have successfully store it in a plain plastic bottle. They say that light effects the essential oils and they won't smell as strong, but it you use it up quickly enough it really won't make a big difference.

If store in a colored glass container use within 1 year.

ACV Rinse- and Astringent
-2 cups distilled water
-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
-10 drops of your choice of essential oil. I find that sweet orange works well to cover up the scent of the vinegar.
Fact: Sweet orange is also a safe to use essential oil for children(babies) and pregnant women.

Mix together in bottle, pour over hair after washing. Can also put in a spritzer bottle to spray over body after shower. And also use as a facial astringent, following with moisturizer.

Moisturizer
-1 Tablespoon Cocoa Butter
-7 Tablepoons Coconut oil(extra-virgin, unrefined)
-40 drops vanilla or sweet orange essential oil(optional)

Warm coconut oil and cocoa butter over low heat in a small saucepan, until just melted. Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Add essential oils and stir to blend then pour into storage container. Allow to set for about 2 hours.

-Use within 1 year
-Immediately following bath or shower while still damp, massage oil blend into skin. Using very small amounts at a time. A little goes a long way!! Can be used as face moisturizer as well as for body.




Before Bed:
At the end of the day it is probably the most important time to take care of your skin. If you leave the grime of the day on your face before going to bed, this is when you end up with acne! If you already have acne then going to bed before taking care of your face will make it worse. Before bed I wash my face with the oatmeal scrub, dry my face. Using a cotton ball I apply the apple cider astringent. Then apply the moisturizer! and you are ready for bed! The moisturizer sometimes is what puts me to sleep at night. While your skin is taking in the oil it seems to make your face tingle. I love it!