If you take a look at the beauty products on your sink and in your shower, do you even recognize any of the ingredients? Most of our beauty products are made of tons of artificial ingredients and chemicals. Since “going green” and using natural products is so popular now, it’s time to make some changes in your beauty routine, too.

Organic and all-natural beauty lines are expensive, though. If you truly want to use natural products, it’s time to take a look in your kitchen. Lots of eco-friendly beauty lines contain food ingredients, and you can go straight to the source. Here are some things to try.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal works as an awesome natural face scrub, and it will exfoliate your skin beautifully. Just whip up some instant oatmeal with water, and don’t over-cook it because you want the oats to be a little coarse. You can add a few drops of honey, and spread it all over your face (it should be a paste-like consistency). Leave for 15 minutes and rinse. Your skin will be softer, smoother, and more hydrated.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a versatile natural beauty product. You can use it as a face wash, or put it on cotton balls and use it as a makeup remover. It’s also a great conditioning treatment for your hair. Just work olive oil into your hair, wrap with a towel, and shampoo about 20 minutes later. Your hair will be soft and shiny. You can also use a tiny (very tiny!) bit on your hair every day before going out. It will help smooth flyaways, improve the looks of split ends, and add shine.

Lemon Juice

Dip your fingers in lemon juice, and any stains from nail polish or every day nail abuse like washing dishes will be gone. Your nails will be left looking shiny and bright. You can also use lemon juice as a conditioner in the shower. After your normal shampooing, rinse your hair with a cup of lemon juice for healthier, more manageable hair.

Salt and Sugar

You can use salt and sugar to exfoliate your hands and feet. Mix it with olive oil or a little honey, and rub into your skin; it will be left smooth and moisturized. Just don’t use it on your face because it’s a little too harsh for skin that sensitive.

Cucumbers

What they say is true – cucumber slices on the eyes is a wonderful beauty treatment. Cut thick slices of cucumber and place over your eyes for about fifteen minutes (perhaps along with an oatmeal facial). Cucumbers reduce redness and puffiness in your eyes.

Honey

Honey is another great beauty product that can be used in many different ways. It works well to condition your hair. Just apply some after shampooing and rinse (it won’t be sticky). You can also use honey in many other natural beauty treatments, such as by adding it to an oatmeal facial, an olive oil conditioning treatment, or an exfoliating scrub.
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Georgia Williams is a fashion expert and writer who often blogs about everything from style tips to getting great deals on cosmetic brushes.
Photo Credit: bour3

Oily skin, spots and acne are very common complaints, and not just amongst teenagers. Unlike many people believe, oily skin and acne can last well into your twenties, thirties, forties or even fifties. It is also possible to start getting spots at any age as factors such as stress, pregnancy and diet all have an impact on your skin.

Spots can have an effect on your self-esteem but unfortunately, there is no overnight solution on how to get rid of spots, especially if you suffer from particularly bad acne or very oily skin. However, by understanding what causes spots you can make the changes needed in your diet, lifestyle and skincare routine, eventually leading to beautiful, perfectly clear skin.

Your skin naturally produces its own moisturizer, known as sebum. People who do not have enough sebum suffer from very dry skin, whilst people with too much get overly oily skin. This excess of sebum blocks the tiny pores in your skin, trapping dirt and impurities in there which cause infections and become spots. So, the key to perfect skin is to achieve the right balance between too much sebum and not enough.

Image via tibchris

Here are my top five tips on how to get rid of spots…

1.       Eat Healthily

Your skin is nourished and fed from the inside as well as the outside, so if you are desperate to get rid of your acne or oily skin, do not underestimate the importance of a healthy diet. Avoid too much junk food and drink plenty of water to keep your skin quenched – not drinking enough will lead to drier skin, and your body will produce excess sebum to compensate.
2.       Change Your Pillow Regularly

It may not be an obvious one, but if you tend to wash your bedding once a month rather than once a week, you are laying your face down every night on a pillow that is covered with dirt and bacteria. This leads to infections and so to spots. Your skin spends many hours a night in contact with your bedding so ensure that it is clean and fresh for perfectly clear skin.
3.       Moisturise

It is a common mistake to believe that if you have oily skin, you do not need to moisturise. Just as with not drinking water, not giving your skin the moisture it needs from the outside will make your body produce excess sebum to compensate and can leave your skin oilier than if you had moisturised in the first place. However, avoid moisturisers intended for dry skin as they will be too rich and creamy for your needs – look for a specially designed moisturiser for oily skin that is lighter than others.
4.       Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. You might think that only people with dry skin need to exfoliate but in fact, people with oily skin and spots need to do it more often than anyone else! By exfoliating, you are gently rubbing away the dead skin cells that would otherwise get stuck in your skin’s sebum and lead to spots. However, exfoliating daily can aggravate the skin so aim to do it around twice a week for best results.
5.       Avoid Heavy Make Up

When you are suffering from acne it is very tempting to try to cover the problem up with a thick layer of concealer or foundation. However this will only block your pores even more, and lead to further break-outs. Avoid makeup when not needed, such as if you are home alone, and for times you do want to wear it make sure that the product you buy says ‘non comedogenic’ on the label which means it does not block pores.
Michelle Star writes for Thea Skincare, a UK based online retailer offering 100% natural skincare products enriched with organic ingredients. If you are wondering how to get rid of spots without using chemical based products, try one of the specially designed cleansers for oily skin which both reduces excess oil and quenches thirty skin for a perfectly balanced, clear complexion.