If you told most people that Apple Cider Vinegar could be used as a beauty product, they wouldn’t believe you. In fact Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most important and powerful natural remedies out there. It’s been known to help with weight loss, sinus infection, allergies, arthritis and acne. It’s usually taken in water as a drink, but can also be used topically, which is what I’m going to talk about here.

When I was younger I suffered from acne and tried everything – creams, washes, pills, you name it. Back then I was naive – I didn’t realise that most external problems were symptoms of internal problems. I started to look at the things that I eat and the stress that I put myself under. I tested foods by removing them from my diet, such as milk, bread, eggs, pasta and rice. Not all of these made a difference, but some of them did, with highly noticeable differences (all positive) when I removed milk. After being tested it was indeed confirmed that I was Lactose intolerant. After doing some research into lactose intolerance I discovered that milk actually contains a lot of hormones that can make acne sufferers have worsened breakouts!

It’s safe to say that over the next few months I noticed improvements and eventually over the years, I started to grow out of acne. The thing is, I am now left with scars, as well as having the occasional breakout.

My mother suggested using Apple Cider Vinegar because as she said it, “It restores the acid mantle of your skin, so it heals quicker” and it’s all true (Parents really are the source of knowledge kids!).

The acid mantle is the skin’s first defence mechanism against invading bacteria. This defence layer develops at puberty, around the time that many teenagers will probably start noticing the symptoms of acne. Using face washes and creams like I did, can often damage and prevent this layer from developing as it should. This all happens as we start to produce hair on our bodies, and sebaceous glands cause changes in the skin’s pH. The pH of human skin usually settles somewhere between 4.5 and 6. But this often varies with age.

In our late teens and early twenties our Acid Mantle should be at its best. It should adequately protect against harmful external factors, heal extremely quickly and generally take care of itself. The skin’s pH value an overlooked, but major contributor to acne and various other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes are bacteria that live on the skin and are actually found in everyone, regardless of whether an individual suffers from acne. 

However, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased in acne sufferers. Research has shown that the growth of these bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the sufferer’s skin and its growth is minimised with a skin pH of 5.5. In fact, even a slight shift towards the alkaline pH would create an environment in which it can thrive.

Nearly all soaps are Alkaline in nature and even the ones that are advertised as ‘good for your skin’, usually have a neutral pH of 7. When using soaps, we think we wash them off quite quickly, but there is almost always residue left behind. Over time, soaps start to change the pH of our skin away from its natural acidity, to a very unnatural alkaline state. It means that our skin will actually become dependent on these products as it is incapable of self-defence – certainly not a good state of affairs.

Apple Cider Vinegar works to return your skin to its natural acidity, reversing and healing the effects of soap. It works even better if you stop using soap all together, which may seem like a brash, decision to make, but it’s perfectly natural to wash with just water. In fact dirt plays no part in acne whatsoever and is actually a marketing technique used by many companies to make sufferers feel self conscience and want to buy their products, I could talk about this for a long time but I won’t. For now all I’ll say is, that if they’re products actually worked, you would have no need to buy them anymore – it is not in their interests to actually solve the problem.

The way to use Apple Cider Vinegar is to apply it to the skin. You can either apply it all over as a toner, or simply to the affected area as a “spot treatment”. In fact as well as rebuilding the Acid Mantle, Apple Cider Vinegar reduces the visible redness and inflammation. It’s important to note that some redness is normal and may last for about 10 minutes, with a slight burning or tingling sensation. If this feels too much, wash your face with water immediately, as you don’t want to rush your skin into anything. I would also suggest that you do not use it un-diluted, especially when you start using it. Many people find that they can, but it is usually something they have worked up to. I would suggest starting with a mixture of one part Apple Cider Vinegar, three parts water, slowly working your way to a 50/50 mixture. Here is a list of a few more things you should consider when using Apple Cider Vinegar:

• Start with a mixture of three parts water, one part Apple Cider Vinegar, eventually working your way to a 50/50 mix.
• Always buy Apple Cider Vinegar with the “Mother”. This is very important, because it is the mother part of Apple Cider Vinegar that is most beneficial. If you buy standard culinary Apple Cider Vinegar it has often been filtered and pasteurised, meaning most of the beneficial elements have been removed. The cloudier the better. My favourite brand is one called ‘Biona Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother’
• Avoid Apple Cider Vinegar that contains sulphites, these can be harmful to the skin.
• Uses cotton pads or cotton balls to apply. For best results a spray bottle works best. To be honest I use my hands.
• Apply to face when dry.

Apple Cider Vinegar is also very good for dandruff, when rubbed into the scalp, but it also intensifies the main drawback of Apple Cider Vinegar, which is the smell. The smell can seem very pungent at first and can make you feel a little self conscience when spending time around other people. You do eventually get used to the smell, and if you are using a diluted mixture, it tends to wear off quite quickly anyway (it takes a little longer if using it un-diluted). I find that I prefer to not use it before I do things like go on a date, or go to a club.

Apple Cider Vinegar doesn’t need to be something that is just for acne suffers too, it is also topically beneficial for:

• Insect bites and rashes because it reduces inflammation.
• General scar healing.
• Ingrown hairs.
• Razor Bumps.

I hope you try Apple Cider Vinegar and see some of the benefits yourself. Good luck on your adventure.

Thom Milson is a writer who is all about the natural and likes to blog amount many of the amazing things he discovers. Read another of his articles amount the health benefits of certain foods here

Baking soda is very important for the skin. If properly used, it is really effective.

What is baking soda?

Baking soda is a chemical compound called sodium bicarbonate. It is a fine crystalline powder which is found in almost every kitchen and used for foods such as leavened cake. When the sodium bicarbonate reacts with acid in some foods, produces carbon dioxide and water.

How does it works against acne?

Sodium bicarbonate is a fine crystalline powder that works as follows:

• Exfoliating Agent
• Neutralization of acidic environment

Exfoliating agent:
Acne pushed up due to various reasons, but all the causes leading to obstruction of hair follicles. Hair follicles normally clog with bacteria width excessive sebum mixed.

When the hair follicles clogged and sebaceous glands produce sebum continuously, it breaks hair follicle. If the sebum remains inside the skin and a bump appears, called a white head and if it is pop out of the skin, it is called comedones.

Exfoliation is a process of scrubbing the skin with a fine powdery substance that removes dead cells from the surface of the skin and allow the sebum to come out freely. When sebum continuously keeps on discharging from inside, it ruptures neither the hair follicles nor does it produce inflammation.

Neutralization of the acid environment:
You can develop acne due to a bacterial or fungal infection of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Most unicellular organisms have their outer cell walls of cellulose or other substances that may be damaged by sodium bicarbonate. Thus, the sodium bicarbonate help damaging harmful bacteria cell walls, therefore, the bacterial colonies die.

In short, say, baking soda works in two ways First, the exfoliation of dead skin cells on the other hand, neutralizing the acid environment that is conducive to bacterial growth.

Is it safe?

Depends on its proper use. Sodium bicarbonate is safe unless it is used to a certain amount. However, if you are allergic or you have a history of any health problem, please do not use it up unless you consult a doctor.

How it is used to treat acne?

Baking soda is used orally and topically. But remember, you can not use it orally unless you consult your doctor. For the treatment of acne, only topical use of sodium bicarbonate is effective and proven.

Take a bit of water in a bowl and pour some baking soda that it makes a cream like substance. Apply to affected areas where you’re having acne and to the whole skin if you want a smooth skin.

Conclusion:
Baking soda is an effective topical anti-acne remedy that works exfoliating dead skin cells and other particles clogging. It is used topically to remove pimples and points blacks, and smooths and softens the skin.

About Author:
Helen has been an expert in skin health writing specifically on the subject of acne. Her work has been published on various websites and magazines and provides insightful advice for skin disease, acne home remedies sufferers.

Every morning, I start the day with a cup of herbal tea. About a year ago, I completely gave up energy drinks and coffee, as well as green and black tea. My decision to proceed only with herbal teas was very spontaneous. Sorry for giving you too many details here, but I was just tired of sweating terribly! Yes, I had this problem, and tea and coffee were making it worse.

Anyway, after starting drinking only herbal tea, not only has my problem with excess of sweating almost has disappeared; I have also noticed very pleasant changes in my complexion. To be more specific, I drink chamomile in the morning and mint in the evening, as it is very relaxing and makes you drowsy. After drinking these herbal teas for two weeks, I noticed that my face acquired a healthier color and my skin became smoother.

This was a “aha” moment for me. I started to dig deeper to herbal therapy and I couldn’t stop. I found that herbs are an amazing gift from nature, which can be used for just about everything that concerns the health of your skin. There are lots of methods that use herbs. However, today I want to tell you about the simplest herbal beauty tips for face – so called herbal wash. I’ll discuss how to easily use herbs to wash your face from impurities and substitute them for your daily cleanser, or the simple procedure of washing your face with water.

As for me, I always have some different herbal tea bags at home, and every morning I brew them with boiling water. After pampering myself with herbal tea, I just take the tea bag and do my morning herbal facial wash (wipe my face with a herbal bag).

The procedure of washing your face with herbs can be this simple. Or you also can whip up more sophisticated mixtures.

Here are my herbal beauty tips for face:

Magical herbs for your skin type

Herbs for facial should be chosen for your skin type or to deal with any specific problems of your skin. I made a list of the exact recipes you could use for your skin type, so run through the whole list to find the recipe written for you. Some recipes contain several herbs, You can use the entire recipe or just use one of the herbs from the recipe on its own.

Herbal wash recipes for every skin type

Take 2 tablespoons of fresh or dry mint, chamomile, calendula, or sage leaves. Pour 1-cup of boiling water over the herbs. Steep for 1 hour. Strain and wipe your face with a cotton wool soaked in this decoction. You can also add 1 teaspoon of honey. Use of this decoction is recommended for hot weather, as it cleanses, tones, and refreshes the skin. In the cold seasons, mix together a tablespoon of mint, half a glass of hot milk and leave for 30-40 minutes to steam.

Also the same way, you can brew:

For dry skin – linden, birch leaves.
For oily skin – horsetail, nettle.
Combination skin – parsley, bay leaf
For freckles – parsley, calendula, cornflower.
For aging skin – horsetail, calendula, mint, linden

Herbal facial wash recipes from herbal mixtures

For dry skin:

Mix equal proportions of dried flowers of linden, sage, chamomile, mint leaves, dill and fresh rose or rosehip petals. Mix 2 tablespoons of herbs with half a liter of cold water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Allow the toner to cool completely, then strain and use for daily face cleaning.

For dry and sensitive skin:

Take 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried rose petals, chamomile, jasmine and linden, and mix them with 1 cup of boiling water. Tightly cover and leave for about 2 hours, then strain out the petals. Wiping your face with this lotion each day promotes good nutrition and moisturizes skin.

Take 2 tablespoons of marshmallow root and combine with 1 cup of cool boiled water. Steep for a day. After straining, use this mixture as a toner to wipe your beautiful face.

For oily skin:

Mix equal amount of dried petals of daisies, cornflowers, calendula, chamomile and rose. Combine 1 tablespoon of these flowers with half a cup of boiling water. Simmer for 7-10 minutes on low heat. Then strain and use this as a cleanser.

For oily skin with pimples:

Take 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers and 2 teaspoons of calendula and St. John’s wort. Combine all the herbs with 1 cup of boiling water. Cover tightly and leave for 2-3 hours. Cleanse the skin with this infusion daily, or mix with water for washing in a 1:1 ratio.

For aging skin:

Take 1 teaspoon of each dried herb chamomile, horsetail, sage and linden. Combine with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 30-40 minutes. After wiping your face with this toner, use it to wash your skin in the morning and again in the evening. This cleanser will help prevent wrinkles.

So Ladies, have you ever tried herbal facial wash? Have you used herbs in your skin care routine? Please share your thoughts.

What are soap nuts?

Soap nuts are among the popular herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They can replace your liquid soaps, shampoos, face cleansers, as well as laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent and other household items. The amazing washing power of soap nuts is due to the fact that they contain saponin – a natural soapy substance that forms a thick foam when in contact with water.

Soap nuts for hair

I want to caution you, soap nuts can irritate your eyes! If they get into your eyes, it feels like red chili pepper was sprinkled into them. So wash your eye area very carefully. Also the smell of these nuts can be little disgusting. To me they smell like vinegar mixed with syrup. But I will tell you how to make them smell good if you keep reading below. By the way, the smell won’t get on your hair, skin or clothes. Don’t let this tiny issue scare you, because it is nothing when you consider the amazing benefits of the nut.

Soap nuts for hair are really amazing. They treat a number of diseases, such as a skin fungus, dandruff, and rashes on the body. It treats them by removing the causes of the disease. I mean it destroys the fungus, so that the problem disappears. The skin takes on a pristine state, free from flaking and irritation.

And these are not just empty words! I already did an experiment. The brave experimenter was my friend’s grandfather. He had washed his hair with conventional shampoo from the supermarket and had severe dandruff as a result. So we added few drops of shampoo (not that one he got dandruff from) to a soap nuts infusion. Actually the infusion can be used just on its own too. The first time you use this technique, you might find the absence of foam and the fact that it’s very liquid a bit odd, but believe me the results will exceed your expectations. And here is the most amazing part, after washing his hair twice, the dandruff disappeared! This is probably one of my successful experiments ever! So if you suffer from dandruff I strongly recommend you to try soap nuts.

Soap nuts can also be used to treat hair loss. I haven’t experimented with this yet, but I think the result will be also stunning, as I saw lots of very positive reviews over the Internet.

Soap nuts shampoo recipes

Soap nuts decoction

Using soap nuts can initially be troublesome. In order to make the decoction, you will have to boil nuts, and this should be done 1 – 2 times a week, because they can’t be stored longer. Also keep in mind that the shell of the nut is used, and not the nut itself.

To prepare the decoction, take 4 shells and pour them into a glass of water. Bring this to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes (boiling promotes the recovery of saponins and mixes them with water). The mixture that you get can be used as shampoo, liquid soap, shampoo for animals, cleaning detergent for dishes and other items. The absence of abundant foam will not affect the performance of the soap.

You can also use this decoction with other ingredients.

Here are some soap nuts recipes:

I boiled nuts in chamomile herbal tea- I just added one chamomile tea bag (you can use other herbs too), this way water will not have a bad smell while you are using it. Keep the liquid on your head for a minute, then massage and rinse off.

Here is another shampoo recipe. Take 2 tablespoons of mustard and mix it with boiling water until you have a thick cream consistency. Let this mixture sit for a couple of minutes, and then add 1 tablespoon of soap nuts decoction. You can use this as a simple shampoo.

You can also make the nut decoction into foam and use the foam to wash your hair. You can see more information about this in the video below.

If you fill that decoction hasn’t washed off thoroughly, use cider vinegar to rinse your hair.

Soap nuts for skin care

All owners of greasy, oily skin with blackheads and comedones, rejoice! These nuts can fix these problems also. Just use the soap nut decoction instead of your cleanser.

I am already using soap nuts on my skin, everyday in the morning and in the evening. I have noticed that my little red pimples have dried a little. I also love the feeling after washing my face; it’s like after using light baby soap. Also I can feel that all the impurities and excess of oil have been washed off and I can apply a moisturizer without worrying.

You can also use soap nuts instead of your shower gel. Just dip a bath sponge into the soap nuts and clean your body.

Soap nuts for laundry

I have just few words about using soap nuts for laundry. You can take 4 nuts and put them into a small cloth bag (which should come with the nuts) and just put this into a dishwasher or washing machine. You can use the same bag 3-4 times. The results are really great!

Benefits:

• Washing clothes, even with your hands, will no longer cause any dryness or irritation. Clothes will smell clean and like you used laundry detergent.
• You will remove another allergen and carcinogen from your daily life, as soap nuts from the laundry and the dishes wash off easily.

Where to buy soap nuts?

I bought mine from the local store; however, I also found some on the Internet. This online shop https://store.naturoli.com/ sells USDA and ECOCERT certified organic soap nuts. What is more amazing that they have beauty products based on soap nuts extract which is formulated with only the finest, pure healthy natural ingredients. Click here for more information.

Finally! Two weeks ago, I attended our local skin cream workshop. So many people wanted to participate. I had to wait about two weeks for the possibility to visit this amazing place. When I first stepped through the door, it was sheer paradise for me…LOL! So many natural smells, so many rare extracts, oils, butters and other ingredients. I just wanted to live there!

Actually I didn’t post about this event right after i attended. I wanted to test all the creams I made there, so i could provide you with the results of my tests as a guinea pig. I want to warn you straight away that the results are amazing!

The cream workshop

During this workshop, we created two facial creams of our choice from the offered list of recipes. I chose to make one cream for acne skin and the other one for dry, sensitive and acne prone skin. I chose the acne cream as a test treatment for my own acne prone skin. I made the other cream for my friend, as she has extremely sensitive and dry skin.

The first recipe contained shea butter as a main ingredient. The idea was to thoroughly mix shea butter with the other ingredients without heating them. When it’s not heated, shea butter has the great ability to absorb water and oils, so all proportions should be strictly followed.

Homemade facial cream recipe for acne skin

Ingredients:
5.2 g. shea butter
4 ml. tamanu (foraha) oil
3 ml. evening primrose oil
3 ml. avocado oil
14 ml. lavender hydrosol
2 drops rosemary extract
1 drop tea tree essential oil
1 drop citronella essential oil
1 drop atlas cedarwood essential oil

Instructions:

It is very simple to follow the recipe for this skin cream preparation. Put shea butter, tamanu, primrose, and avocado oils into a bowl and mix till you make a homogeneous substance. Make sure the medley is smooth and lump-free. Now it’s time to add the hydrosol. WAIT not so fast! The hydrosol should be added very, very slowly. To make this process easier, you can pour the hydrosol into a syringe. Add a few drops to the medley and mix till there is no water left. Then add a few more drops. Follow this process until the water and oil are properly integrated. Then add the essential oils.

Despite the fact that the cream contains 50% oil, you will find that this mixture is very light, soft and it absorbs into a skin in a blink of an eye. It leaves my skin very soft during the whole day, also my skin’s color noticeably improved. What is even better is that this cream has a shelf life of about 4 months, and there is no need to keep it at a refrigerator! The lovely lady from a workshop told me that rosemary extract works well to preserve this cream.

Actually this method of cream preparation that I learned turned upside down all my prior knowledge about skin creams. I believed that cream could not be prepared without an emulsifier; actually that is what all the books that I read on this topic said. Yet,It turns out that this indeed is possible with the help of high quality unrefined shea butter.

Facial cream recipe for dry and problematic skin

The other recipe on the list was called chamomile cream; I guess it is because it contains lots of chamomile in a different form. As I mentioned, this cream is perfect for dry, sensitive, and vascular skin that is prone to acne. You can use it on a oily skin too. However, it may be to greasy to use it as a day cream, so it is better if you apply it before going to bed.

Ingredients:

Oily phase:
3g emulsifying wax
5 ml calendula infusion
5 ml evening primrose oil
4 ml rosehip oil
4 ml macadamia oil
20 drops of wheat germ oil

Water phase:
40 ml chamomile hydrosol

Additives:
4 drops rosemary extract
3 drops chamomile extract
1 drop bergamot essential oil
You can add different essential oils, however, it’s very important that in total essential oils equal 3 – 4 drops and no more.

Instructions:

Put all the ingredients listed above in the oily phase into the heat-resistant bowl. Pour the hydrosol into another bowl. Place these to bowls in a double boiler. Wait till the wax melts and start mixing it with the other oils in the bowl. You can mix it with a mini mixer or a simple spoon. When you see that all oils are mixed, add the hydrosol while thoroughly mixing. Remove from the double boiler and continue to stir until you receive a paste. Don’t overdo it. When you notice that the medley takes on a consistency of a slightly liquid cream, add the ingredients in the additives category. Mix for few seconds. Check that the additives have properly mixed into the rest of the cream. Put this in a glass container.

As a result of this work, you will receive 50 ml of skin cream that smells like heavenly chamomile. The shelf life of this cream is also about 4 month without refrigeration. When you apply the cream onto your skin, you might first feel that it’s too greasy. However in less then a minute, the skin cream absorbs and leaves you with very soft and moisturized skin.

I have provided you with lots of facial cream recipes during last few weeks. Have you tried any? I’m very curious about the results .