Our grandmothers may not have known ‘alpha-hydroxyacid’, but they sure knew how to make simple effective beauty products with what they had to hand. And we can learn from them slow-beauty preparations with easy to find ingredients. If you’re into DIY, free-from skincare and lower waste living - -

Time to raid the kitchen cabinets...

OATS AND HONEY - FACE MASK OR SCRUB

Oats, honey, herbal tea and a couple of easy add ins make for an excellent at home facial:

For this, I gave the oats a quick whirl in the coffee mill to get a softer texture. Add a tablespoon of honey, add warm tea to make the consistency you’re going for

Apply to clean skin and allow to mostly dry (if it gets too dry, mist with floral water or dampen with more tea — if you gently scrub the mask off in the style of a gommage, you’ll give yourself a little extra exfoliation. Especially good around the jawline, chin and hairline— be extra careful around eyes, cheekbones and forehead

In the 90s this was practically the ONLY way to be sure your skincare was free of janky chemicals

I got lucky and had this pure local honey from @bornonatrain and tea from @pureishvari - use what you have!

Why oats? They’re gentle. They contain saponins which are cleansing agents that break down oils and dead skin cells. They remove debris clogging up your pores. Oats condition skin without activating sensitivities and oats have been shown to reduce irritation and inflammation. ——— I still rely on basic masks like this in the studio and customize for the needs of your skin - you can customize yours, too with what you have at home:

If you have essential oils around- good spring choices are rosemary, lime and pink grapefruit (just 1 drop of each, or a 3-5 of one) — of course you can let your nose guide you and choose something else

A little matcha or turmeric or cacao would be good add-ins

The zine we have been using for our workshops is now free to view and download: HERE

ALL THE STEPS FOR A HOME FACIAL

it’s a season change, so your skin is ready

1. Massage a good quality oil into your face, neck and décolletage (upper chest): 2-3 minutes

2. Use your favorite cleanser

3. Then grab a little nut flour: chic pea, rice bran, almond meal or ground oat meal

4. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric

5. Add 1 T honey

6. Mix with warm water and apply to the face, neck etc

7. Leave 7-10 minutes

8. Remove

9. With warm cloths or rinse in the shower

10. mist with floral water or hydrosol if you have it

11. MOISTURIZE (Feel free to add a few drops of floral or citrus essential oils at any point, Rosemary, frankincense, lavender and rose are good too - no thyme, clove or cinnamon!)

Your skin is a front line defender against infection: All this excellent hand washing with harsh detergents and use of hand sanitizers will break down the acid mantle which protects your skin. So keep up the good fight, but don’t forget to nourish the skin so it can continue to defend itself - and you

We also recommend: drinking LOTS of water, dry brushing, sauna, and a diet rich in leafy greens because your skin is a reflection of the heath on the inside. Nothing really replaces a visit to your facialist, esthetician or massage therapist, but at home facials are an excellent way to maintain the health and glow of your skin.

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