My Face Care Plan has Only 3 Natural Ingredients!

 Yup. Three ingredients for my entire face. Magic? I think so. Here is what I do to take care of my face using only 3 ingredients:

Clean: Baking Soda

Yup, the same basic stuff you use to bake tasty delights in the kitchen, or in toothpaste to clean your teeth.

I usually put maybe 1/4 to 1/2 tsp into my hand, and add just enough water to make a paste, and then I gently rub into my face. Careful, this is definitely an exfoliator, so be extra gentle!! As you rub it into your face, you can sort of feel it start to get oily as it picks up oils from your face. I rinse with water, and if my face still feels oily, I add a little more baking soda, and repeat the process.



Research shows, this stuff can prevent acne, lighten scars, and is both anti-fungal and antibacterial so it can also help prevent future pimples. It can also help treat eczema which I suffer from occasionally in the dry, winter months. Score!!

Acne Spot Treatment: Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant. Some people use it in place of triple antibiotic ointment. It also helps to dry out your pimples. Some studies have shown that is is equally effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide, which it a common ingredient in spot treatment creams. It's good stuff! Make sure to use sparingly, as it (surprisingly) can over-dry your face. 

To use, I usually wet one of my "face scrubbies" with water, place it on top of the open bottle, and with my finger firmly over the opening in the little jar, I shake once to get a tiny (less than a drop) amount onto the cloth scrubbie, and apply to the areas that need it. Repeat until the pimple is gone! 

You can buy it HERE. It runs a bit pricey for my tastes, but I have been using the SAME BOTTLE for almost 2 years!! Disclosure: I use this as a spot treatment only for the most part, and only when I have an annoying, painful pimple i can't ignore. Not everyday. But still, it lasts much longer than you would think, and is way less expensive than some of the fancy pants brands out there!

Moisturize: Almond Oil 

I have gone back and forth between a couple different moisturizers, but this one seems to work the best for me, at least when it is winter. I may switch to aloe in the summer, when my face actually produces enough oils by itself for the most part. This is the brand I use. I think it is important to get Sweet Almond Oil, instead of regular almond oil, but I'm not sure why. Something about the smell, I think.

The thing I really like about it, is that is absorbs into my skin within minutes, and I don't have to feel mildly greasy all day. In addition, it acts as a sunblock so keep away harmful sum beam rays of death!

To apply, I simply put 1 drop of it into my hand, rub my hands together, and then lightly pat onto my face. I will rub it in a little, but very gently and after I pat it on, so that I don't get too much in any area.

Note: For those of you that use makeup, almond oil is great at getting rid of mascara and other eye makeup. It also moisturizes the eye area so that you can keep wrinkles away. YAY! I can't vouch for foundation and the like, since I don't use any.

Lovely Comfort Healing Tea

Along with the Tomato Soup from the last post, here is a comforting tea to soothe the sniffles and sore throats away. Boil some water and add these ingredients to make a tasteful remedy to scare away illness.(sorry, no pictures)

1 bag Green tea

Full of antioxidants and fights bacteria

1 TBS Honey

Remedy for sore throats, also increases energy and helps recover the immune system

Squeeze of Lemon

Contains vitamin C and helps protect the body from free radicals

Small amount grated Ginger (or powdered ginger in the spice cabinet)

Helps with sore throats and chills

Hopefully this warm beverage will put you back on your feet soon just like it did me! :)

Note: I am not in any way a doctor, nor do I assume to know any risks involved with this or any other natural remedy, though I can't imagine any of these ingredients to cause serious harm to the consumer since they are all common kitchen ingredients. Just ingest at your own risk. I did research all of these ingredients though, so my descriptions of their supposed benefits should match up with any found on other webpages or natural healing literature that you may find. 

Common Cold Hurry Up Remedy~ Tomato Soup

 Feeling a bit under the weather, I decided to stay home and mix up one of my favorite comfort foods, tomato soup.  Here is a couple things you can add to the soup to make it a natural remedy. It may not speed up the cold, but it sure helps make it more manageable. Just add these ingredients to a regular can of tomato soup to make a tasty alternative to pills and Vick's.

1 clove garlic, chopped 

Garlic combats infection as it is antibacterial. In addition, its spicy kick help clear the sinuses. Just put it into the tomato soup, it should still taste a bit raw when you come across it in the soup, but this increases the sinus clearing and is more effective as a healer. If your stomach is a bit weak, I would suggest skipping this ingredient or sauteing it a bit, as I have heard it may upset the stomach in some. I have never had this problem.

1 tsp Oregano

Oregano is packed with antioxidants and vitamin K. Fresh or in oil form is more ptent, but dried is fine and tastes great in this yummy soup.

1 Green onion, chopped

Green onions aid in recovering immunity and healthy digestion.

1 bay leaf

Said to aid digestion, lower blood sugar levels and is anti-fungal and antibacterial.

Crushed red pepper (the kind used on pizza)

Also increases draining of the sinuses. In addition, it increases blood flow, decreases any pain, and boosts the immune system. Put enough in to be able to notice the kick. I probably put in 1-2 tsp.

Add ingredients and heat according to directions on the can of soup. 

Now sit back and enjoy the healing properties of your old spice cabinet. I suggest pouring the soup into a large mug and sipping it directly. Spoons are too much work when you are sick :)

Note: I am not in any way a doctor, nor do I assume to know any risks involved with this or any other natural remedy, though I can't imagine any of these ingredients to cause serious harm to the consumer since they are all common kitchen ingredients. Just ingest at your own risk. I did research all of these ingredients though, so my descriptions of their supposed benefits should match up with any found on other webpages or natural healing literature that you may find.