Natural Facial Cleansers

Choosing the right facial cleanser is integral to the success of your regular skin care routine.  Some faces need require a gentle touch, while others need something a little more astringent, or exfoliating.  No matter what your skin care needs are, creating something all natural, and tailor made to your needs, is sure to make your skin happy. 

The simplest to create, and my personal favorites, are facial scrubs.  To put it simply, scrubs are made by combining an exfoliant with a wetting agent.  When it comes to facial scrubs, I prefer to use the most gentle exfoliants possible.  The delicate skin on your face doesn't need much scrubbing power if it is exfoliated regularly, and it can actually be damaged by too much rough scrubbing.  When you look for a facial exfoliant, consider its shape, grain size, and composition.  Some of my favorites are Oat Flour, Banslochan (Bamboo) Powder, Adzuki Bean Powder, and Almond Flour.  Unless it has been specially milled for use in facials, try to avoid harsh exfoliants such as salt, sugar, or pumice.  These heavy duty exfoliants should be reserved for the body or feet.  There are countless possibilities for wetting agents.  Try to choose one that will be beneficial to your skin type. 

The simplest, and most neutral wetting agent to use is water.  Spring water or Distilled Water are best, but plain old tap water will do just fine.  Hydrosols are a great choice for custom made facial scrubs.  They have a huge range of properties that can suit all kinds of skin types.  Some are astringent, others are soothing, and some even tout anti-aging properties.  Fresh milk or yogurt is another great choice.  These natural dairy products contain lactic acids, which can help to brighten the skin by exfoliating very gently.  Some other ideas for wetting agents are green or herbal tea, diluted juices, or facial creams. 

You can enhance Facial Scrubs by including Powdered Extracts, CO2 Extracts, Essential Oils, or Moisturizing Facial Oils.  Whatever recipe you create, keep in mind that it should be used immediately, as these types of formulas don't tend to keep well.  I recommend storing the dry portion and wet portion separately, and combining enough for each serving as you use it.  This will not only provide you with the freshest Facial Scrub possible, it will help to avoid the hassle of including preservatives in your recipe.

Comments

[Michele]

Hi. I just came across your site and wanted more info on how to create facial cleansers, moisturizers and toners, naturally. Also, what order should you use these products? Also, can these products be used on ethnic skin and hair, such as African American?

Thanks

[The Natural Beauty Workshop]

Hi Michele.  We have several articles on facial formulations that I think youll enjoy:

Creating Natural Facial Cleansers: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2011/09/creating-everyday-facial-cleansers-from-natural-ingredients.html

All Natural Facial Toners: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2012/02/make-your-own-all-natural-facial-toners.html

Moisturizing Facial Oils: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2007/12/creating-moistu.html

Youll find even more recipes on our Facial Recipes page: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/face.html

You can use cleansers, toners, facial masks, and moisturizers individually, or as part of a regular routine.  Facial masks should be used once or twice per week, then followed by a toner and a moisturizer.  Cleansers can be used daily, and should be followed by a toner, then a moisturizer.  All skin types vary, so be sure to use recipes and ingredients that suit your needs.  While ethnicity can be a factor in determining your skin or hair type, your individual skin condition, hair texture, and sensitivity matter most.  Pay attention to your skins reaction to different ingredients and recipes, and choose your next formula accordingly.