The Non-Toxic Skincare Routine From My Pantry That Really Works

Clean beauty at its cleanest.

One day I found myself sweeping through my bathroom shelf of skincare products and dumping the whole lot of bottles and jars. Struggling with adult acne and dry skin plus dry and itchy spots had me fed up. After realizing that my philosophy about what I put on my skin was not matching my philosophy about what I put into my body, it was time to cut the lifeline of the costly creams and potions.

Having dabbled in DIY beauty with apple cider vinegar hair conditioner and sugar scrubs, I thought I was ready to go au naturale with my skincare routine. There was a lot of pep in my fingertips as I googled “homemade face moisturizer” and “DIY face mask”, but I was always deflated by the need to have something like cocoa butter on hand.

Seriously, who keeps that stuff around?

I don’t remember exactly what inspired me to start opening jars and putting pantry ingredients directly on my face, but it quickly became clear there was something to this renegade skincare approach.

What was most surprising is that nothing from my kitchen caused any negative reaction on my skin, which I had until this point believed was very sensitive. There wasn’t even the dreaded “transition period” of breakouts or oiliness. Turns out, my skin isn’t so sensitive to clean and natural ingredients.

A smooth transition may not be the case for everyone, but I was more than willing to take the risk if it meant getting away from the nasty chemicals that are lurking in beauty products, even those marketed as natural. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your health and the environment.

Note: avoid applying anything to your skin that you have an allergy or sensitivity to.

I also quickly learned that I got all the same benefits my previous products had promised — if not more — and without side effects like dryness or greasiness. There’s the tiniest amount of these basic ingredients in some beauty products, and they carry a premium price tag to boast their capabilities.

The DIY Skin Care Game Plan

You’ll need only two ingredients that are very possibly in your pantry right now:

1. Raw honey
2. A high quality cooking oil such as sesame, coconut, sunflower or even olive oil

Benefits of these clean beauty natural skincare ingredients include:

• Deep hydration
• Gentle exfoliation
• Oil/sebum regulating
• Blemish fighting power
• Scar healing
• Dark spot brightening
• Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles

The only other thing you’ll need is a washcloth. If you need to remove makeup, grab some tissues or cotton balls.

Whether you’re ready to go cold turkey on your skincare routine or just want to incorporate some natural options, here’s my tried and true DIY clean beauty routine for healthy, glowing skin.

Wash Your Face Daily

Washing your face is always the first step to a skincare routine, and for good reason. You want to remove any products you might be wearing as well as sediment from the environment that may have settled on your skin.

HOW TO

1. If you have makeup on, use a few drops of the oil of your choice on the cotton swab to remove it. For more stubborn makeup, hold the swab on the area for a few moments before swiping away.
2. Wash your face with a washcloth and lukewarm water only. Be sure not to rub around your eyes or scrub at your skin. A gentle wipe over your face, neck and lips is plenty to exfoliate and clean your skin without causing irritation. Let your skin air dry.

This step replaced drugstore makeup remover and an exfoliating face wash in my beauty routine. Once I realized that a washcloth and water could exfoliate without the drying chemicals, I never looked back!

Use a Raw Honey Face Mask As Needed

Honey is a lifesaver in dry weather when skin gets dry and flakey. It also has antibacterial properties, making it a great natural acne treatment.

You don’t need to use this mask daily to get the benefits. Just like most masks, one to three times per week is plenty. This will keep your skin plump and hydrated thanks to honey’s hygroscopic properties that help your skin attract and retain moisture. Be sure to use raw honey to get the antioxidant benefits your skin absorbs and uses to regenerate cells.

HOW TO

1. Slather an even coating onto your clean and dry face and neck. Be sure to avoid the eye area, but you can apply it to your lips for hydration — yum!
2. If your skin needs more exfoliating, take advantage of the raw honey crystals by rubbing in small circles as you apply.
3. Rinse after three to ten minutes. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

Keep a jar of raw honey in your bathroom to replace face masks, spot treatments and acne treatments.

Moisturize With a High Quality Oil

Face oil products used to sound like an oxymoron to me. I had acne-prone skin and thought using oil on my face would result in a blemish-covered nightmare. So I was pleasantly surprised when I learned the sesame oil already in my cupboard was exactly the tonic my skin needed. It helped balance my oily t-zone and resolved chronically dry spots on my chin and neck.

You may need to do some experimenting to determine which oil is best for your skin. Some good places to start are coconut, sesame or sunflower oil. Find an oil that is minimally processed. For coconut oil this means virgin, cold-pressed and unrefined. Sesame, sunflower and grapeseed oil should be unrefined and cold or expeller-pressed. If you choose to use olive oil, be aware it is more viscous, but if it is your preference be sure it is extra virgin and first press.

Note: Choose organic whenever possible. Your skin is going to be drinking it up!

HOW TO

1. Pull that hair up! You don’t want to get greasy locks.
2. After washing, air drying and possibly honey-treating your skin, add a few drops of oil to your hands. If you opted for coconut oil, a half pea-sized dollop is plenty in its solid state. Rub it between your hands for even application.
3. Using upward strokes, apply the oil to your face and neck avoiding the eye area. Keep your hair away from your face for at least 10 minutes.
4. Wash your hands before touching your hair or anything else.

Tip: It’s also a good idea to let the oil set for at least 10 minutes before applying makeup.

Replace your day cream, night cream, moisturizer and makeup remover with a small squeeze or dropper bottle of oil for easy application. Coconut oil can be kept in a jar.

What does your DIY clean beauty routine look like? Share in the comments below!