9 Of The Best Natural Remedies For Glowing Skin
When you’re suffering from dry or oily skin, you’ve battled acne for years, or a pesky pimple pops up on date night, your instinct might be to reach for a bottled product from your bathroom cabinet, or your local drugstore.
But what if I told you there may be a better product out there that is way cheaper, and better for your skin and overall health?
Natural home remedies to achieve glowing skin aren’t new, but they are becoming increasingly popular; especially as knowledge on nutrition and skincare is becoming more widely available.
“Over-the-counter products can have a ton of ingredients in them—they not only contain the active moisturizing products, but they also have preservatives,” says Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD.
Most store-bought products are water-based instead of oil-based; and contain alcohol, fragrances, and preservatives which are not kind to our skin or our planet. Sometimes, the simplest products and routines can be the most effective, particularly if you have sensitive skin.
Most of these natural remedies can be picked up on the cheap in the supermarket, and whipped up in under five minutes with minimal fuss.
What’s not to love?
Here are our favourite 9 natural remedies for glowing skin.
1. Water
Most of us are severely hydrated, and often we don’t even realise it. Our bodies our mostly made of water, and need plenty of it to function and to keep your skin clear and glowing.
But when we reach for caffeinated and carbonated drinks, we can be tricked into thinking we’re hydrating, when we’re actually doing the total opposite.
How much water you need each day depends on your size, the climate you live in, as well as how active you are. But generally, experts recommend drinking between 9 and 13 cups per day.
A great way to manage this is fill a large 2 litre bottle of water at the start of the day, and make it your mission to finish it before you go to bed. I used to do this when I worked in an office, and placed it on my desk where I could always see it and be reminded to stay hydrated.
On top of this, drinking plenty of water can also alleviate menstrual cramps during the bleeding phase of your cycle, but opt for warm or hot water if you can.
2. Aloe Vera
If you’ve ever been to a tropical country and gotten sunburn, you’ll probably have experienced locals telling you to get yourself some aloe vera. But this isn’t all it’s good for.
Aloe vera is known to reduce dry skin irritation and redness, clear acne breakouts, frostbite and cold sores, stimulate new cell growth, and moisturise without clogging your pores.
It’s packed with vitamins A and E, antioxidants, and healthy enzymes. Use it as a face lotion, or when you’ve got a stubborn breakout.
If you can get your hands on the fresh leaves, that’s best. But a pure bottled gel version will still work wonders.
3. Baking soda
Most of us use baking soda when making delicious cakes, but it doubles up as an exfoliant; and, it’s one of the best natural remedies for achieving glowing skin.
You can mix baking soda with almost all the other ingredients on this list to create a paste, which you then rub onto your skin in a circular motion. Try water, honey, coconut oil, olive oil, or papaya. Experiment, and see what works best for your skin.
4. Tea Tree Oil
This natural oil comes from the leaves of the Australian tea tree, and smells divine. Plus, you can find it in most drugstores, or online.
All you need is a few drops on a cotton face pad, and gently wipe it over a cleansed face. Pay extra attention to any spots or breakout zones. And if you have sensitive skin, dilute the oil in some carrier oil first, or opt for a ready mixed blend.
5. Coconut Oil
I’ve been using coconut oil for years, and I cannot sing its praises enough. I use it to moisturise my dry and flaky skin, I use it as a hair mask (which I leave in for a few hours or overnight), and I also use it as lube too.
It’s magic.
Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and multiple healing properties, and can be used to:
- Repair the skin
- Reduce inflammation
- Remove makeup
- Soothe your skin barrier
- Create dewy, glowing skin
If you have particularly dry feet or hands, you can apply coconut oil all over, then slip some thick socks or nonlatex gloves on. Leave it overnight, or wash it off before going to sleep if you prefer.
It smells lovely when mixed with sugar or baking soda to create a natural exfoliating scrub.
6. Honey
Raw, unpasteurised honey contains healthy bacteria, and has endless benefits for the skin; including reducing inflammation and irritation, healing and lightening scars, removing dead skin cells and naturally exfoliating, moisturising and treating acne.
Honey has a wonderful oozy texture which means you can apply it directly onto your face and skin on its own, or mix it with other ingredients for multiple benefits. Honey and cinnamon are known to be a great combo for combatting acne. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off.
7. Papaya
Papaya (when it’s ripe) contains an enzyme called papain, which works as a wonderfully mild skin exfoliator. Fruit enzymes are brilliant natural remedies for glowing skin.
Mix with baking soda to scrub away dead skin cells, or with some honey to soothe and firm your skin, and leave it feeling oh so soft.
8. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a handy natural ingredient to soothe eczema, and rehydrate dry skin. Pop a cup into the bath next time you’re taking a soak. Your skin will naturally retain more moisture than it normally does.
Baths are a great way to try out natural remedies to achieve lush, glowing skin. You can add in your favourite natural oils to moisturise your skin, and build your natural skin barrier back up.
Try adding a few tablespoons of coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, or avocado oil under the running tap. When you’re done soaking in the tub, pat your skin dry after to avoid rubbing off the oil.
9. Tea bags
The skin under and around our eyes is incredibly delicate; and can suffer from swelling and fatigue as well as hyper-pigmentation.
Tea bags can act as the perfect cold or warm compress for the eye area. Green tea in particular is known to be good for the skin, since it has anti-inflammatory properties; and can also be used to create an all-over face mask.
Soak two tea bags in warm water for around 10 minutes. Remove them, and squeeze out the excess water. Then lay them over your eyes right away, or pop them in the fridge for 20 minutes, lie back, and relax.
There are endless natural remedies to achieve glowing skin
We all have different skin types, along with different concerns. If you’ve struggled to find an over-the-counter product that actually works, then give these natural ingredients a try. They’re easy to find, won’t break the bank, and are kinder to your skin as well as the planet.
Experiment, have fun, and see what works for you. And remember to always do a patch test on a small area of skin, just in case you have an allergic reaction.