Our liver detoxifies everything that goes onto our skin and in our mouths. It filters out harmful ingredients in order to purify our blood. Applying chemicals every day to our skin can cause significant problems for the liver, even in the seemingly harmless form of face wash.
The good news is, you don’t need to resort to those pricey face wash products anymore. There are some wonderful natural remedies you can use instead that not only work well, but will also provide you with other benefits too. So, let’s take a look at some of the most effective and natural ingredients to clean your face without chemicals.
Makeup remover: try coconut oil
One of the best places to start in your natural face care routine is the makeup remover you use (for the ladies, if you use any). Most makeup removers on the market contain alcohol, which can dry out the skin. Furthermore, the alcohol you apply to your skin is processed by the liver, just like other forms of alcohol. So instead of alcohol, use coconut oil, which removes bacteria and can help prevent dryness. Coconut oil also helps relieve redness and acts as an antifungal due to high amounts of bacteria-killing acids known as lauric acid and caprylic acid. Even though it’s an oil, when rinsed thoroughly from the skin, coconut oil should not cause a breakout or leave an oily residue. Men can also use coconut oil to wash off dirt and debris — it will moisturize too.
Toner options: apple cider vinegar and lemon juice
Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice can both be used as a toner to tighten the skin, cleanse pores, and help reduce blackheads, acne and overall oiliness. Alcohol is found in many toners on the market, so it’s smart to quit using commercial toners along with makeup remover. Apple cider vinegar is quite effective, but if you don’t like the smell, go with lemon juice instead. Try to not go overboard with these, however, since acetic acid may lead to breakouts if used in excess. A small amount used every day can actually help clear the skin by balancing pH levels.
Natural cleansing options: witch hazel, jojoba oil and tea tree oil
You’ll also want to make a natural cleansing wash, which you can do with three wonderful ingredients known to heal and cleanse the skin. Witch hazel removes blackheads and breakouts. Jojoba oil helps with acne and pimple scars and can heal skin tissue associated with blackheads; it also prevents dryness. Tea tree oil is one of the most popular natural antifungal treatments, and it also helps remove a variety of bacterial infections including skin breakouts. Lastly, include a pinch of natural sea salt, which will extend the life of the mixture and will act to purify the skin even more. Pure sea salt is rich in cleansing minerals that prevent and treat acne all in one.
To make a face wash, mix these ingredients in a BPA-free dispenser or a mason jar:
Natural face wash mixture
- 8 ounces water
- 2 tablespoons witch hazel
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 2 teaspoons tea tree oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (Himalayan pink sea salt works nicely)
Dab a little of the mixture on a cloth to wash your face. Store in a cool place in your bathroom — it should last for a couple of months.
Other benefits of these natural ingredients
The ingredients mentioned here aren’t just effective at cleansing your skin; they also come with an array of health benefits. Since your skin absorbs these materials and they end up in the bloodstream, let’s look at a few final reasons why they’re worth trying.
Coconut oil:
This miracle oil that so many people love these days has been shown to help and prevent many types of skin conditions and bacterial infections. These include candida and its symptoms (jock itch and fungal infections), bad breath, tooth decay, dandruff, and head lice. It has also been shown to help detox the liver. Applying coconut oil on the skin can directly help your liver by protecting it against harmful bacteria from the environment, so it acts as both a shield and a detox agent. Please be sure to purchase only certified organic extra-virgin coconut oil to ensure you are getting the absolute best kind for your body.
Apple cider vinegar:
Well known as one of the most cleansing remedies of all time, the cultures in apple cider vinegar help to promote the growth of good bacteria to keep our bodies healthy. Chemicals and synthetic ingredients do not support our healthy bacteria, and may actually kill off these good bugs in the body. So it’s great to use apple cider vinegar both internally and externally whenever you can. Choose raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar with “the mother,” which is the name used for the healthy cultures it contains.
This vinegar has been shown to help with cleansing and purifying the blood, reducing acne, balancing blood sugar, preventing candida overgrowth, and reducing inflammation. You can see some others uses of this miracle elixir by checking out more ways to use it here.
Lemon juice:
This simple ingredient can do so many things for your skin. It helps remove blackheads and blemishes, and it provides instant vitamin C to the skin. Vitamin C is necessary for the maintenance and production of collagen, which maintains a youthful glow and prevents fine lines and wrinkles. Obtaining your vitamin C from food is of course important too; however, applying it to your skin can also be effective. Since lemon acts as antibacterial agent, it’s one of the best treatments you can apply topically instead of synthetic vitamin C treatments. It also has a nice clean scent and dries quite quickly.
Witch hazel:
Don’t let the name of this skin healer scare you away. Witch hazel is merely an ornamental shrub that grows in America and parts of Asia. The tincture, which is made from the bark and leaves, is used in everything from natural cleaning products to natural face wash products. Witch hazel can help shrink pores, remove blackheads and aid in overall toning of the skin, making it a great natural ingredient to include in a face wash.
Tea tree oil:
This essential oil comes from the tea tree plant native to Australia and has been used since the 1920s as an antiseptic. Tea tree oil has been shown to help with acne, systemic candida, bad breath, lice, athlete’s foot, jock itch, cold sores, earaches and respiratory problems.
Jojoba oil:
Jojoba oil has been used for many years as a moisturizer for both the skin and hair. Many people fear using natural oils like jojoba oil, but it’s important to remember that our skin needs natural oils to protect it. When it becomes too dry, bacteria seeps into the skin and can cause breakouts and redness. Jojoba oil can help keep the skin moisturized without producing acne, especially when it is combined with cleansing ingredients such as those in the face wash recipe above. It is commonly used on the face and body to help reduce irritated skin associated with acne and eczema.
Removing toxic chemicals from our lives one step at a time can have tremendous benefits for our body. As we decrease these foreign agents, our bodies will have more energy and begin to feel better. What else can we change in our skincare routine to assist with reducing chemical exposure?
—The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/skin_care/
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/14-reasons-why-witch-hazel-should-be-in-every-home/
http://draxe.com/tea-tree-oil-uses-benefits/
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-use-jojoba-oil.html/2
