au naturale

Some of you out there prefer to use natural scrubs and face masks. Lucky for you, I do too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not gonna give up my Clean and Clear Morning Burst, but I like to do the natural thing, too.

There are tons of ingredients you can use to make cleansers, scrubs, and masks. Here are a few that I have used and that I like.

Milk and honey cleanser. Gently warm 1 teaspoon of honey until it is runny, but not hot. You don't want to burn yourself, after all. Add the honey to 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix well, and apply to face. The milk cleans the skin while the honey helps your skin maintain its natural moisture.

Oatmeal and baking soda scrub. Combine about 2 tablespoons plain oats with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix with just enough water to make a paste, and apply to face. This scrub is gentle on the skin. The oatmeal absorbs oil and impurities on the surface of your skin, while the baking soda deep cleans your pores.

Wheat germ and applesauce mask. Combine equal parts wheat germ and natural applesauce (I usually do about 1 tablespoon of each). Gently spread this mixture over your clean face. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. The wheat germ gently exfoliates while the apple provides nutrients to your skin.

Avocado face mask. This is the easiest one. Smash up half an avocado and spread over your face. Put some cucumber slices over your eyes while you let all that avocado goodness sink in. Rinse after 10-15 minutes. This treatment is both nourishing and moisturizing, leaving you with soft, healthy skin.

Strawberry face mask. Okay, so this one might be just as easy as the avocado one. Smash up a few strawberries, and apply to the face. Be careful with the juice, though, since you don't want it dripping on your shirt. This one is soothing if you have a bad case of sunburn. Or even a mild case. Even if you don't have sunburn, strawberries help reduce the oil in your face. They are also a great remedy for under eye circles and puffiness.

I like these recipes because they are easy-peasy, and the ingredients aren't hard to come by. Feel free to try your own combinations to see what works best for your skin. You can also try adding other foods to the mix. Lemon juice is a natural astringent, for example.

In any case, you can feel great about using homemade scrubs, cleansers, and masks because they are natural and inexpensive. Give it a whirl!