When your beauty routine marries sustainability, you display an inner and outer glow. Many natural products benefit your skin more than harsh chemicals, and you do the planet a solid. What can you do for a sustainably radiant appearance? Selecting the right ingredients means analysing your skin type. You can experiment with adding various essential oils until you have a signature, individualized final product. Here’s how to take the first sustainable steps to better skin this summer, inclusive of all skin types.
Words: Mia Barnes
Image: Natasha Kendall on Unsplash
1. For Oily Skin
Image: Phaedra Botanicals on Unsplash
Does your skin’s shine highlight the occasional pimple? While you want an illuminated look, you don’t want to look like a slick in the rain. Add the following to your repertoire.
Best Carrier Oil — Hemp Seed Oil
The purpose of any moisturizer is to keep skin soft and dewy fresh. If you find your traditional cream tends to clog your pores, check the balance of linoleic acid to oleic acid. You might better know linoleic acids as omega-6s and alpha-linoleic acids as omega-3. While your body can produce some of the fatty acids it needs to function, it halts the manufacturing process with these two — meaning you need to add more for peak results.
Hemp seed oil is one of the richest plant-based, vegan sources of these essential fatty acids. It’s also low in oleic acid, which means it won’t clog your pores. Use it as a base with a drop or two of rose essential oil for fragrance.
Best Pore-Shrinker — Ice Roller
If you want to shrink your pores, keep a go-to ice roller gadget in your freezer. These devices tighten large pores and minimize acne-related redness. You won’t have to use it for long — in fact, you should check your skin after about five minutes to make sure you are not having a reaction. Use the roller a few times a day for a few minutes and you should start to see blemishes diminish.
Best Exfoliant — Apple and Oatmeal Scrub
Apples contain pectin, which binds with water and keeps skin looking plump while absorbing excess oil. The oatmeal sloughs pore-clogging dead cells while acting as a sponge for shiny noses.
2. For Dry Skin
Image: Bee Naturalles on Unsplash
If you have dry skin, you want both oleic acid — also known as omega-9 fatty acid — and linoleic acid. Oleic acid can clog pores, but it also replaces oils that your parched dermis lacks. Include the following in your weekly routine.
Best Carrier Oil — Olive Oil
You might find it odd to use this favorite salad dressing ingredient on your face, but it can do a lot of good. Some evidence suggests that dabbing olive oil around your eyes after sun exposure can help reduce wrinkles. It delivers a ton of antioxidants to fight the free radicals that cause cellular damage and oleic acid aplenty.
Best Wrinkle Plumper — Lemon Balm Leaf Tea
Lemon balm contains a compound called rosmarinic acid, which has powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. As such, it can help tame the occasional pimple that even the driest skin gets. Plus, it is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin’s surface, easing wrinkles. The best way to use it is to make it into a balm with a bit of beeswax. You can apply this preparation to your lips to fight cold sores, too.
Best Exfoliant — Blueberry and Honey Face Scrub
While you need to slough off dead cells, you don’t want to tug or tear at lax skin. Blueberries infuse your skin with rich antioxidants, and the honey both moisturizes and kills any harmful microbes. The sugar removes the layer of ashiness gently.
3. For Combination Skin
Image: Vya Naturals on Unsplash
Are you one of the many with an oily T-zone and dry cheeks? If so, try the following sustainable ingredients when making homemade skincare products.
Best Carrier Oil — Argan Oil
Argan oil contains the ideal blend of linoleic and oleic acids, making it work for any skin type. Many find it doesn’t clog pores and absorbs without leaving a greasy residue.
Best Scrub for a Radiant Glow — Dark Chocolate and Coffee Scrub
If you want to indulge, coffee shop style, make a facial scrub from coffee grounds and cocoa powder. The caffeine tightens your pores while the cocoa provides antioxidants. Follow this treatment with a creamy chocolate mask, which you can let dry while you sip your favorite mocha.
Make Your Self-Care Routine More Sustainable and Improve Any Skin Type
You don’t have to harm the planet with plastic and chemicals to get radiant skin. Follow the instructions above for a healthy appearance, no matter what your skin type!