Discover Your Skin Type and Beautify it Naturally

In my last post I discussed with you the simple steps to a quick and easy skin care routine, but this means nothing if you don't even know what your skin type is. Yes, it's true. If you didn't already know, every person has a specific type of skin. Some peoples skin is dry, some sensitive, some oily, some normal, and some are a combination of a few, but depending on this you need to treat your skin accordingly. It isn't hard to determine your skin type, you just need to know what to look for.

For those that never thought of it, I'm going to give you a simple explanation of each skin type and then a few easy skin care recipes that you can make at home. Enjoy!

Oily Skin

Oily skin tends to be shiny with enlarged pores and is prone to blackheads, blemishes, pimples and acne. If you have oily skin you need to be very gentle and do not treat it harshly. You need products that will gently cleanse the oils from the skins surface and unclog pores, but at the same time they should not damage the skin or cause it to dry out. Water is very important to keep oily skin supple and soft.


Thyme Cleanser

1 tbsp Milk
1 heaped tsp Wheatmeal Flour
1 level tsp Cornflour (cornstarch)
2 tbsp Thyme Infusion (An infusion is made just like making a cup of tea)

Put the milk, flour and cornflour into a glass jar standing in hot water, and stir until it begins to thicken. Add the thyme infusion and stir in well. Allow to cool and apply to your face in circular, gentle motions, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Buttermilk Toner 

Smooth the buttermilk over your face and neck, and allow to dry for ten to fifteen minutes. This toner is gently astringent and restores the acid mantle to the skin, which oily skin lacks. Rinse off with tepid water and blot dry.

Chamomile, Licorice and Fennel Mask

2 tbsp Fennel Seed Infusion
2 tbsp mild Chamomile Infusion
1 tsp Licorice Root Powder
1 tbsp Honey
Oatmeal Flour to thicken

To make a fennel seed infusion, infuse half a tablespoon of crushed fennel seeds in half a cup of boiling water until it cools completely. Combine the infusions, the licorice powder and the honey, then thicken to a soft paste with some oatmeal flour. Apply to your face and neck, and leave it on for fifteen to twenty minutes until it has set. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Dry Skin 

Dry skin usually feels tight, especially after cleansing and it has a tendency towards having fine wrinkles, flaking skin and red patches. The main focus if you are a sufferer of dry skin is to restore moisture. As with oily skin, use gentle products and avoid soaps and toner that dry your skin out even more.


Apricot and Avocado Cleanser

4 tbsp Apricot Oil
4 tbsp Avocado Oil
2 tbsp Mineral Water

Beat all the ingredients together with an electric beater, this should make the mixture light, white and creamy in texture. Transfer to a sterilised bottle or jar and shake well before use. Apply to you skin a circular motion, then rinse with tepid water, leaving some of the oils on your skin to nourish through the night. When stored properly, this cleanser can keep fresh and be used for up to two months.

Oatmeal and Yogurt Facial Scrub
 
2 tbsp fine Oatmeal
2 tbsp Plain Yogurt
1 tbsp Almond Oil

Place the oatmeal in a bowl and gradually mix in the yogurt and almond oil, then leave the oatmeal to soften for five minutes. Gently massage the mixture into your face and neck for about five minutes, avoiding the area directly around your eyes, then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Cucumber and Coconut Moisturiser

7.5 cm (3 inch) piece Cucumber
Pinch Borax
1 tsp Lanolin
1 tsp Cocoa Butter
1 tbsp Beeswax
2 tbsp Coconut Oil

Finely chop the cucumber and press it in a sieve to extract the juice (there should be about two tablespoons worth). Warm the juice and dissolve the borax in it. Place the lanolin, cocoa butter, beeswax and coconut oil in a bowl set in a saucepan of water and melt on a low heat. Remove entirely from the heat and beat in the cucumber juice until the mixture has cooled down. Store in a sterilised jar and apply like in upward and outward motions, and continue use for up to six weeks.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores, it flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries and is frequently allergic and rashy. If you have babies, or children, whether their skin is rashy or not, it is better to always consider their skin a sensitive. As with the above skin types, you need to be incredibly gentle. Avoid scented products and scents in general as they tend to cause itching and dryness as well as rashes, and moisturise skin thoroughly.

Olive Oil Cleanser

2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Honey

Mix the ingredients together and apply to your face and neck, rubbing in with the fingertips. Wash off with a mild chamomile infusion. It may be necessary to warm the oil and honey a little in cold weather as the honey tends to become rather granular.

Honey Toning Lotion

Mix half a teaspoon of honey with one tablespoon of warmed, distilled water. Apply to your face and neck and leave to dry for half an hour. Gently rinse off and pat dry.

Chamomile and Honey Mask

2 tbsp Unprocessed Bran
3 tbsp Chamomile Flower Infusion
1 tsp melted Honey

Mix all the ingredients together. I will warn you, this mask is crumbly, but smooth it over your face and neck and leave for ten minutes. Wash off with a mild or diluted chamomile infusion and blot dry.

Calendula Oil

A very simple way of moisturising and healing rashy, sensitive skin is to just apply some calendula oil. Calendula oil is used in many healing balms and lotions in natural products. It is so gentle and it will leave your skin feel soft, supple and brand new.

Normal/Combination Skin

Normal or combination skin is the skin type if you don't already have it, that we dream about having. This skin type generally has medium pores, a smooth, even texture, good circulation and a healthy colour. If their are any problems, it is most likely to be dryness in the cheeks while it's oily in the T-zone. The main priority with normal or combination skin is to moisturise well to keep normals levels.



Mint Cleanser

2 tsp Coconut Oil
1 tsp Mint Infusion
1 drop Cider Vinegar

Melt the coconut oil, ass the mint infusion and vinegar and shake well. Apply to skin in circular motions then rinse with tepid water. This cleanser leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Ground Almond and Honey Facial Scrub

2 tbsp Ground Almonds
2 tsp Honey
4 tbsp Buttermilk or Plain Yogurt
2 drops Rose Oil

Place the ground almonds and honey in a bowl, then mix in the buttermilk to make a thick paste and beat in the rose oil. Gently massage the mixture into your face and neck for about two minutes, avoiding your eye area, and rinse off with tepid water, and pat dry.

 
Citrus Toner

Peel from 2 Lemons, 2 Oranges and 1 Grapefruit
300 ml Mineral Water

Place the citrus peels in a bowl and pour on the mineral water, then cover and leave for twelve hours. Strain the liquid through a coffee filter and into a sterilised bottle, and use within two weeks. To use, soak cotton buds in the mixture and apply to your face, then leave to dry. You can rinse it off, but it is perfectly safe to leave on your skin.

Witch Hazel and Rose Lotion

1 tsp Almond Oil
1 tsp Rosewater
1.5 tsp distilled Witch Hazel (Pharmacy)
1 tsp Honey 

Combine the ingredients in a small glass bottle. You may need to warm the honey if it needs softening. Screw on the lid and shake well before application. Apply in upward and outward motions.

I hope this skin type guide was simple enough to follow and even more importantly, that you love these skin care recipe's as much as I do. They are so simple, natural and beautiful, and all the ingredients are incredibly easy to get your hands on. Remember that you can also find me and some more goodies at www.facebook.com/thesixthscent. I am so excited about everyone starting their new skin care routines, and I hope to hear everyone's skin health progress. This is it everyone, we are well and truly beginning our skin health life! Enjoy it, appreciate it and Love it!

The Sixth Scent.