It's no accident that oatmeal appears in so many commercial beauty products. Not only does it soften skin, but it has anti-inflammatory and itch-soothing qualities as well. Many beauty experts recommend using oatmeal as a facial cleaner. Howard Donsky, M.D., staff dermatologist at Toronto General Hospital and associate professor at the University of Toronto, concurs. "You can use oatmeal as a soap substitute," Donsky states. Apply the cleanser to your wrist 24 hours before use to make sure you're not allergic to any ingredients.
Step 1
Buy uncooked rolled oats for use in your facial cleanser. Choose natural oats that need to be cooked slowly, rather than an instant or flavored version.
Step 2
Grind 2 tbsp. of the uncooked oats in a clean coffee grinder or blender, and mix the powder with 2 tsp. brown sugar, 2 tsp. aloe vera juice, and 1 tsp. lemon juice until a smooth, creamy paste is formed.
Step 3
Splash your face with cool tap water to dampen it, and massage the oatmeal mixture onto your skin, being careful not to get any in your eyes. If you do, rinse well with cool water. You are employing the beneficial powers of several natural ingredients when you use this recipe. The oatmeal and aloe vera help to to cleanse, soothe and soften skin, while the brown sugar has a mildly exfoliative effect, gently removing dead skin cells to reveal younger skin underneath. As for the lemon juice, it is a mild astringent, toner and antimicrobial. The World's Healthiest Foods notes that in addition to lemon's other beneficial qualities, its flavonoids have antibacterial effects.
Step 4
Use the pads of your fingers to rub the mixture on your face in small circles, moving upwards and outwards to cleanse skin.
Step 5
Rinse the mixture off with tepid water, and pat your face dry with a clean towel. Apply a good-quality commercial or natural moisturizer.
Tips and Warnings
- Triple or quadruple the cleanser recipe for a soothing scrub for your entire body. Alternately, you can mix 2 tsp. of powdered uncooked oats and 1 tsp. of baking soda, adding just enough water to make a paste, then massage onto your face, rinsing with cool water. In this recipe, suggested by Fat Free Kitchen, the baking soda joins oatmeal as a skin-soother and mild cleanser.
Things You'll Need
- 2 tbsp. uncooked oats
- Coffee grinder or blender
- 2 tsp. aloe vera juice, available at health food stores
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. uncooked oats (optional)
- 1 tsp. baking soda (optional)
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