Try using natural products for your skincare regime

Beauty isn’t just skin deep. But keeping skin healthy is every bit as important as eating a balanced diet, with one of the most important beauty treatments being to get plenty of sleep and relaxation. Start by trying a fruit and vegetable diet once a month and drinking a cup of warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice every morning, which is excellent for cleansing the system.

Tomatoes are good for closing open pores

skin

• Gently mix equal amounts of vinegar and water together, and apply to the face and neck for two minutes, and rinse off with cold water. This corrects the skin’s pH balance, helping to brighten and improve skin texture.
• Mix a little oatmeal and honey into a paste, then wet finger tips and apply in circular motions to the T-zone for 15 minutes. Remove with tepid water and finger tips, using circular motions. Finally, rinse well with cold water to close pores and stimulate circulation.
• For open pores: Rub a slice of tomato over the face for 15 minutes and use the time to lie down and relax.

Wrinkles

• Apply almond oil to your laughter lines or frown lines, using your finger tips, and leave for as long as possible. Pat off excess oil and apply moisturiser afterwards. This is an easy and inexpensive treatment, which has great results when used once a week. It is ideal for smokers, who should apply the oil to the upper lip last thing at night.
• Take an egg white straight from the shell, and apply it all over your face. Leave for 20 minutes while it dries, then remove using cold water. Done once a week, it helps tighten the skin.
• Puffy eyes: You can use vitamin E to combat eye wrinkles. Apply the oil under the eyes or on any scars, using circular motions. For longer lashes, apply a little to your lashes and watch them grow.

Egg whites can be used as a face mask

Milk is an anti-inflammatory

Moisturisers

• Wheatgerm oil can be added to most face masks, and is good for dehydrated skin.
• Jojoba oil is a close match to sebum, the skin’s own natural oil, that is why it makes an excellent oil to use for facial treatments, particularly if your skin is oily. Unlike most oils it has a long shelf life and will stay fresher longer, even when opened. It is also good as a bath oil and body conditioner.
• Half a pint of milk mixed with the juice of lemon makes a great night lotion for use after cleansing.

Exfoliate naturally

Red wine makes a great toner

Bananas make great face masks

• Exfoliating your skin is a great treatment, but don’t use harsh products. Sea salt is excellent at removing dead flaky skin. Simply wet the face or body and apply a two tablespoons of sea salt, then gently massage on to the skin, paying special attention to the T-zone and cheeks, but avoiding the eye area. After a few minutes, rinse thoroughly with cold water to tighten pores. Done once a week, it will help face creams to penetrate better.
  

Face Packs

• Tomato pulp is very good for the skin - it refreshes, tones and aids circulation, and will restore acidity to the face after cleansing. To make a tomato face pack, make a paste by mixing tomato pulp with yoghurt. Apply to the face and leave for 10-15 minutes, then wash-off. (Recipe courtesy of British Tomatoes).
• Bananas are one of the best convenience foods, only containing 60 calories. They also make a good face mask, if you mash one and spread it all over your face, and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with cold water. Leaves skin feeling wonderfully nourished.

Teeth

• Clean white teeth are an asset, and just as important as healthy skin and hair. For white teeth mix a little baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (available from chemists) together, and use as a toothpaste once or twice a week. Alternatively, mix bicarbonate of soda with a good mouthwash, which is not so effective, but tastes much better. Ideal for stains and plaque.

Cellulite

• Cellulite is every girl’s nightmare, which is why most anti-cellulite products are so expensive. Try using a mixture of either grapefruit or lemon essential oil in a base of sesame or almond oil, and apply regularly to affected areas.

Eye Care

• Peel an avocado, remove the pit and slice into quarter of an inch slices. Lie down and lay a few slices under each eye and relax for ten minutes, the result is magical.
• Cucumber contains a natural soothing juice, which can liven up tired eyes. Place a slice on each eye and relax for ten minutes.
  l Pound the flesh of a cucumber and mix with a little milk to make a softening facial mask, which will tone skin while you relax.
• Soak two cotton pads in ice cold milk and place on eyelids for five minutes. Milk is an anti-inflammatory and will reduce puffy eye syndrome.

Toners
Witch hazel: This can be bought anywhere, although I wouldn’t recommend using it on its own, as it can have a drying effect. Mix it with a gentler product, such as rose water or cucumber. For most skin types mix one third witch hazel to two-thirds rose water. If you have a skin toner and feel it may be a little drying, decant half and add a little rose water until it feels comfortable.
Mineral Water: This is one of my favourites and very inexpensive. Buy a bottle of water and keep it fridge, decant into a spray bottle and spray over face as often as possible through the day. This is also a great way of sealing your make-up and keeping your face hydrated throughout the day.
Red Wine: This not only tastes great, but works wonders on dry or oily skin. Dab a little red wine onto the skin after cleansing. Because of the natural fruit acids and tannins, it is very effective.

sports

• Mix a little brewers yeast with plain yoghurt, apply to the face and leave for five minutes. Wipe clean and splash with cold water.
• Banish blackheads while in the tub by rubbing affected areas with oatmeal and water, and leave for a few minutes. Rinse with cold water.

In the tub

• Yoghurt has many beauty uses. Use all over the face while in the bath, it’s very refreshing and softens the skin, as well as being a good body moisturiser.
• Try honey on your legs and face while in the sauna. This acts as a wonderful moisturiser, and can also be applied to the face while in the bath for intense nourishing treatment.