Back to: Home
Previous Post: Are You Really Looking For the Best Anti Aging Products?
Next Post: Got Racoon Eyes? Here’s What Causes Those Dark Circles Under Eyes and Some Natural Ways to Get Rid Of Them | Reduce Dark Circles and Under Eye Bags
8 Great Recipes For Exfoliating Your Face Using Natural AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)
By Jill | January 26, 2010
Topics: Age Spots, Get Rid of Wrinkles, Younger Looking Skin | 1 Comment »
Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids Can Help Remove Fine Facial Wrinkles and Age Spots
Part of your daily skin care routine should include exfoliating your face. There’s no reason to put those expensive moisturizing creams on dead skin cells where they can’t penetrate to do their intended work.
When you exfoliate your face you’re loosening and washing away dead skin cells in order to expose the fresh new skin cells beneath. Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids are excellent for exfoliating your face. These acids are found naturally in fruits (citric acid)and , sour milk (lactic acid) and sugar cane (glycolic acid).
Natural Alpha hydroxy acids also enhance new skin cell growth thus allowing the skin to better retain moisture which will plump the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Lactic acid in sour milk, cream and yogurt softens skin and cleanses pores. Glycolic acid like in sugar helps to loosen ceramides which are substances that hold skin cells together. Once dissolved, healthy new skin cells beneath are exposed removing the fine lines and wrinkles and age spots. The citric acid in fruits acts as a bleaching agent for age spots and skin discoloration. Fruits are also full of powerful antioxidants that help fight free radical damage caused by sun and wind. Citric acid also stimulates collagen production.
The recipes that follow all use alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate your skin. Choose your favorite or use several depending on what you have on hand. People with sensitive skin may find one irritating while another isn’t so I’ve included several. You’ll also need to see just how often to exfoliate. I suggest a couple times a week minimum.
You can use any of the following to lighten age spots as well.
Aloe and Milk Sugar Scrub – This sugar scrub is very moisturizing for dry and also sensitive skin.
1 T Aloe Vera Gel
1 T heavy cream
2 T sugar
Mix heavy cream with half the Aloe Vera Gel. Heat to just warm in microwave. Apply to face and neck area and leave sit for 15 minutes.
Next take the remaining aloe vera gel and mix it with the sugar. Gently massage the sugar mixture into face using small circular motions. Rinse with warm water. Your face will feel silky soft and smooth. Follow with a toner and your favorite moisturizer. The lactic acid and sugar will exfoliate your face to help remove fine lines, expose fresh skin and stimulate new cell growth.
Egg On Your Face Lemon Face Mask – This mask is nourishing and toning for dry mature skin.
1/2 lemon
1 egg yolk
Cut lemon in half and scoop out just enough for the egg yolk to fit. Plop in unbroken egg yolk. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning spread the egg yolk over your face and neck. The yolk will have absorbed some of the lemon oil and juices. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.
Creamy Strawberry Mask – Do NOT use if you’re allergic to strawberries.
3-4 strawberries
2 T plain organic yogurt
1 T raw honey
In a blender combine 3-4 strawberries, 2 T organic yogurt, and raw honey. Apply to face and neck avoiding eyes. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse gently with tepid water.
Papaya Scrub
1/2 ripe papaya,
2 T heavy cream,
juice of 1 lemon
1 T raw honey
Scoop papaya out of skin. Plop in blender with remaining ingredients. Process to mix. Apply to face and neck – leave for 10 minutes and rinse off gently with warm water.
Brown Sugar and Cream Face Scrub
1 T cream
2-3 T brown sugar
1 T fresh lemon juice
Mix together and rub onto damp skin. Leave for 5 minutes or so then gently massage in to loosen dead skin and gently exfoliate. Rinse with warm water.
Simple Sour Milk Face Exfoliate
2 T heavy cream
1 T fresh lemon juice
Mix together. Yes this is going to get lumpy as the cream will sour with the lemon. It doesn’t smell real nice either, but I do love this one. Spread over face and let dry. Usually about 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse and massage gently with warm water. As you rinse you can also apply some plain sugar to help exfoliate.
Plain Old Grapes
Red or Green Grapes
Mash them up and apply to face and neck. Leave on 10-15 minutes then rinse with warm water. I like to use this time to complain to my husband. I tell him I’m just feeling sour grapes. He hates this mask!
Honey Lemon Rooibos Tea
Rooibos Tea is a red tea from Africa that has 50 times the antioxidants of green tea. You’ve all heard how good green tea is for you right? Try rooibos now in addition. Rooibos also has alpha hydroxy acid. So I make a cup to drink and one for the face.
2 Rooibos Tea bags
3 cups water
honey to taste for tea
lemon for mask
sugar for scrub
Boil water then turn off heat and steep tea for 10 minutes.
Make one cup of tea with honey to drink while you relax for your facial. Let the rest cool and add 1 T lemon. apply with cotton balls to face and let dry. You can apply more and let dry again. Leave on 20 minutes then moisten some sugar, brown or white. Gently massage to help exfoliate face and reduce wrinkles. Rinse with warm water.
After exfoliating I always use a toner, then moisturizer. This is my favorite toner and it’s simple.
Green Tea and Herbs (you can vary the herbs depending on what you’re after. Roses and rose hips soften skin and are good for aging skin, chamomile is soothing and moisturizing, lavender is good for acne and oily skin)
Chamomile Flowers
Green Tea
I use a tea frog and bulk green tea leaf mixed with chamomile flower. I pack the frog with both. Boil a cup and a half of water with frog in place. Continue to boil low until reduced by about 1/3 about 15 minutes. Let cool. Pour into a spritz bottle. You can spray this on or just apply with cotton balls and let dry. Don’t rinse off. Chamomile is soothing to the skin and green tea provides antioxidants.
If you have recipes to share please feel free!
Popularity: 10% [?]
Related posts:
- Remove Wrinkles and Firm Skin – Natural Solutions to Younger Looking Skin
- POOF! Age Spots Gone! Remove Skin Discoloration Naturally and Inexpensively
I love these recipes! Thank you so much for sharing them! You have found a new follower of your blog:)