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!

Related posts:

1. Remove Wrinkles and Firm Skin – Natural Solutions to Younger Looking Skin
2. POOF! Age Spots Gone! Remove Skin Discoloration Naturally and Inexpensively

The Mysterious Face Wrinkle Cream

Have you read the ingredient lists for face wrinkle creams? Many of the wonder creams sold for exorbitant amounts don’t actually tell you what’s in the wrinkle lotion.

Somehow I don’t think there are that many “secret” wrinkle cures out there that haven’t been studied. Rather than spend a lot of money on so called “miracle wrinkle lotions” try some common sense and affordable wrinkle treatments based on the ingredients shown on those pricey bottles.

Why not use the pure oils, butters and vitamins or create your own wrinkle cream? You’ll know exactly what you’re putting on your face and if it’s working to remove wrinkles. You can reduce or get rid of wrinkles for a fraction of the cost of high priced face wrinkle cream.

For younger looking skin try any one or a combination of the following oils, butters and herbs.  Make sure you check out the homemade face wrinkle cream recipes at the end of this article.

Pure oils soften and moisturize skin and have been shown to help remove wrinkles.

Macadamia Nut Oil -  Macadamia nuts are rich in palmitoleic acid which is a fatty acid that is present in skin, but is depleted as we age.   Palmitoleic acid helps protect skin from free radical damage which can cause skin to wrinkle. Macadamia nut oil is light and absorbed quickly. It is a fabulous moisturizer for mature skin. You can use macadamia nut oil alone to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles or use it in combination with other oils and vitamins. See wrinkle removal creams and oil recipes at the end of this article…

Avocado Oil -  Avocado oil is rich in vitamins  A, D, and E as well as essential fatty acids that help protect your skin from free radical damage. You’ll find avocado oil in many of the expensive face wrinkle creams. Avocado oil is recommended for aging skin and can help prevent wrinkles. Avocado oil is one of the heavier oils so you might want to mix it with a lighter oil. You can also use avocados to make facial masks to nourish skin and help remove wrinkles. I like to use an avocado mask once a week.

Apricot Kernel Oil is rich in Oleic and Linoleic acids as well as vitamins A and E which you’ll find added to many facial wrinkle creams. This is a light and easily absorbed oil. It’s recommended for aged and dry skin and may reduce facial wrinkles. It will help nourish skin and keep it smooth and flexible. Use this light oil around the eyes and on the neck to moisturize and smooth your skin.

Rosehip Seed Oil – For younger looking skin this is my favorite oil. Rosehip seed oil is high in fatty acids and is especially useful to rejuvenate and heal dry and aging skin. Rosehip seed oil also contains tretinoin (vitamin A – you may have heard this called Retin A – an ingredient in many wrinkle creams) which is proven to help heal scar tissue, remove wrinkles and also lighten age spots. While not as potent as retin A which is available by prescription only, this oil over time will have the same effect.  If you have sensitive skin you may find this oil slightly irritating and should avoid sun exposure after use just like you would with retin A.

Butters to remove Wrinkles

African Shea Butter – Shea butter is made from the fruit of the African karite tree. Shea butter is rich in antioxidant vitamins A and E. It is super nourishing to the skin and can help prevent fine lines, smooth skin and reduce wrinkles. Shea butter is light and has a low melting point so it’s easy to use in skin care recipes and is readily absorbed into the skin.

Mango Butter – Mango butter can help firm skin, restore elasticity and reduce wrinkles. It’s high in essential fatty acids and also has UV protective properties. It has natural antioxidants that help repair sun damaged skin. This is a great alternative to shea or cocoa butter in skin care recipes.

Some Homemade Face Wrinkle Cream Recipes

Rosehip Evening Moisturizer for Wrinkles
1/2 oz. Rosehip Seed Oil
1/2 oz. Apricot Kernel oil
1/8  tsp vit e oil
3 drops each lavendar and chamonile essential oil (be careful with essential oils as they are potent. Make sure to use them with carrier oils like the rosehip and apricot kernel oil here. They need to be diluted.)

Mix all together and pour into dark bottle. This can be stored in the refrigerator. Apply nightly before going to bed.

Pineapple Juice Exfoliate

This is a super simple way to exfoliate skin and slough off the dead out skin cells to leave skin soft and supple. The enzymes in pineapple help fight free-radical damage and are known to reduce age spots and fine facial wrinkles. Just take fresh pineapple juice or rub the fruit directly on your face and neck. Leave on for 10-15  minutes and then rinse with tepid water.

Mango Daily Face Serum

2 T Mango Butter
1 T Avocado Oil
2 T Rosehip Seed Oil
2 drops each carrot seed and frankincense essential oils
1/8 tsp vitamin E oil

Mix all together and let melt in a sunny window. Since this is pure oils the mixture will be thin rather than like a cream. Apply to wrinkles and massage in gently without pulling on the skin.

Related posts:

1. POOF! Age Spots Gone! Remove Skin Discoloration Naturally and Inexpensively
2. 8 Great Recipes For Exfoliating Your Face Using Natural AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)