Skin gets stressed out, too

Look good and feel better with some simple at-home skincare remedies

Lexi Wright
Contributor

Copious amounts of coffee, late-night cramming sessions and binge watching the final seasons of Friends all take their toll on your physical appearance. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to appear that way. Using all-natural ingredients found in your fridge, combatting the most tedious skincare conditions has never worked so well and smelled so good.

For a brighter complexion

Cold and dry weather can cast the appearance of a grey skin tone. In order to prevent yourself from looking like a cast member of The Walking Dead, mix brown sugar, honey and olive oil into a bowl until you form a thick paste. Using your fingers, apply the paste to a makeup-free face. The brown sugar will help remove any dry excess skin, while the honey will work to moisturize and provide a healthy, “it’s not August but I want it to be” glow.

For problem pimples and blemishes

Combine three tablespoons of dried basil and one cup of boiling water in a bowl. Once the mixture cools down, remove the basil and pour into a spray bottle. Now you’re free to spritz away! The basil should provide a cooling effect and improve circulation to the skin, helping to prevent future pimples from arising. On a side note, this spray bottle method works especially well to reach stubborn back and chest acne.

For removing caked-on eye makeup

Makeup remover can come at a hefty cost and is often a hassle to consistently repurchase. Instead of going through that frustration, coconut oil can and will do the trick! Not only does the product last longer, but it works just as effectively. Simply pour a bit of coconut oil onto a cloth or cotton pad and gently wipe your eyelids, making sure to avoid contact with the eyeball itself. Finish up by removing any leftover oil residue with some water.

For rough knees and elbows
Mix a ¼ cup of brown sugar with two-three teaspoons of baby oil. Blend the ingredients together with a spoon until the mixture becomes gooey, then massage the sugar in a circular motion over your dry patches. Finish up with rinsing the area off with warm water. Feel free to add more of each ingredient depending on the severity of your dryness. After all, our joints need loving too!

For inflammation and swelling

Tired of those red spots that won’t go away? Lemon juice can diminish the look of redness and take down the swelling of popped pimples. Douse a Q-tip into a freshly-cut lemon and dab directly onto the problem area. It’s best to do this right before bed and allow the juice to soak in overnight. If you do not have a fresh lemon available, you can also use pre-packaged lemon juice. Be sure to avoid sunlight for a few hours after application, as citrus juice makes skin more sensitive to light.

We all know what it feels like to look in the mirror and when our skin looks tired and lifeless. Following these natural skin care remedies will have you feeling fabulous and fresh. With the low price of the ingredients, you have nothing to lose. Try these tips out and I promise you will not be disappointed!