My Daily Facial Natural Skincare Routine.

In today's blog you will learn about the natural skincare routine that I use. For a long time, I have made most of my own facial skincare products at home because I wanted to use natural ingredients to care for my skin, instead of the often harsh chemicals found in commercial skincare products. Over the years I have tried many things.

Oil Cleansing

For many years I used oils to cleanse my skin, switching between sweet almond oil, coconut oil and olive oil. This worked well for my skin however, as I learned more, I realised that maybe there was another way, another environmentally friendly way, a way that would still suit my skin and that I might be happier to use but was still natural skincare.

Ubtans

Watching a Fairyland Cottage vlog about her natural skincare facial routine, I was reminded of ubtans, something I had come across many years ago in a book called Natural Health & Beauty by Helena Sunnydale (2004 edition), and still used as part of my deep cleansing routine once a month. Back to the shelf I went, in search of said book and the information it contained.

Ubtans are a traditional Indian cleansing powder. Usually mixed to a paste, when required with either milk or water. The ingredients can vary depending on your skin type, what the purpose for its use is (some can be quite abrasive) and on what ingredients are available (preferring to use locally sourced ingredients). It can also be used as a mask too.

How to make an Ubtan:

The recipe that I use is very simple: oats, dried chamomile flowers, dried lavender flowers (homegrown), ground almonds and a tiny, amount of turmeric (it stains your skin so be careful)*. 

• Two tablespoons of Oats
• Two tablespoons of Ground Almonds
• One teaspoon of dried Lavender Flowers (optional)
• One teaspoon of dried Chamomile Flowers (optional)
• About an eighth of a teaspoon or even less of Turmeric (it stains remember!)

Put all ingredients into a grinder/high speed blender and grind into a fine powder.

Store in an airtight container.

Always do a patch test before using any new products to make sure they are okay for your skin. The first time I made this, there was too much turmeric in it, and it left my skin with a yellow hue for a day or two!

To Use:

• Mix one teaspoon into a paste with some water, apply to your dampened face.
• Rinse with clean, warm water. 
• Gently pat your face dry with a soft towel.

To finish off my natural skincare routine, a homemade moisturising balm is applied (possibly a future blog post!). 

I always use my own crocheted cotton facial cloths, which are nothing fancy but are a good alternative to cotton wool. I do however, still use oil to remove make-up when I wear it.

Thank you for reading my blog today, I hope you enjoyed it.

Until the next time may your world be filled with love, peace and happiness.

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*All the ingredients are rich in anti-inflammatories, anti-oxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. 

All the ingredients are also readily available in supermarkets or health food shops.