By Erica Katz, Bonding Over Beauty for GalTime.com
Candy Cane Lotion If you're like me, chances are you've got a small army of skincare products ready to battle everything from acne to redness to dry, flaky skin.
But sometimes the most effective potions are the ones you concoct in your kitchen. (With the help of your besties, of course!)
For a fresh take on skincare this season, treat yourself to these fall-themed recipes, courtesy of Erica Katz, author of Bonding Over Beauty.
Cornmeal Foot Scrub For Flaky Feet:
¼ cup Epsom salt
¼ cup sea salt
¼ cup cooked cornmeal
2 T. honey
1/3 cup almond oil
Mix well, scrub onto your feet, and rinse. The bits of cornmeal and salt will exfoliate dry, dead skin cells. Plus, the honey will hydrate and soften your tootsies!
Apple Juice Cleanser For Acne Prone Skin:
3 T. apple juice
6 T. skim milk
2 t. honey warmed for 10 seconds in the microwave
Mix ingredients well. Apply to moist cotton, then cleanse the dirt and makeup from your face. The apple juice acts as an all-natural toner!
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Cinnamon Body Scrub:
1 cup brown sugar
2 t. nutmeg
2 t. ginger
2 t. cinnamon
¼ cup almond oil or olive oil
1 T. vitamin E oil
(1)10-ounce glass jar with lid and ribbon for decorating
Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl . Add the oils and stir well to combine . Next, fill your glass jar with the scrub. Secure the lid and tie a ribbon around the top. Finally, add an instructions card ("rub all over, then rinse" should do the trick).
This scrub will exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving you feeling soft and smooth. It's great to use before a spray tan!
Holiday Ingredients
Candy Cane Bath Salts:
2 cups Epsom salts
½ cup sea salt
4-5 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops food coloring
Mix well in a small bowl and add to your bath. The Epsom salts will relax achy muscles, while peppermint has aromatherapy benefits.
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Cranberry Anti-Aging Face Mask:
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup seedless red grapes
2 t. grapefruit juice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
Mix ingredients until they become a paste. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to let the mixture thicken. Remove from the fridge and let sit for about 10 minutes. Spread the mixture onto clean, dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Relax for 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Be sure to test for sensitivity by applying the mask to a less sensitive area of the body, such as the forearm, before applying to the face.
Cranberry oil can be found in anti-aging products because it helps fight free radicals, a major cause of premature aging.
Cranberry juice also helps detoxify the skin and is particularly useful for those who are acne-prone, suffer from psoriasis, or have oily skin. In addition, cranberries have been shown to help reduce skin inflammation, redness, and itchy, irritated skin.
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