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As someone who is a minimalist in the cosmetics department, I must admit that I did smile when I read articles (like this one here) that said, even when it comes to make-up trends, the “less is more” approach was going to be super popular all year long.

And so, with that being the case, that got me to thinking that whether you’re someone who goes the au naturel route as much as possible or you are a self-professed artist extraordinaire when it comes to how you adorn your face, now is a really good time to offer up some solid tips on how to make sure that your skin is healthy, glowing and beaming.


Because no matter what, skin that is as flawless as possible, is the foundation for all of us to put our best face forward. Wouldn’t you agree?

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1. Rosemary Oil

When it comes to beauty uses, rosemary oil probably has the best reputation when it comes to stimulating hair growth. Still, don’t sleep on it as it relates to your skin because it contains properties that help to deeply hydrate it, bring elasticity to it, reduce inflammation and, if acne is something that you deal with, rosemary’s antibacterial benefits can help to keep pimples at bay as well. Plus, if you’re like me and you like for your skin to have a natural “dewy” look, a drop or two (or three) of rosemary on your skin will provide that effect for hours on end.

2. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is definitely my ish. So much, in fact, that I once penned, “Why Your Skin, Hair, And Nails Need Hyaluronic Acid Like...Yesterday” for the platform. Yeah, if you want your skin to be on-point on a consistent basis, this acid can help to get you there thanks to its ability to hydrate, improve elasticity, provide anti-aging effects, soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even bring healing to symptoms related to eczema.

Also, if you’ve got dry skin that you can’t seem to get rid of, because hyaluronic acid is 1000 times the weight of water, you can trust it to moisturize your skin for longer periods of time than many commercialized moisturizers that are on the market. Dope.

3. Rose Petal Toner

If you want to keep your skin’s pH levels in balance, reduce the appearance of your pores, increase your skin’s hydration, and deep clean your skin after washing it, skin toner can make that happen. That said, if you want your toner to be as natural as possible, why not make some out of rose petals? For many years, rose water has been praised for its ability to reduce inflammation, slow down the signs of aging, tone your skin, and decrease the effects of oxidative stress. For tips on how to make rose water out of rose petals, go here. Some toner recipes with rose water in them? Here, here, and here.

4. Infused Ice

Looking for something that will reduce the inflammation of pimples or will shrink the appearance of pores? Look no further than some regular ole’ ice. Definitely if you’ve had a rough (or great, if you know what I mean) night and your eyes have bags to show it, a cold compress on them for about 20 minutes will brighten things right on up. And, if you want to get some nutrients into your skin in the process, freeze the water with some lemon (the vitamin C in it willstimulate collagen production), Aloe vera gel (it willmoisturize oily skin without encouraging breakouts), or fresh sage (it willfight off free radicals and the signs of aging). Your skin will certainly thank you if you do.

5. Vegetable Glycerin

If you’ve ever tasted vegetable glycerin before and you wonder why it’s sweet, that’s because it is a type of sugar alcohol that is made by warming up plant-based oils like soy, palm, and coconut. Since it works as a humectant, vegetable glycerin works as a powerful skin moisturizer. If you’ve got eczema or psoriasis, it can help to soothe the irritated skin that is oftentimes associated with it. Another cool thing about this particular product is it is able to make the texture of your skin feel baby soft smooth too.

6. Turmeric Oil

Something else that I am super fond of is turmeric oil. The curcumin that’s in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are literally able to give your skin a rich and healthy glow. If you’ve got acne or discoloration on your face due to the marks that acne leaves behind, turmeric can assist with those as well. Two other bonuses that come with turmeric are it can reduce blotchiness and oxidative stress. So, if you’ve never given turmeric oil a shot, perhaps this has convinced you.

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7. Mandelic Acid

My latest “Where have you been all of my life?” skincare addition is mandelic acid. Listen, if you’re looking for an acid that — is a gentle exfoliant; can turn over fresh skin cells in record time; will have your skin feeling baby-soft smooth; will soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; helps to unclog pores, and is on-10 when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation (especially the kind that acne leaves behind)? Whew, chile! Again, I wish that I had known about this sooner.

For the record, what I am speaking of is the acid that’s in serum form. What I personally use is The Ordinary’s Mandelic Acid 10% + HA. It’s affordable. It’s gentle on my skin. It’s also not as…intense as a mandelic acid chemical peel. In fact, if you want to go the chemical peel route, my two cents would be to speak with a dermatologist or esthetician; those can be pretty potent. The serum kind, though? I’d do a commercial for The Ordinary if I could (I like a lot of their stuff, actually…).

Oh, and if you really want to brighten your skin up, vitamin C extract in the day (it can brighten up dark spots on your skin) and marula oil at night can certainly get you there in fairly record time (about four weeks).

8. Ginger Tea

Wanna spritz your skin with something that’s all-natural? Try a little bit of ginger tea. The properties in ginger are great for it because it helps to boost your skin’s collagen levels; works to improve the texture of your skin (when used regularly); has antioxidants that can help to clear up acne; brightens your skin tone, and they can fade minor scarring of your skin. To make your own spritz, steep fresh ginger or a couple of ginger tea bags for 20-30 minutes. Allow the tea to cool completely, pour into a small spray bottle and refrigerate. Use to freshen your skin whenever the mood hits.

9. Marula Oil

If you’re in the mid-to-latter stages of perimenopause, treat your skin to the info that is featured in “So, What Does Menopausal Skincare Consist Of Exactly?” One of the things that I shared is the fact that if your skin is drier than usual (due to all of the hormonal shifts), marula oil is the perfect oil for “sealing your skin” with the moisture that it needs after showering or bathing. Marula oil is also bomb because it contains anti-aging properties, helps to protect your skin from UV damage, and can reduce the bacteria that cause breakouts too.

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10. DIY Tea and Essential Oil Steam

If you can’t remember the last time that you’ve steamed your face, you are well past due. Not only does the face steaming process deep-clean your pores and increase blood circulation to your face, it also helps to hydrate your skin and, if you add some herbal tea or essential oil into the mix, it can soothe your skin as well. If you need some help figuring out which loose leaf or tea bags to put into your steam water, check out “I've Got 10 Teas That Will Help You To Age (Even More) Gracefully” and “10 Different Ways Herbal Teas Can Fit Into Your Beauty Regimen.”

As far as essential oils go, lavender can help to calm your skin, geranium can help to minimize the appearance of your pores and sandalwood can give you a natural healthy glow. For tips on how to properly and safely steam your face at home, go here.

11. DIY Serum

If you’ve ever wondered what a serum actually is, it’s a product that is most effective if you apply it right after washing your skin and right before moisturizing it. The purpose of a serum is to provide a lightweight yet super potent kind of liquid to your skin that is filled with ingredients that can help to heal a variety of skin-related issues such as dryness, acne, and aging. Although there are an endless amount of commercialized serums on the market (like these here, here, and here), you can also make your own.

One of my favorite recipes comes from the website The Sweetest Digs and it consists of jojoba oil, rosehip oil, vitamin E, and a variety of essential oils. You can read more about how to make it along with how it can do wonders for your skin here.

12. DIY Bronzer

Although it’s rare that I am going to wear anything more than mascara and lipstick (literally), when I want my skin to look hella radiant, I have absolutely no problem brushing on some bronzer. In my opinion, nothing can give you a quicker sun-kissed glow than it. The key is to go with a shade that is a couple of shades darker than your natural skin tone and to evenly apply it on your bare skin or on top of your foundation.

Yes, there are bronzers that you can buy; however, if you’d prefer to customize your own, it’s easier to make than you might think. If you’ve got some cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder and a little bit of time, you’re halfway there. For a recipe that is easy to follow, go here.

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Bonus: Kojic Acid Soap

Long story short on this one kojic acid is an acid that is made from fermented rice wine. The science of it all is when applied, it helps to prevent the enzyme tyrosinase from forming. Why is that relevant? Well, tyrosinase is actually what helps to control melanin production and while we all know that melanin is all good, when it is overproduced to the point where it creates hyperpigmentation (like when your skin is trying to heal from the inflammation of a pimple), that’s when it can become problematic.

And although, the acid itself, some people have used it to lighten their skin, in the form of soap, it’s simply good at fading dark spots over time. In fact, some skin experts actually say that it’s really effective at evening out the skin tone of darker hues (a Black YouTuber who goes by GRAYCYLYN sings its praises here). I’ve used it and I have not one regret, so as we close this out, if you want to “wash some radiance” onto your face, here’s a viable option. Enjoy!

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Featured image by Delmaine Donson/Getty Images

 

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