We've all heard it, seen it, and read it......find your skin type! So, maybe you've analyzed your skin and determined whether you have oily, combination, dry, or normal skin. But what is your reasoning behind the product you use? Is it just cheap, a popular "name brand", so-and-so Hollywood star recommended, or just "what your mother used" ? Granted, maybe some could use a product in the category listed above, and it would be just perfect for their skin, but chances are it might be a good idea to re-think your skin care routine. There are several reasons that this might be beneficial. 
#1. Skin goes through frequent changes caused by weather, age, hormones and a variety of other causes. Using the product you used "umpteen" years ago may not suit your skin now.
#2. Just because a product makes your best friend look fabulous, doesn't mean it will work for you. Don't be afraid to change products, and prove that you are an individual and your skin is unique.
#3. If you experience dryness, oiliness, tightness, or irritations from an eye wrinkle remover cream (or any other skin product) that had a celebrity's name on it, that product is wrong for you. :)  

Many times, I have found myself getting a new cleanser or moisturizer every month trying new stuff with promises of ultimate satisfaction and skin perfection only to buy something different the next time around.  It took me a long time to find a stable, ingredient safe, gentle, natural cleanser that I could rely on use after use.  Needless to say, Natural Joy and Regent's Choice soap has been adapted into my routine, and I can trust them to NOT make me break out, NOT upset my skin's PH balance, and have a terrific scent to boot! Just in case you're one of those people out there that spends her life (and money!) trying to find the latest and the greatest that will suddenly transform her appearance ---look no further! EASY ON THE SKIN has years of experience under it's belt, but also realizes that skin care was meant to be simple, beautiful, and NATURAL.

DID YOU KNOW, that bananas have health properties that are amazingly helpful for your skin? Not only are they healthy (and delicious) to eat, they are also miracle workers when used externally. And it gets better: they are easy to use, and only require on ingredient.....banana! Perfect for all types of skin, try a straight banana facial mask. Really! Just mash up a half banana (or whole, if you have someone with you who is ready for fun:) ) and spread generously on your face and neck.  You will find that this terrific smelling food is gentle, moisturizing, skin brightening and a terrific giggle generator! For extra skin exfoliation and tightening, you can also mix it with white clay or any natural clay for a thicker mask. This experiment can be left on your skin for up to 20 min. before you rinse it off; however, you can feel results in just a couple minutes. Whether you want to do an hour rejuvenation session with your skin, or perform a quick "lift" for your face, try simplifying your routine-- be brave, and GO BANANAS!! 

Whatever may be said about Cleopatra's political or relationship choices, it is generally agreed that she was quite a beauty!  As a Macedonian queen of Egypt at age 18, she used her savvy to rule her nation while choosing alliances that would preserve her throne. At 21 she immediately attracted Caesar's attention (he was 52).  Later it was Marc Antony whom she set her sights on.  She lived until the age of 39, being the mother of 4 children. 

A woman in Cleopatra's position could afford a few indulgences, such as a skin-nourishing milk bath.  A potent mixture of herbs and milk produced just the results she desired!  Here's a modern-day equivalent that you can enjoy!

Nile Queen Milk Bath

1 T dried rosemary
1 T dried thyme
1 T dried mint
1 orange peel
1 lemon peel
2 cups boiling water
1 9.6 oz box dried milk (enough for 3 qt.)
*use nonfat milk powder if your skin is oily

Place herbs and peels in ceramic bowl, cover with boiling water.  Steep several hours or overnight.  Strain solids off and add milk powder.  Add mixture to warm bath water.  Enjoy a 20+ minute soak!  Rinse with clear, warm water.

Honey has many, many uses, but one of the most unique is its ability to gather moisture from the atmosphere (air) and retain it. This benefit makes it especially good for a lip balm. For a long time, I have had "chronic chapped lips" which leaves me with chapped lips no matter the weather. That is until I found out that putting an even coat of honey on my lips does miracles.  It may sound a little sticky and messy to you, but it actually stays on really well, has a beautiful gloss, (tastes fantastic :)) and completely heals my chapped lips. One coat is all that is needed to whip your lips back into shape and leave them looking fantastic. I used two or three rounds of this magic a few months ago, and haven't had chapped lips since.  I highly recommend this treatment. Just use a little common sense and don't apply it right before bed. :) 

Many people tell me that I have beautiful, clear skin. Well, (moment of truth) I don't. Like many teenagers out there, my body goes through phases of hormonal upheaval and stress. Guess what, even when I am HAPPY about something, my skin breaks out. Painful as it is, this is a common problem that plagues many people. Thankfully, through years of study, and some helpful advice, I have found a terrific way to camouflage my skin's condition with makeup. Here is what I do:

#1. Start with clean skin. Follow with a really light coat of really light moisturizer.
#2. Spread a thin, even coat of foundation all over face, blending onto neck, slightly. (Secret: I use 'Donna Michelle' foundation from the 'Dollar Tree' and it is tons better than any $20 bottle I ever paid for!)
#3. Use just a little concealer on blemishes. Then, PAT it on gently around blemish, carefully blending.
#4. Powder Power! (Here's the BIG secret!) Most people don't know that powder, properly applied, can be the most effective tool of all for concealing. Use an eye shadow brush, dip in loose powder and apply directly to blemish. Carefully blend in on the specific spot. Continue this on every blemish on face or neck. It may take a few goings over, but believe me, it works! Follow by carefully dusting entire face with loose powder and blending. You might want to repeat the first powder step. Finish makeup as desired.

I can't live without this makeup trick. It has helped me look good when my skin looked like a war zone. It is also a terrific confidence booster to see oneself in the mirror looking normal! :) Hope this helps!

Share your makeup tricks in the comment section! We'd love to hear from you!

Easy on the Skin loves new ideas and fresh approaches. ( Notice the crisp looking sunflower :) ) That's why we want to hear your opinion.  Have a recipe, idea, or comment for our blog? Let us know! It only takes a minute to write a comment and it will be well appreciated. Thanks for sharing your support!

We're going camping soon, so I dropped by the store to pick up some natural wood charcoal for our outdoor cooking (we started using natural charcoal years ago because it is non-carcinogenic).  I thought about all the wonderful uses for charcoal and the many times it has helped us out during internal and external emergencies.  When used internally, activated charcoal absorbs toxins and flushes them from the body.  My collegiate son who runs for exercise can't live without it--I make up activated charcoal capsules for him to take before he runs.  He says that it purifies his body and eliminates the toxins which can cause his side to ache during exercise.  He and my other kids also take charcoal capsules when their bodies' immune systems are weak to help them rebound from a cold, virus or other sickness (use with plenty of water!)  

When my kids were young, I taught them that charcoal would take the poison out of an insect sting, too.  I carried charcoal capsules in the car with me everywhere.  Once, one of my sons was stung by a wasp during swimming lessons.  I popped open a charcoal capsule, spread the black powder on the sting, wet a paper towel and pressed it to his skin.  Within seconds he was calm and had very little swelling.  Fortunately, he and his brothers remembered this remedy when they were mowing the neighbor's lawn.  The lawn mower ran over a ground hornet's nest and suddenly there were very angry insects attacking my son!  His brother had the presence of mind to locate a bag of charcoal in the neighbor's garage, crumble it and apply it to the many stinging spots and relieve the pain.  

Charcoal is not only useful, but extremely safe!  My husband's Malamute loved charcoal (for some unknown reason.  Then again, Malamutes aren't the brightest bulbs on the planet!).  One day my husband returned from work to see his dog covered in black powder, guiltily sitting next to a now EMPTY bag of charcoal!  He rushed the dog to the vet, who laughingly explained that the dog would be fine.  I guess he just got detoxified!

If you're interested in doing a little research on charcoal, I recommend the book RX:  Charcoal by Agatha and Calvin Thrash.

If you have a story about how charcoal has been useful to you, let me know in the Comments section!

Chances are, your grandmother advocated your eating oatmeal (mine also included prunes!).  Oatmeal is high in fiber, fighting the "hungries" by filling you up and cleansing your digestive tract.  Its fiber helps to lower "bad" cholesterol and absorb fat to be flushed out of the system.  Oats contain protein and minerals to boost energy and  build strong teeth, bones and connective tissue.  My nutritionist friend Francie testifies that oats also help to control blood sugar levels by slowing the emptying of the stomach and holding back the rush of glucose into the bloodstream.  It is a natural anti-depressant, too!

Oatmeal is as good for the outside of your body as the inside.  I used to ask my great aunt Alice, then in her 80's, why her skin was so beautiful, soft and smooth.  She answered that she cleansed her face with oatmeal.  Well, now, I was puzzled!  Why would a person use food on the face?  And how exactly did one go about using it?  Now, 20 years later, I know that oatmeal can be used "straight", that is, cooked oatmeal can be applied to the skin as a cleanser and scrub instead of soap.  Oatmeal can also be found in many facial cleansers, such as our Pure Joy Facial Spa soap and Regent's Choice Cherry Almond soap, among others.  Oatmeal is nontoxic, so it is especially beneficial for sensitive skin.  Anyone's face would appreciate the pros of such a versatile food so rich in protein, potassium, iron, phosphates, magnesium and silicon.  Regular oats (instead of "quick-cooking oats) are best for cosmetic use.

       Having healthy skin is all about preventitive maintenance. Whether yours is mature, break-out prone, or just plain old ornery, keeping ahead of your skin is the key to success. One way to do this is by keeping the toxins OUT and the vitamins IN. A good clean system will do wonders for your whole appearance. (Hey, you might find you have more energy too!) Method #2 is to wash your face every morning and night. One study showed that the majority of people don't wash their face in the morning. And here we come back to a common culprit....toxins. Did you know that your body cleans itself while you sleep and empties dirt, oil and toxins on the surface of your skin? Well, it does, and that should be motivation enough to wash your face in the morning! Even at night, cleaning your skin is important. If you are one of the millions who wear makeup, it is needful to clean your face not only once, but twice! The first cleaning gets most of the makeup off, the second further cleans down to your pores removing the clogged dirt and oil from your skin. You might be worried that this might dry your skin out, but it shouldn't if you use a gentle cleanser and follow with some moisturizer.

          For those with mature skin, keeping ahead means making sure your skin has plenty of moisture. This helps plump up tired looking skin, and gives the complexion radiance. Being gentle is also important. If you pull on already saggy skin, you just made problems worse. Using warm (not hot!) water and a rag for cleansing helps a lot.  You might even try a relaxing, moisturizing, freshening facial mask once in a while too! 

           

You can always be assured that spring is really here when strawberries come into season!  Here in the sunny South where I live, the pick-your-own farms are now open for folks and families to gather fresh berries.  You may enjoy strawberries for their tangy sweet taste, or you may especially appreciate their value as a powerful antioxidant which fights cancer as do many raw red fruits and vegetables.  Strawberries are also very healthy for your skin!  Being rich in Vitamins A and C, strawberries promote healthy skin because they have a neutral pH, are an excellent cleanser and moisturizer.  Here's a recipe you might enjoy using with your fresh strawberries!


STRAWBERRY CLEANSER
6 whole strawberries, cleaned (you can leave the hulls on)
2 Tablespoons almond oil
3 Tablespoons witch hazel

Put all these ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth.  Place in a clean container and cover.  Use instead of soap to clean your skin.  Keep in the refrigerator between uses.  Makes 3 oz.  
*if your skin is oily, you may decrease the amount of oil in the recipe.