For better or worse, it’s winter. That means, along with the muck and the snowy mire, comes winter skin. Skin products have gotten rather expensive, with celebrities citing products like Olio Lusso (not to mention the trips to estheticians and spas for costly facials) and La Mer. But for healthier skin, fewer blemishes, and less of a hit to your Christmas cash, open up your pantry, and pull a few things out of the cupboard.

A simple combination of honey and coconut, and a bit of sugar can give you a clearer, firmer complexion.

Even the ancient Mayans used honey on the skin for its natural antioxidant properties. It adds moisture while drawing impurities from the pores to minimize acne. A natural moisturizer packed with antioxidants, honey is a sweet treat that can make a big difference to your dermis. For the skin, coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for all skin types, and especially for dry and older skin. Coconut oil is so good at smoothing out the appearance of wrinkles and helping with skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis that it’s often added to commercial skin care products. Coconut’s natural fats also reduce irritation and hydrate the skin. Sugar is a natural exfoliant. Exfoliating sloughs off dead skin cells, revealing the fresh skin beneath.

For the Love of Honey and Coconut

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons honey
½ tablespoon dried coconut flesh
1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

1. Mix together honey, sugar and coconut.
2. Wash your face thoroughly. Place a clean towel in warm water, then place on your face for one minute to open your pores.
3. Rub honey-coconut-sugar mixture gently onto face. Leave for 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Rinse face thoroughly with warm water, then rinse with cold water to close the pores.

Repeat treatment once a week or as often as your skin craves.

 

-Arianna Schioldager