Top 4 Natural {Outside the Box} Skin Care Products

Many people don't know this about me but I went to esthetician school (gosh, 11 years ago already). I mostly only made money from waxing but took away so much knowledge about skin care and make-up. You can say that I take my skin care regime very seriously and NEVER miss a step, never. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I make sure to go to bed with clean skin. 

Now, I've used so many different products over the years to help with dry skin, wrinkles, dark spots, hair loss, acne...you name it, I've probably tried it. And here's the thing, I have combination skin (both dry and oily) and most of these products might help with one problem but cause other issues that I have to find a fix for. 

For the last few years, I've turned to a more natural and simple skin care plan, which even while pregnant helped my skin improve so much. Over the past 6 months, I've used these four products every night, and boy have I seen some major improvements in the health of my skin. 

Apple Cider Vinegar as an Astringent:  I'm sure by this point most of you have heard of all the wonders provided by ACV. Not only do I take a shot of ACV every morning for internal health, I also use it on my skin. It makes for an amazing astringent because it balances the natural pH of the skin, exfoliates, and clears away oil, dirt and make-up, essentially clearing and opening pores. Some other benefits I've noticed are the lightening of dark spots from age, pregnancy and the sun, and a major decrease in acne and red marks from acne {which was huge during my pregnancy}. And it is so much cheaper than other expensive astringents because a little goes a long way.

How to use it: I use it straight, meaning I just put a small amount on a cotton ball and apply all over my clean face. I will say that it takes time for the skin to build up a tolerance to straight ACV. So to start, only use every other day and dilute with a little water. Remember never to use on the sensitive skin around the eyes and be careful on cuts dry spots. 

*Because I can get dry skin easily, I always apply a moisturizing toner after the ACV.

*Bonus! Since using ACV on my skin, I've noticed an increase in the length and fullness of my eyebrow hair. I was an over tweezer back in my youth and have tried for the last 10 years to get the thin spots to grow in. I can now say that just in the last three months or so my eyebrows are completely grown in and I know it has to do with the application of AVC every night while I clean my skin.

Aspirin as an Exfoliant:  When I learned about this a few years ago, I was over the moon. This is one of my all time favorite skin care tricks because not only is it inexpensive, it really works. Using a dissolved aspirin as an exfoliant makes skin feel so soft and leaves pores clean from dirt, oil and make-up. This is another trick where a little goes a long way. 

How to use it:  Get 1-2 aspirin wet with a couple drops of water and let sit in your hand for a minute or so. They should start to dissolve and turn into a light paste. Apply to damp skin using tips of fingers, remembering not to press to hard into skin; over exfoliating can cause an overproduction of oil. Gently massage skin and then rinse with warm water. You'll feel and see instant results. 

*Bonus! Applying a small amount of the paste onto a pimple and leaving it as a spot treatment for up to 10 minutes can help reduce the size and clear the pimple after only a couple treatments. 

Petroleum Jelly {Vaseline} as an Eye Cream and Moisturizer: This just happened one night because I ran out of eye cream and can't stand the feeling of dryness around my eyes. Well, let me tell you, I haven't bought eye cream or oil since {yes, oil because I did use vitamin E oil around my eyes}. The light and non-greasy wonder that is petroleum jelly has become one of my go to skin care products for all things dry skin and around my eyes.

How to use it: Apply a small amount around eyes and over eyelashes. For dry spots on other parts of the face, on or around the lips, or on other parts of the body, gently rub until the dry spot feels moisturized. 

*Bonus! PJ has a wide range of uses, such as a lubricant {great for nursing moms}, and hair care. I've noticed my eyelashes have grown in nice and thick since applying PJ on them every night. (I lost most of my lashes and major chunks of hair after #3 came). 

Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer and Conditioner: Coconut oil is everywhere these days and for good reason. I've been using coconut oil for years for various skin care and hair issues. My favorite? Hair conditioner and skin moisturizer. There are so many benefits to using coconut oil internally and topically. For skin care, it helps treat various skin problems including psoriasis, eczema and skin infections. It also helps fight against premature aging and wrinkles. 

How to use it: As a hair conditioner, apply to hair 30 minutes before a shower and wash and rinse as normal. As a skin moisturizer, rub gently on dry spot like lotion, daily, until healed. 

I really hope that if you're looking for something that is sure to help make some positive changes in your skin care routine, you go for one {if not all} of these amazing products. They are cost efficient, natural and easy on the skin; yet, provide so many great benefits. I can tell you it's hard not to use them once you start.