Taking Care of Your Skin the Old-Fashioned Way

Centuries ago, it wasn't as simple as popping into your closest Sephora to purchase your skin care essentials, as back then, everyone's dermal health was completely dependent upon what was in the kitchen. Joyce Carboni, lead esthetician and founder of Skinsational Skin and Body Spa in San Diego, California shares seven quick tips on how to soothe and smooth your skin with ingredients you most-likely already have at home.


~Take advantage of those extra coffee grounds! For extra smooth (and firm) skin, brew a pot of coffee and use the left over warm grounds in the shower as an exfoliator. The caffeine has a mildly firming effect and the grounds will softly exfoliate your skin leaving it smooth and delicious.

~Got milk? Instead of cleanser reach for that milk! Milk of magnesia that is. Just as magnesium hydroxiate acts as an anti acid in your belly, it neutralizes oily skin. ~Need to exfoliate? Blend oatmeal, sugar or even cornmeal with a small amount of oil (vegetable or olive) and a raw egg yoke. The Vitamin A from the egg makes this a natural retinoid and is great because Vitamin A is a dominate vitamin of the skin! If you use oatmeal, it acts as a skin softener and also has amino acids which help draw in moisture. “Just be sure to avoid any scratches or cuts; if mixed with that raw egg, you could end up with an infection or even worse, salmonella!” Joyce says.

~Have a zit? Crush and aspirin and blend with water until you have a nice paste. Dilute the paste with water and apply to your zit. Aspirin has salicylic acid, the same beta hydroxy acid that is used in numerous acne products and peels – who knew!

~Looking for a quick lift? Brush on raw egg whites; they shrinks as it dries leaving your face firm and soft. Let it sit on your skin for 10 minutes and rinse with water. Viola!

~Don’t just drink it! Chamomile tea is great for easing irritated, red and/ or puffy skin. For the eyes, chamomile tea bags soaked in cold water will do the trick – blot with a paper towel and apply to eyes. For your skin, boil water and pour it into a spray bottle. Add a bag of chamomile tea, brew and place in fridge until cool. Then, mist on your face for easy relief. Chamomile tea can also help clear up acne.

~If your face is starting to reflect stress and fatigue, restore a super radiant glow to your skin with a mini facial. Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser; wait a minute before rinsing to make sure all dirt and oil is loosened. Next, soak a washcloth in hot water and several drops of lavender essential oil (which will soothe your skin). Gently press over your face to loosen pores, concentrating on your t-zone. Apply this facial mask to give skin a glow. Blend ½ cup of chopped pineapple (alpha-hydroxy acids lift dead skin cells and debris) and 3 tbsp. of olive oil. Apply this facial mask to give skin a glow, leave on for ten minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Finish by massaging your face gently with a moisturizer for five minutes to help relieve tension.