5 Natural Ways to Clean Your Face

I confess, sometimes I break the rule of always washing my face before going to bed. Soap cleanser leaves my skin dry and tight, and I rationalize not using it because I wear very little makeup.

I realized that the cleanser I had been using since my teenage years probably wasn’t the best for my complexion. Not knowing what to use, I stopped using it and started rubbing my face with coconut oil.

At first, I was sure that this oil would cause blackheads and breakouts on my skin, but it was the opposite, my complexion was amazing. Radiant, even. And when I switched back to my old cleanser while on vacation, I got a pimple!

What type of cleanser do you need? The answer is… it depends on many factors: your skin type, makeup use, the season of the year, etc. I’ve continued with the coconut oil, but there are days when you need to exfoliate and remove extra makeup residue.

So I started experimenting with cleansers that weren’t commercial formulas to clean my face, like this homemade one I made. A trip to the kitchen is all you need to try one of these 5 methods that will gently cleanse your complexion.

1. Milk

The classic cleanser that gave Cleopatra that immaculate complexion. The lactic acid present in milk works to remove dead cells from the epidermis while milk proteins and fat hydrate and plump the skin.

To use it, simply pour a small amount into the palm of your hand and gently massage your complexion. You can also combine whole milk with a beaten egg to hydrate dry complexion or add aloe vera to soothe sensitive skin.

You can benefit from milk’s properties from head to toe by adding 2 to 4 cups to your bath water.

2. Oats

Oatmeal is one of the best natural cleansers hiding in your pantry. Its gentle texture softly exfoliates the epidermis, making it a perfect cleanser for sensitive skin.

Grind a handful of oat flakes into a fine powder. You can keep it in a sealed container until you need to use it.

Mix it with a small amount of water, oil, or aloe vera in the palm of your hand to make a paste. Apply it to the complexion in circular motions and rinse off with warm water.

You can mix various grains by adding wheat germ, flaxseed, cornmeal, or ground rice to the oatmeal. This way you will benefit from all their properties.

3. Lemon

I’m a fan of lemons! They are a great cleanser for oily complexion and brighten the complexion by evening out the tone to make it look younger. You can use it combined with milk or yogurt to create a creamier cleanser or apply lemon juice after cleansing the skin as a non-abrasive exfoliant.

I like to apply freshly squeezed lemon juice directly to my complexion, let it absorb for a few minutes, and then moisturize with a cream (without rinsing it off).

You will notice it stings and feels like your complexion is somewhat dry, but it is actually quite refreshing—just don’t get it in your eyes!

4. Sugar

Sugar is another great exfoliant and can gently cleanse the complexion. For this, you will need a finely ground sugar so that it isn’t too abrasive for the face.

Mix the ground sugar with a small amount of water or oil to make a paste. I like to use coconut or olive oil because you also get their moisturizing and nourishing benefits. You can also use aloe vera if your complexion is oily.

Gently massage the paste all over your face (and body, if you wish) and then rinse off.

5. Honey

I’ve just started using honey on my skin regularly, and wow, it feels incredible! Honey is a natural humectant that absorbs moisture from the air, leaving the complexion moist, soft, and plumper.

Moreover, raw honey has amazing healing properties that soothe irritated complexion and reduce redness. You can combine 1/2 cup of honey with 1-2 tablespoons of Castile soap for a foaming cleansing gel.

Regardless of which of these cleansers I use, I always finish with coconut oil to moisturize and nourish deeply. Plus, sometimes I like to do a double cleanse to get rid of all the makeup.

And after that, you can continue with your normal skincare routine.

Discover in this post the difference between cleansing and removing makeup.
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