A young woman uses homemade skin care remedies for her skinimalism routine.

DIY skin care: 4 natural ingredients for at-home relief

October 26, 2021

Your skin is your body’s biggest organ and its first line of defense from the outside world. Business empires revolve around skin care, and finding the right products can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, natural ingredients for skin care can work just as well. Here are four homemade skin care remedies:

Tea tree oil spot treatment for acne
Aloe vera sunburn salve
Oatmeal bath for eczema
Turmeric tea for psoriasis

Keep on reading for more information about each remedy, and don’t forget to consult with your primary care physician before using at-home skin treatments.

Skinimalism routine with DIY skin care ingredients

But first: What is skinimalism? Skinimalism is a beauty trend where less is more when it comes to skin care and makeup products. This concept focuses more on how to make your skin glow naturally.

1. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an extract from Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree that is native to Australia. Studies show that tea tree oil could significantly improve mild to moderate acne. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that help in the treatment of pimples and other inflammatory lesions.

How to make a tea tree oil spot treatment:

Dilute tea tree oil. Combine one to two drops of tea tree oil with either 12 drops of a carrier oil, such as coconut, jojoba, or avocado oil, or nine drops of clean water.
Perform a patch test. Apply the diluted tea tree oil to the inside of your elbow and watch for signs of redness, irritation, or sensitivity.
Cleanse. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then pat dry with a clean towel.
Dab. Apply the diluted tea tree oil onto a cotton ball or pad, then dab onto blemishes.
Let dry. Let the spot treatment dry before sealing in with your choice of moisturizer.
Repeat twice a day. Use the spot treatment in the morning and again in the evening before going to bed.

Consult your primary care physician to help address the underlying causes of your acne and for prescription treatment options.

2. Aloe vera

This chunky and versatile succulent has been used through the years in many cultures to treat wounds and burns. Aloe vera has been shown to help heal first- and second-degree burns, including mild and moderate sunburns, thanks to aloin, an anti-inflammatory compound present within the plant. The clear gel of the aloe vera plant also has moisturizing properties that can help prevent the peeling that comes with sunburns.

How to make an aloe vera sunburn salve:

Break off a chunk of the plant. If you have access to an aloe vera plant, break off a leaf and squeeze the gel onto the affected area.
Use aloe gel. If you can’t use an actual plant, use a 100% aloe vera gel to layer directly over your sunburn.

3. Oatmeal

Organic oatmeal in colloidal form (colloidal oatmeal) has been historically used to treat various skin conditions, including erythema, skin rashes, and eczema. In a 2012 study of colloidal oatmeal, researchers revealed that colloidal oatmeal could protect the skin and soothe itching and irritation. Besides having emollient properties—it can lock in skin’s moisture—colloidal oats also have saponin, a chemical that acts as a gentle cleanser.

What is erythema? Erythema is a type of skin rash caused by inflamed blood capillaries. It manifests as a patchy, superficial reddening of the skin and can result from heat, insect bites, allergies, and sun exposure.

How to make an oatmeal mask or bath for eczema:

Create colloidal oatmeal. Make your colloidal oatmeal by blending dry, rolled oats to a fine powder.
Make a paste for spot treatment. Add water to a bit of colloidal oatmeal powder and apply directly to the affected area.
Sprinkle in bathwater. Add at least two heaping tablespoons of the powder to a warm bath. Proceed to soak and luxuriate!

4. Turmeric

While it may sound unfamiliar, this bright yellow root is a cousin of ginger and is widely used as a ground spice to flavor foods and boost DIY home skin treatments. It gets its antioxidant and inflammatory properties from the bioactive component curcumin, which may help suppress psoriasis flares. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends adding turmeric to drinks or food to manage symptoms.

How to make a turmeric tea for psoriasis:

Boil tea. Put a teaspoon of ground turmeric or a knob of organic turmeric in four cups of water and bring to a boil.
Simmer. Once the liquid boils, reduce the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Strain and sweeten. Strain the tea, and add either honey or lemon to taste.

Great skin comes with overall health, so cap off your DIY home skin care treatment with a virtual visit with a Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group primary care physician. You can consult with them about your skin conditions and overall health during your general wellness check.