Spring Cleaning: Homemade DIY Skin Treats

The sun is shining and spring is upon us! Out with the old and in with the new. The idea of deep-cleaning the house during spring time dates back to traditional Persian and Jewish customs. The Iranian practice of ‘khooneh tekouni’ or ‘shaking the house’ is carried out before the Persian New Year on the first day of spring and Jews deep-clean their homes in preparation for the spring time festival of Passover.

Spring is the ideal time to de-clutter and add more Zen to your living space, but it is not only our homes which can benefit from a thorough clean out – our bodies can reap the benefits too. Spring-clean and detoxify your skin with these natural homemade skin transformers to step into spring all shiny and new.

Detoxify your body with body brushing and a detoxifying essential oil blend. Adding body brushing to your routine has many benefits – it stimulates blood and lymph flow, eliminates toxins from the body, stimulates sebum production, removes dead skin cells and encourages cell regeneration – helping to combat cellulite and leaving you with smooth, glowing skin.

Body brushing should be carried out on dry skin before a shower or bath for around five minutes. It is best to use a body brush with natural bristles and a handle. Start at your feet and work upwards, using small circular motions. Always brush in the direction of the heart and be gentle on areas where skin is more sensitive.

This detox body oil contains essential oils and is great for boosting circulation when used on dry skin with a body brush twice daily, concentrating on the hips and thighs. Mix 100ml of grapeseed or safflower oil with 4 drops each of grapefruit, rosemary, pine, juniper, petitgrain and peppermint essential oils. Keep in a dark glass bottle away from sunlight.

Steam-clean your face to sweat out pollution and other skin-nasties. This facial steam blend is ideal for getting rid of blackheads and acne and works wonders for anyone in need of a deep-clean. Add 4 drops of this facial steam essential oil blend to a large bowl of freshly boiled water, place a towel over your head, breathe deeply and relax. The recipe below makes enough for more than one treatment. Combine 4 drops of bergamot, 2 drops chamomile, 4 drops geranium, 4 drops grapefruit, 2 drops juniper and 2 drops of patchouli essential oils in a 10ml dropper bottle.  Add 4 drops per facial steam and use once or two times a week.

There are loads of awesome exfoliating face scrubs available to buy but it is also easy to make your own at home.  Combine 2 teaspoons of cornflour, 2 teaspoons raw brown sugar, 1 teaspoon almond oil and mix with either fresh apple juice [not from concentrate!] for normal skin, or a squeeze of lemon juice for oily skin. Massage gently into damp skin avoiding the eye area and rinse off. Drink around 1.6 to 2 litres of  water and detoxifying herbal tea blends each day, exercise, eat healthily and you’re ready to go –  say hello to sparkling skin this spring!

Ilana Leonard