For good reason: Many of the same foods that you use to nurture your body are healthy when applied topically as well. But don’t just take our word for it: There’s actually research to back these claims up. Read below for some of our science-backed favorites: Try it at home: Manuka honey has gained popularity as a face wash recently: Simply apply it to dampened skin and remove with a warm washcloth. You can also use it as a healing mask once a week by applying a thin layer on clean skin for about 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with warm water. People also love it because they find it absorbs easier than other, thicker oils (there’s likely some truth there: It’s a monounsaturated fat, which has higher permeability rates for the dermis6). However, coconut oil has also been found to be comedogenic—pore-clogging—in some patients. It’s also very high in lauric acid, which can accumulate in the top layer of the skin without penetrating, leaving the skin drier over time if used too much. Try it at home: It works as a great base for most DIY beauty products—try it with sea salt for a moisturizing body scrub (see here). The vitamin E also makes it incredibly anti-inflammatory for skin9 experiencing free-radical damage from sun exposure, according to a study. However, studies do show that regular application can exacerbate eczema10, if you are prone to the skin disorder. Try it at home: Organic, virgin olive oil tends to be a go-to for all-natural oil cleansing due to its high antioxidant content and ability to lift off even the most stubborn of makeup. Even if you are not one to oil-cleanse, one drop per eye makes for an excellent makeup remover. Try it at home: It’s a thicker texture, so if you’d like to use it topically, we’d suggest as an intensive hand cream or on your legs post-shave. You can also make pretty wonderful lip products with the butter as a base (find our suggestions for several balms here). Try it at home: Why mess with success—the most popular (and easy) way to use the plant is simply by slicing open a leaf and applying the gel topically. Use it on a fresh burn, along with one drop of pure lavender essential oil. And don’t be surprised by the odd smell of raw aloe—it’s more pungent than you’d expect. Try it at home: Try drawing a colloidal oat bath (or oats ground to a fine powder, so it mixes in with the water), which is especially effective for any itchiness caused by dry skin. Mix in 1 cup to your warm bath water as it’s running. Try it at home: There are plenty of at-home avocado masks out there—many including other items on this list, like honey, yogurt, and oat. To get you started, a half avocado, mashed, is a good base. Try it at home: If you want a lighter oil for a face wash, especially if you are acne-prone, sunflower seed oil will be ideal for cleansing—in fact, many of the popular oil face washes contain the ingredient. You can also use it as a light body oil, applied to wet skin. Try it at home: If you have time in the morning, skip the jade rollers or refrigerated spoons, and opt-for this old-school technique—simply place two chilled slices over your eyes to de-puff and energize skin. Try it at home: You can make pretty great body oils with just a few simple ingredients—like this luxe, yet inexpensive, recipe. Try it at home: First and foremost: Always opt for organic, no-sugar-added options. From there, you can make a variety of masks with yogurt as a base—here are a few options. Try it at home: Use it as a body moisturizer or hair oil (most people will find it too thick as a face oil). However, another common usage is mixing it with olive oil to make a DIY oil cleanser—castor oil is full of triglycerides so it removes dirt. Try it at home: Dry your organic roses first, and gather enough to make a quarter cup. Bring a cup and half to boil, before letting it simmer on low heat. Add the roses and “cook” until all the color is gone from the petals. Drain into a spritzer and store in your fridge. Use it up within a month (remember: This doesn’t contain preservatives, so it will not have the same shelf life as store-bought.) Here’s a handy DIY recipe for you to try.
