Oatmeal is the ultimate facial cleanser. It’s gentle to use, exfoliates and soothes dry and irritated skin. It is good for all skin types, but particularly good for sensitive skin. Use carefully if your skin is extremely irritated as anything that exfoliates will be painful and keep the skin from healing properly.
Basic Recipe:
- 1T powdered organic oatmeal
- Distilled Water
Powder the organic oatmeal. I like to use a coffee grinder for small amounts. It creates a very fine powder. Mix with enough distilled water to form a paste. Massage lightly onto your face in a circular motion. Rinse. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes if using as a mask.
Potential Additives
- Honey – hydrates & soothes as well as sweetens the air
- Hydrosols – replace the water with your favorite hydrosol for added scent and healing
- Milk, Buttermilk or Yogurt – replace the water with any of these to soften and moisturize the skin. These are also great for eczema as long as you they do not cause an allergic reaction.
- Essential oils – Add your favorite skin-loving essential oil to help further heal your skin.
When using milk as an additive be sure to store any extra paste in your refrigerator or only make as much as you will use. The amount of 1 Tablespoon of oatmeal should be taken as a starting point and will only make enough for one or two cleansings. You will need a little more for facial masks. If you make too much you can keep it for a few days in the refrigerator depending on your additives. You can also use this as a whole body cleanser if you have severely sensitive skin.