I’m an addict.

Beauty products, makeup, funny little brushes, and lotions are stock piled at home. I’m hording them for the day I decide to give them a try or for the next threat of apocalypse. Whichever comes first. I’m especially a sucker for the ‘gift with purchase’ ploy used by cosmetic companies to spend even more money on stuff I don’t need.

Now that I’ve taken the first step towards recovery by admitting my addiction, I can move on to exploring life cosmetics-free. This will be a challenge.

A major part of my resolution this year is to embrace a more holistic approach to optimal living by choosing products that are organically produced or by making my own items using natural ingredients. Healthy living is more than just a clean diet and exercise. It encompasses a commitment to wellness in all aspects, including mental and emotional well-being, spirituality, and respect for the environment.

As I learn more about the benefits of plants and produce, I realize that there are many substitutions I can make for the chemically laden products I use on a daily basis. Although I don’t have a habit of taking over-the-counter medicines at all and just ride out whatever ache or pain, it’s extremely helpful to have a natural alternative via herbs or plants.

Given my addiction to beauty items and cosmetics, I am particularly concerned with how I can replace these pricey goods with homemade solutions that are just as effective at a fraction of the cost. Not only will this help me achieve my goal to eliminate as much of the unnatural as possible, but it has the added bonus of reducing my carbon footprint.

My friend and fellow Ella Leadership Network member, Ana, started Latina Flare to offer beauty tips that are affordable and as natural and organic as possible. She’s already shared her grandmother’s all-natural recipe for hair loss and I can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!

Here is her latest installment featuring a homemade facial exfoliator that is already on my to-do for this weekend. Take it away Ana! 🙂

An Exfoliator That Truly Works!

Last week I was shopping for makeup at Macy’s and I was a little surprised when I saw how expensive their exfoliators were; they ranged between $20-$60 a bottle! Even a Neutrogena scrub, which sells at CVS for about $12, can turn expensive since you need to buy 2 bottles a month if you scrub about 2x or 3x a week.

Now, I know exfoliating is very important because even if you don’t have an acne problem, they help clean your skin, by remove all the dead skin and impurities from your face and pores. Yet, I still don’t think someone should spend close to $30 dollars a month on these sorts of products!

So, on that note, today I wanted to share with you what I use as an exfoliator. It is a simple, easy-to-make and affordable scrub. You probably have already heard about it, but this scrub is so good I couldn’t stop myself from sharing it!

The scrub I use is a sugar and honey scrub!

The secret in this scrub lies within the benefits of honey, which include reducing wrinkles, leaving the skin much softer, and many more!

The ingredients are pretty simple,

• ½ a cup of Sugar (granulated)
• Honey.The recipe is even simpler:

• Put the sugar in a bowl, (You might need less than ½ a cup? Try to use enough to cover your face!)

• Add enough honey to make it a paste.

• Exfoliate your face for about 1-2 minutes with your scrub.

I have very oily skin and I used to have very clogged pores and blackheads all over my nose and chin. This scrub has really helped me get better skin.

Sometimes I will even add a few drops of lemon/lime juice. Lemon juice is proven to help brighten skin, so if you have dark spots, burns or scars this can really help reduce their appearance! And sometimes instead of sugar I will use oatmeal for a much gentler scrub!

I usually do this when I am taking a hot shower. The steam and water helps opens up your pores and soften the oil and impurities you might have stuck in there, so I will put my face under the shower for about 1-2 minutes and then turn away exfoliate my face with my homemade scrub!

But just like other exfoliator you should exfoliate responsibly, once or twice a week at most would be ideal! I really love this scrub because it uses ingredients that you can find at home, or can purchase from you local store for under 12 dollars and last you about 2-3 months.

I also love the fact that I know exactly what is going on my face! Does it ever bother you reading all the ingredients in your scrub or cleanser and not knowing what they mean?  This scrub gets rid of those two evils and at least in my experience really has done wonders to my skin! I really hope you all try it and let me know how well it works for you!

You can follow Ana on Twitter @Ana_C_Varela and right here on WordPress at LatinaFlare.