Fermented Skincare At Home

We already know about the health benefits of eating fermented food, but I recently stumbled upon some articles touting the benefits of putting them on your face!

In the past few years there have been countless new products that incorporate fermented ingredients, and most of them cost a pretty penny. From Gwyneth Paltrow's fermented beauty recommendations to mainstream beauty magazines, it seems like the fermentation fad is everywhere. And like most beauty and health phenomena, it's easy to write them off as a passing trend. But this particular topic piqued my interest when I realized that my most beloved and effective at-home facial treatment is one that includes fermented ingredients. No DIY or store bought treatment has done quite as much for me as this probiotic packed mask, and so I have to say: there might actually be something to the fermentation fad.

So fear not, friends, if you want to try out the effects of fermented skincare at home, here is a cost-effective (and just generally effective) recipe! I've also included benefits of each ingredient. 

I can only imagine what would happen if you make this recipe with high potency homemade yogurt, so if you really want to give this a go, I recommend making the yogurt yourself. We have tons of cultures and yogurt making resources HERE. 

Before you begin: ***beware!*** the turmeric in this recipe will stain. I recommend wearing something you don't care about and using a dark-colored towel to pat your face dry. It will take a quite a bit of rinsing to remove the yellow from your face, but well worth it for the radiance that follows!  If you're not up for the mess, you can leave it out, and the mask is still lovely, but I personally think it's one of the most effective ingredients. 

The Recipe: 

Mix all ingredients together in a small glass bowl until smooth. Put on face and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rise with warm water and pat dry. 

1 Tbsp Turmeric*** - increases circulation, brightens skin, and is anti-inflammatory.

2 Tbsp  Unsweetened, Plain Yogurt (we like greek) - Probiotic packed, the lactic acid kills bad bacteria and replaces it with good. The fat in the yogurt adds moisture. 

1-2 Tsp Honey- Honey is soothing, gently exfoliating, as well as probiotic (after all, it's a fermentation process from bees!) Combined with lemon has a brightening effect. 

1/2 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice -packed with AHA's and BHA's which remove dead skin cells and help with discoloration. 

Add ons:

For Dry Skin: Add a bit of oat flour or Avocado (maybe 1 tsp). Oat flour is moisturizing and soothing. The fats in avocado are moisturizing. 

For Very Poor-Circulation or Dull Looking Skin: I recommend doing a test patch on your arm with a small amount of your mask that includes cayenne. Adding too much will not only feel very uncomfortable, but can also make your face a bit red.  Add 1/16 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or less than a teeny pinch... a little goes a LONG way). This will tingle a little, but everybody is different, so if it starts to burn or is unpleasant, rinse off the mask. This ingredient is only for those who want to really increase circulation in a tangible way. Make sure to keep it away from your eyes ;) 

For Acne: Add egg white (1/2 tsp). This will tighten pores and has a soothing effect.