If you have oily skin you may have discovered the benefits of using an astringent for removing excess oil and improving the appearance of enlarged pores.
Although astringents don’t actually change the size of pores, they do cause skin shrinkage which can help make pores less noticeable as well as cause skin tightening.
And while astringents have their place in the treatment of oily skin, they may be too harsh for normal and dry skin and should probably be avoided for these skin types.
Even if you have oily skin which can benefit from an astringent, the astringents you buy in drugstores often contain ingredients such as alcohol which can be too drying even for oily skin. They also may contain other synthetic ingredients of questionable benefit and safety.
Make a natural astringent
A simple and cost saving alternative is to make your own natural astringent at home. You can make an effective astringent quickly and easily in your own kitchen using a minimum of supplies.
To make an effective astringent for oily skin, you need a substance that has astringent properties. While alcohol is the astringent used in some store bought oily skin astringents, a gentle, natural option is to use witch hazel in your homemade, all natural astringent.
Witch hazel can be purchased at almost any drug store. Another natural substance with astringent properties are the tannins found in black and green teas.
Green tea is an ideal addition to any natural astringent formulation and green tea bags can be purchased inexpensively at most local grocery stores.
Here’s a simple recipe for making a green tea based natural astringent:
Items needed
- Three green tea bags.
- A third of a cup of witch hazel.
- 10 drops of peppermint oil.
- Dark glass bottle.
- Metal pan.
- Measuring cup.
Prepare the green tea infusion
- Place three green tea bags into a glass bowl that’s large enough to hold two cups of water.
- Add two cups of water to the metal pan and bring the water to a temperature of 180 degrees Farenheit on the stovetop.
- Once the water reaches the correct temperature, pour it over the green tea leaves and allow it to steep for two minutes.
- Discard the tea bags and pour the tea into a dark glass bottle.
- Allow the tea to cool.
Add the other ingredients
- Add the witch hazel to the glass bottle containing the green tea.
- Add ten drops of peppermint oil.
- Place the lid on the bottle and shake to blend thoroughly.
- Place the bottle in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
You now have an all natural astringent that’s more effective than most store bought brands. Keep your freshly made, natural astringent in the refrigerator between uses.
The coolness along with the peppermint oil will help to add color and vibrancy to your skin when used first thing in the morning. To use, simply dab your natural astringent onto a cotton pad and apply to the face after cleansing.
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