12 Days of Self-Care: Day 5
Rejuvenate your in-home skin routine on the fifth day of self-care
By Brandi McMurry
Photo by Christopher Gibson, DIY face cream for the fifth day of self-care
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and protects your insides from environmental factors like bacteria, chemicals, and temperatures. On the fourth day of self-care, we are going to treat our skin with a yogurt-based facial!
Moisturizing is important as we age to keep our skin young! Hot showers are soo nice, but can really dry out our face. Moisturizing directly after your shower can help.
As a colon hydrotherapist, I place an emphasis on my own digestive health in addition to my clients. I eat yogurt daily as a healthy snack and my body benefits from the probiotics.
Your skin, however, can also benefit from the probiotics found in yogurt when applied topically!
Why Yogurt? The Science behind the Yogurt Face Cream
In a study published by the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, they considered the effect probiotics have on the immune system, acne, and aging.
The study showed that probiotics applied topically to acne blemishes had a 50 percent reduction in 8 weeks.
“Two clinical trials of topical preparations of probiotics have assessed their effect on acne. The first trial applied Enterococcus fecalis lotion to the face for 8 weeks; a 50% reduction of inflammatory lesions was noted compared to placebo (Kang et al., 2009). A reduction in acne count, size, and associated erythema was again noted during a clinical study of Lactobacillus plantarum 5% extract”
Probiotics can help fight against pathogenic bacteria, strengthen the barrier between the skin and internal body, and help the body adapt its immunity response.
“Clinically, the topical application of probiotics has also been shown to modify the barrier function of the skin with a secondary increase in antimicrobial properties of the skin… By inducing the production of healthy ceramides, it helps restore healthy fats, which can benefit acne directly and counter common side effects resulting from acne therapies.”
The Recipe
Plain yogurt is best to create face cream. You can opt for either regular cow's milk yogurt that is rich in calcium, or greek yogurt that is thicker and easier to apply to the skin. Either option is rich in probiotics.
1/2 cup yogurt, 1 tsp. honey, and 1/2 tsp. of ground turmeric for inflammatory or oily skin.
Honey is a great option for mix because it has antibacterial properties. Turmeric can help fight inflammation that causes acne or blemishes.
1/4 cup yogurt, 1 tbsp. honey, and 1 tbsp. aloe vera gel for irritated skin.
Aloe is known for its healing ability for burns, however, its cooling effect is a great addition to your moisturizer. The aroma is glorious, and the sensation is calming if your skin is irritated.
1 cup yogurt and a few drops of fresh lemon juice for hyperpigmentation.
Lemon juice is a great addition to your yogurt face cream because it is rich in Vitamin C, which can help brighten your skin tone and even out pigmentation. Strawberries can be a great substitute for lemon and can act as a great exfoliator to gently clean deep dirt in pores.
Photo by Christopher Gibson of Brandi McMurry wearing DIY yogurt face mask.
I tried my own recipe including 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 teaspoon of ground coffee, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground Tumeric. I let the mixture absorb into my skin for about 20 minutes, then used a warm towel to remove it. The cream felt refreshing on my face, and genuinely clean. Immediately following the treatment my glowing skin felt silky soft, hydrated, fresh.
Your face, your smile, is arguably your identity. When we look in the mirror, the reflection we see is often referred to as our “organ of emotion” So, on this fourth day of self-care do yourself the honor of treating your face to an awakening tête-à-tête, and be thankful for your unique beauty. Namaste.
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