One of my favorite ingredients to use in homemade skin care is oatmeal. Oatmeal is soothing since it has anti-inflammatory properties (great for irritated skin), and gently cleanses the skin without over drying it. It is rich in antioxidants and nutrients including vitamin E and zinc. It is super gentle and makes a wonderful mild exfoliant for extremely sensitive skin (it is suitable for sensitive skin that can not tolerate most other exfoliants).
Oatmeal Cleanser:
Coarsely grind a teaspoon or two of oatmeal. Moisten with a liquid such as honey, aloe, distilled water, spring water, or milk.
To use as a mild exfoliating cleanser: use it immediately and make fresh each time. Apply a small amount to damp skin, gently massage the skin, leave it on for a minute, and rinse well.
To use as a non-exfoliating cleanser: moisten with liquids. Wait several minutes until the oatmeal is softened (when oatmeal gets mushy, it no longer exfoliates), and then use.
Store excess in the fridge, and use within a few days (you may need to add more liquid each time you use it). (If you do not wish your oatmeal cleanser to exfoliate, do not make this cleanser with cow or goat milk, since they are mild exfoliants too. However you can make this version with cow or goat milk if you wish–it just won’t be a physical exfoliant but will still exfoliate using the milk’s natural lactic acid)
Some people prefer to cook the oatmeal to soften it faster. If you cook it I recommend making it with water or milk, and then adding other liquids (such as honey or aloe) afterwards.
Oatmeal Mask:
Prepare oatmeal as mentioned above. Use plain or add other great skin care ingredients like almonds (which also mildly exfoliate), clay (kaolin is suitable for all skin types), or essential oils (add only a drop of non-irritating essential oils. Essential oils good for most skin types include lavender, chamomile, palmarosa, or geranium). Add extra liquids (like honey, etc) if needed. Apply to damp skin, leave on for 5 to 20 minutes (5 minutes if your skin is extremely sensitive; 15-20 minutes for most other people). Rinse well.
After cleansing or masking, be sure to tone/hydrate and also moisturize the skin Oatmeal cleanser and mask technically doesn’t need a toner after use, but I still recommend using a natural toner to hydrate the skin.
Li has over two decades of plant knowledge and experience! She is an aromatherapist (trained in clinical aromatherapy and advanced aromatic medicine), herbalist (trained in family, community, and clinical herbalism), natural perfumer, natural formulator, eco living writer, and environmental scientist/biologist.
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Li has over two decades of plant knowledge and experience! She is an aromatherapist (trained in clinical aromatherapy and advanced aromatic medicine), herbalist (trained in family, community, and clinical herbalism), natural perfumer, natural formulator, eco living writer, and environmental scientist/biologist.
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