Did you know your skin is the largest organ of your body? It weighs on average six pounds and covers and area of two square yards.
Many people don’t think of the skin as an organ, but it is.
And besides protecting your body from all of the invaders of the outside world, it’s also one of the top five primary organs for the elimination of toxic waste from your system.
In a perfect world, the skin would eliminate 2lbs of toxins daily to keep up with the demands of today’s world.
We only get one set of skin so taking care of it through all of life’s iterations and not routinely adding to its toxic load is vitally important.
That’s why today’s blog covers 7 effective, natural alternatives from the conventional and often clogging, over-the-counter creams and salves.
These wonderful alternatives can be used to soothe, prevent, or reverse common skin issues like eczema, psoriasis or other rashes, sunburn, stretch marks and wrinkles. They are just as effective, if not more effective than the “unnatural” stuff.
1 & 2: Shea Butter and Vitamin E
Stretch marks primarily form when the connective tissue of the skin gets stretched beyond its limit. Collagen production is decreased and that leads to those fine scars on the upper layer of the skin.
Shea butter and Vitamin E oil are the single best combination for stretch marks stemming from sudden fast weight loss, pregnancy, or the prolonged use of corticosteroids.
Shea butter is extracted from a nut native to Africa. Because it contains a high concentration of linoleic and oleic fatty acids, it helps the skin to remain hydrated naturally and stimulates collagen production, thereby rejuvenating the skin and reducing stretch marks.
It’s high in vitamin E and vitamin A, which help considerably with skin repair. It also contains a natural sun-protecting factor, which prevents skin from drying and over tanning.
Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it very soothing.
When Vitamin E oil is added, you double your protection because Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects the collagen fibers in the skin, promoting skin elasticity.
I faithfully use FATCO’s Body Butta as my daily hand and body moisturizer and I love it. Not only does it contain shea butter and vitamin E (from avocado and olive oil), but its base is tallow from grass-fed cows, providing an added dose of anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids.
I also absolutely love that it contains magnesium oil. The skin absorbs magnesium at 10x the rate of oral consumption, making this the best way get your daily magnesium for calmer moods and better sleep.
They top it off with essential oils of sage and lavender to ward off bad bacteria and to further soothe and nourish the skin. It’s my one stop shop for total skin nourishment on a daily basis.
Alternatively, you can try making it yourself!
- 5-10 drops of essential oil(s) of your choice
- 1 part avocado oil
- 1 part vitamin E oil
- 2 parts olive oil
- 3 parts shea butter
- 10 sprays of magnesium oil
Optional: 1 part of free-range duck fat to make your own, homemade version of “Body Butta”.
If you are using this as daily maintenance for skin health, once a day is fine. If your goal is to prevent or reduce stretch marks, rub it on the affected area twice daily.
3: Coconut Oil
Keeping it simple, our old stand by and tried and true favorite all around product for just about anything is coconut oil.
We already know it’s antibacterial, antifungal, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory.
We should always keep one in the kitchen to cook with and one in the bathroom to use on our skin and hair (or for oil pulling).
Coconut oil is often used for stretch marks due to its immense moisturizing properties because it gets absorbed so quickly. It’s also high in antioxidants which fight free radicals and nourish damaged skin. The healthful saturated fat content makes for stronger cell walls.
4 & 5: Aloe Vera Gel and Calendula Cream
(aka The Dream Team for Rashes)
These are the two best options to temper any kind of rash, especially eczema or psoriasis.
Keep in mind, it’s very important to get to the root cause of rashes by doing your due diligence of digestive diagnosis and repair because most of these conditions begin in the gastrointestinal tract (another main elimination organ, when not able to do it’s job, will send out toxins via the skin).
In the meantime, using aloe vera gel and calendula cream together can do wonders to temper discomfort naturally.
Aloe Vera Gel is quick and highly effective at soothing and calming the skin. It’s derived from the aloe vera plant, a common houseplant that closely resembles a cactus. Aloe works on the inflammatory process by reducing inflammation.
When combined together, calendula can pick up where aloe vera gel leaves off because it works to produce collagen directly at the rash/wound site.
Step 1 is to reduce inflammation and step 2 is to stimulate new skin growth and healing – making these two a most powerful layering combination.
Calendula can work wonders in a matter of days during an acute rash. It’s an herb/flower hailing from the marigold family that has been used for centuries for wound healing, scrapes, minor burns, chafing and rashes.
It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, antifungal, antiviral, and immunostimulant properties making it useful for disinfecting and treating minor wounds, conjunctivitis, cuts, scrapes, chapped or chafed skin, bruises, burns, athlete’s foot, acne, yeast infections, bee stings, diaper rashes, and other minor irritations and infections of the skin.
I like this Boiron Calendula and Jason Aloe Vera gel in the store, but if I am more proactive, I order both from Mountain Rose for an elevated level of quality.
6: Hyaluronic Acid – The Wrinkle Buster
Hyaluronic acid is naturally present throughout the body. It works to coat, repair, and protect. It’s especially concentrated in the eyes and skin, where it helps with both lubrication (its job is to sustain moisture) and shape. We also find it in the synovial fluid of joints where it works to keep us loose.
Hyaluronic acid is involved in a number of processes, including hydration, repair, and even the formation of collagen and elastin, which helps skin retain its shape.
For cosmetic purposes, HA is often extracted from the Japanese sweet potato and gelatinous root vegetables.
Since the compound is found throughout the body, taking it internally may help restore lubrication to important areas like the joints, skin, and eyes.
A 2002 study proved after 4 weeks of consumption (as compared to a placebo group), those ingesting hyaluronic acid reported better skin quality, more retention of moisture, and less dryness.
Barlean’s has just come out with a new swirl product of hyaluronic acid if you prefer to consume your hyaluronic acid.
Physicians use hyaluronic acid injections to alleviate the pain of osteoarthritis and to fill in or “plump out” fine lines and wrinkles.
How it works:
Hyaluronic acid naturally moisturizes and plumps the skin by helping skin hold on to its moisture, a main reason why it’s so effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles when applied topically.
It also repairs tissue damage and can reverse sun damage by encouraging the formation of collagen and elastin, keeping skin supple.
When applied topically, it forms a protective layer that—although it “breathes” and air can permeate it—it locks in moisture and protects the skin from outside elements, particularly from harmful UV rays.
My favorite natural line of skin care that has high quality hyaluronic acid is Annmarie Gianni. Their products are 100% natural, totally affordable, and highly effective.
7: Vitamin C!
Never underestimate the power of this amazing vitamin!
Vitamin C can fade scars and age spots in as little as four weeks. Epicurean and Annmarie Gianni are my favorites when it comes to C serum.
I like how Annemarie Gianni uses buriti fruit oil, rosehip seed oil and carrot seed oil to rejuvenate the skin. The bioflavonoids in the rosehip oil are especially amazing for reducing redness caused by broken capillaries and rosacea.
I have a touch of rosacea. Diet has improved it dramatically (see my blog: 5 Unsuspecting Foods with More Vitamin C than an Orange), and then the vitamin C serum has taken care of the rest.
There you have it friends. 7 superstar, effective ways to take care of your precious skin!
Are you using any of these already? Are you excited to try some of them? Leave a comment below and let us know what is working for you!
Hempseed oil is the very best thing I’ve found for skin & hair (even better than coconut oil & olive oil!) Just a few spoonsful taken daily – the amount depends on your size – makes skin velvety smooth & hair really healthy.
Is it better to take hyaluronic acid orally or topically?
I love your site and blog. I’ve been so addicted to your videos. I’ve told so many friends about you and texted urls like crazy. You are so free with your insight and information. It’s very refreshing.
I love to make my own skin stuff. I just recently made lotion bars with some friends. Equal parts coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. Shea butter is so nourishing.
I’ve been a long time user of Karite Lips lip balm. It’s one of the only lip balms I’ve used that really repairs dry lips. I think that has everything to do with shea butter.
Do you have a suggestion for healing EXTREMELY dry skin without nut oils? My 4yr old daughter has a nut allergy. Nut oils give her a rash and irritate her skin to no end. I hate using the chemical laden lotions on her, but I haven’t been able to find a natural moisturizer that doesn’t contain nut oils.
Here’s a few Ayurvedic suggestions-Try organic ghee make from clarified cow’s butter. Do a patch test to see if she can tolerate it and then a bigger test until you are confident she is okay with it. Don’t use soap on her skin unless you have to and use a mild organic version, perhaps an olive oil base would work for her? If her skin is dry, then she probably needs more oil in her diet-avocados, ghee, olive oil, etc. if she can digest them.
Hi Michelle, have you tried jojoba oil, apparently a seed not a nut. It may be an option for your little one. My mom used to make me calendula ointment with oil infused with calendula that really helped my skin. Wishing you success.
I’m running low on my storebought Dr. Organics moisturizer and was just thinking I should look into making my own so this is a well timed article! Has anyone found that the coconut oil or olive oil based homemade moisturizers stain your clothing? Thanks!
Coconut oil is my go-to but have found that castor oil will also work to reduce wrinkles and sun spots. Love, love, love your suggestions for many reasons but one of the most obvious is to reduce the toxins used topically to “protect and moisturize” my skin and hair. Wellness Mamma has a great DIY shampoo recipe too – she’s great! Thank you!! P.S. I’m 62 🙂
That’s great for the people who are just preventing stretch marks, but i got a lot of them on my stomach when I gained weight, not when losing it (which I have done too). Would you have someone who has really dark marks to use the some formula?? Thanks!!!!!!
The Fat Face Body Butta looks like it has a great ingredient list but it says that it contains magnesium oil which is not really oil, it’s magnesium flakes and distilled water. If it’s true that this product contains magnesium oil, it would require an emulsifier to emulsify all the oils it contains. There isn’t an emulsifier listed??? Also, if water is present there should definitely be a broad spectrum preservative in this to prevent microbial contamination and mold. I have no problem using a product with all the oils, but it concerns me that like some other companies who want the public to think they are 100% organic with no synthetic ingredients, they are including water or water soluble ingredients in products that contain oils and not preserving them. This is really dangerous. Not to mention omitting the use of an emulsifier which would be necessary to hold the product together from separating.
Hmm, would appreciate hearing Christa’s response to this . . .
Christa, do we still keep taking pau d’arco tea when we are on phase 2 or should we stop? Thanks!
Hello christa, great advice my problem is I have rashes on my face due to discoid lupus nothing works any suggestion internally or topically
Thanks
Christa, What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend? Thanks for what you do! You are true motivation for me!
i quit buying all and any made skin care products – olive oil, coconut oil, home made body butter, rosehip and apricot kernel oil are at my fingertips and i use them as i feel from day to day; the result: less clogged pores for sure; my skin has always been very soft, so i can only say it still is and the wrinkles? may be if i used any thing more consistently……. definitely save a lot of $$$$ 🙂
Nice!
I discovered Tea Tree Oil about a year ago and use it for all sorts of skin issues. I had very dry hands after using spray foam without wearing gloves (yeah, kinda dumb!) and then with the dry weather no amount of coconut oil moisture cream would help. A few days ago I put a dropperful of Tea Tree Oil in the cream and mixed it up. The next day it was noticeably better and today my hands are back to normal. Heals cuts almost overnight as well. I use essential oils for their healing properties more than the scent. They are amazing.
Christa, you are a wealth of information and I love the tips I learn from you. I’m going to make some of that “body budda” cream too. Thanks so much for all you do.
Oh, BTW, I healed my Gingivitus by taking Collagen Hydrolysate. It only took a few weeks too. I was pretty sure that was what did it and then one day I heard you tell folks that it would heal gum disease. Thanks for that confirmation. Working on healing my rotting teeth now. They are getting better but I need more time to heal the missing enamel! Just bought some more “ingredients” to put in the mix.
So awesome, Ginger!
Have you tried Oil Pulling for healing the teeth? It’s a 5,000 year old treatment for dental carries from Ayurveda, the system of Medicine from India.
Thanks so much Sophie. I have actually tried this before but I never did it for very long and had a really hard time keeping it in my mouth for very long. It’s like your mouth has to develop the muscle to be able to do it for the length of time that they recommend I think. My mouth gets tired fast. But now that you’ve reminded of this process, I will give it another try.
Thx for this blog! I’m always trying to improve my DIY regimen and this info really helps, along with confirming what I’m already doing. 🙂
Regarding the homemade body butter, if you are using the optional duck fat, can this be stored long-term at room temp. without going rancid? Just curious.
Good question Nancy. I keep it in the fridge with the duck fat in it, but not sure b/c Body Butta you don’t have to refrigerate. Let me double check with my friend Cassie who makes Fat Face and get back to you on this. 🙂
Terrific column – and please please please update us all when you find out about Nancy’s questions with your friend Cassie??! Thanks so much!
One thing you can do Nancy, is add mixed Tocepherols to an all oil/butter product to retard rancidity and oxidation. You want the mixed form of tocepherol because it contains alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms of the tocepherols/tocotrienols which helps to extend the shelf life of oils, even without refrigeration, although refrigeration helps to extend it even longer. Regular Vitamin E Acetate is the form that is best applied topically to skin. You can buy the mixed tocepherol version from Solgar that contains all four of the tocotrienols to help with rancidity and oxidation of your oils. It comes in a 2 oz bottle with a dropper. Just add 1% to your total product weight, so if you have 100 grams(approx. 3 1/2 oz) just add 1 gram of the Vitamin E oil. You can add more as it will not hurt the product to go over 1%. You can also do a google search of the shelf life of different oils to determine how quickly they can go rancid. Some oils like hazelnut and grapeseed have a much shorter shelf life (3 to 6 months) and we don’t really know how long they have been sitting on a shelf before we purchase them. I always add the mixed tocepherols to a bottle of oil as soon as I open it (and date the bottle) and then store it in the fridge. I still add 1% when I make an all oil product with a blend of oils.
I am 58 years old and have been cleaning my face with coconut oil for the last 7 months and my skin has improved tremendously. It has taken away all of the tiny lines around my eyes, I have had many compliments on my skin.
Sounds wonderful, congratulations! Do you mind sharing how you clean your face?
I recently switched to Beautycounter skincare and makeup, it’s AMAZING!!! Safe and 100% toxic free!
http://www.beautyfreeofchemicals.beautycounter.com/
Awesome info as usual!? thanks so much. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from you.
I use both living libations and Annemarie Gianni skincare. Love them both! Christa, thank you for always putting out such great information. I loved your interviews recently with Sean Croxten in the Gut Series!
Check out Living Libations. Beautiful essential oil products