Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. ~ Coco Chanel

Good day, lovely lovers! Welcome to a continued celebration of true beauty, the overflowing glow of love and health. It is a joy to tune into and share these qualities with you. Considering beauty, love, health, and joy activates their powers within my heart and aura, and I'm happier for it. I hope you find it uplifting as well!

In addition to what I hope have been inspiring words, I have thus far focused on using the gifts of nature to enhance a radiant face (especially pretty skin!) in this Natural Beauty series. First, I introduced some fundamentals for great health, the foundation of beauty. Second, I shared some lovely face wash options. Third, I offered some of my favorite natural toners. Then, I gifted my favorite formula for homemade moisturizer. Today I want to give you recipes for natural exfoliates, and tomorrow I will share face masks! Together these potions make up a fantastic skin care regimen to pamper yourself and care for your body temple.

But why should you adopt any of these suggestions or care at all? Obviously, you don't have to do any of this - you are plenty just as you are! However, this is preventative maintenance that can preserve your body temple much longer and reduce or even eliminate the "signs of aging" that so many people dread. More importantly, it just feels good AF to invest in yourself, to appreciate your skin and your face and your body and your uniqueness, to nurture your light, to delight your senses with touch and textures and smells, to feel good and lovely just for the sake of feeling good and lovely! These natural alchemies have their own benefits, but really it is your devoted self love that will enhance your innate loveliness the most.

In honor of your best self, here are some natural recipes for homemade exfoliates to smooth your skin, slough off dead or unhealthy cells, and leave you feeling clean and fresh:

1. Baking soda

Baking soda is a staple product! It is very inexpensive and has countless uses for health and beauty as well as in the home and kitchen. I already recommended it as a face wash, but personally I prefer to use it as a once a week or so exfoliate rather in my daily routine. It has a grainy texture that helps to scrub my face really well, and my skin feels much shinier after using it. To use: wet your face, and pour 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of baking soda in your hand. Drop a bit of water into it to make a paste, and smear across your face. Rub in small circles all across your skin. Buff with your fingertips for a minute or so, and rinse off. Can also be used to scrub lips to keep them nice and soft.

2. Pineapple

Pineapple has natural acids and enzymes that help dissolve dirt and dead skin cells leaving a bright, fresh face! It is super simple, fast, and effective. It can brighten dark spots, tone skin, and visibly shrink pores. To use: Rub your face with a small piece of fresh pineapple, carefully avoiding the eyes, and let it dry. Follow with a moisturizer.

3. Sugar scrub

It's important to note that all bodies and skin types are a little bit different; what works for one person may not work for another. While I find sugar scrubs a bit harsh for regular use on my face, I LOVE to use them on my lips and body! My lips tend to get chapped quite easily, and a daily sugar scrub keeps them smooth and pink. To use: Make a homemade sugar scrub by mixing 1/2 cup of white or brown organic sugar with 1/2 cup organic olive oil. Exact proportions don't really matter; you want it to look like wet sand. You can mix in a few drops of essential oil if you like; peppermint or lemon are very nice. Store in a Mason jar or one of those with the little latch and rubber seal. Scoop a small bit out with a spoon, and spread on whatever body part you want to exfoliate. Rub in small circles, then rinse off. You may find you don't need moisturizer after this treatment because of the oil in the scrub, but feel free to use some if you want!

I hope you enjoy these Natural Beauty solutions! I will share natural recipes for face masks, eye creams, deodorant, hair and nail care, and MUCH more in upcoming posts.

YOU are beautiful!

💛 Sara!