Turmeric for Smooth, Glowing Skin
Not that my life was truly uprooted because of this quarantine debocle, but, I have devoted more time and attention to DIY skincare as much I have these DIY hair masks and hot oil treatments.
To begin, I'm definitely a minimalist. The simpler it is, the better. With that being said, I need the origin of my ingredients to be easily traced back to a tree, shrub, flower or root. I take natural hair care seriously and prefer not to put products on my hair and skin that can be used as a filler in car engine oil, ya know?
I'd seen turmeric added to quite a few face masks done by some bloggers and vloggers online. They used it for various things like treating their acne and brightening their skin tone.
It didn’t take much to convince me that I needed to dig a little deeper and find out what was truly good about this yellow root- so I did.
One hundred and fifty videos and articles later (I don't really know the number), I bought turmeric essential oil. What I learned about turmeric was all good:
Turmeric is high in antioxidants that fight oxidative damage on the skin
It has anti-inflammatory properties that that reduce dandruff and treat eczema
Turmeric is naturally abrasive and works as a mild exfoliant.
It is antibacterial and anti-fungal so it’s great for cleaning the scalp
Turmeric is known to brighten skin tones.
So yes, I was sold.
Turmeric For Hair
When my turmeric essential oil arrived in the mail, I was pumped! I added it to my black soap washes, my hot oil treatments and my scalp oils.
I didn’t notice anything spectacular while using it. There were no adverse effects like itching, burning or what have you. But chiiiiile, it definitely smelled like some turmeric! There wasn’t too much I could do to get rid of the smell aside from adding other essential oils that were more overpowering. For that, my peppermint, lemongrass and tea tree oils ALWAYS win.
Turmeric For Skin
Using turmeric essential oil was cool. Like I said, I didn’t notice anything spectacular while using it, but, in my defense, my dandruff and eczema symptoms weren’t enough of a problem for me to really need a remedy. Evidently, the preventative measures I’d been taking was enough to keep the itch and flakes away. However, I continued to add it to my oil mixes and washes because I couldn’t refute the long-term benefits of using it.
I’m sure we have all used some type of mask, scrub, wash, peel, or WHATEVER for a DIY treatment of some kind. I’ve used them for under-eye bags, acne, dandruff, hair growth, eczema, burns, dryness- you name it.
When I was “studying” brands, products and regimens at that time, turmeric (and coffee) always seemed to be in the mix. I was told in my early days of going back to natural that “If it can go on your hair, it can go in your mouth, so if it can’t- then don’t.” Back then, that certainly sounded good, but THESE days, it feels good to actually do that!
First Time Using Turmeric and Why It Went Bad
I made my first turmeric face mask with just turmeric and water. I applied it and left it on until it dried completely and began to flake off. Listen, I was young. I say THAT to say this:
I was yellow.
I mean REALLY…yellow. My finger nails, my fingers and my face shined bright like a yellow diamond. (Not really- it was much murkier.) I definitely neglected to wash the turmeric from my face and not only that, I learned it’s best to mix and apply your tumeric with a makeup brush or while wearing gloves. I rinsed a few times and then I wiped clean. Lesson learned.
A couple washes later, my face was less yellow and my fingers looked hopeless.
My skin however, felt incredibly smooth (and now dry from washing). I don’t remember which carrier oil I used on my face after the fact, but I remember my skin feeling “sooooo soft.”
That was a few years ago. Here we are, April 2020.
I’m fancy now, or so I proclaim. I’m 16 years into my natural hair journey and I dig plant-based DIY so much that I started a natural hair care business of my own. DIY projects fuel the creative in me. All I want to do is mix this with that, buy this and try that. So that’s exactly what I did with the turmeric.
I ADDED:
Cacao
very high antioxidant content that repairs damage on the skin
high anti-inflammatory response (great for redness and acne)
high mineral content that tones and smooths the skin
one of the best sources of phytonutrients, including omega 3’s that slow ageing
Maca Root
strengthens the skin
encourages collagen production
stimulates follicles and promotes growth
high nutrient and antioxidant content reduces blemishes and inflammation and nourishes the skin
Aloe Powder
nutrient content repairs damage and replenishes moisture
high in antioxidants
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and and antibacterial
very concentrated, offering the same potency as fresh aloe
Neem Oil
antibacterial
anti-fungal
anti-parasitic
moisturizing
wound-healing abilities
I mixed the dry ingredients together in equal amounts. No specific measurements here. I eye-balled what I thought I’d need to cover my face and neck and added enough neem oil to create a pancake-batter type of consistency.
I absolutely LOVED the way my skin felt after washing this mask from my skin. I did one thorough wash with my Ghanian Black Soap with Moringa and applied my shea butter after. Now, MY skin loves shea butter. Use whichever moisturizer or sealant that works for your particular needs.
My face was immediately noticeably brighter, smoother and more even-toned. I can’t wait to see my face after four weeks!
Update:
I LOVE MY SKIN!
