In my early 20s, I used to battle constantly with acne breakouts and black spots. Smooth skin seemed liked something unachievable. I’m sure that many of you have been through the same thing and you, just like me, wondered how to achieve that skin perfection that we’d often see on the TV screen.
I tried various scrub masks from the drug store. Some worked, others made the problem worse because my skin didn’t react well to the ingredients. However, I discovered that there are other ways to deal with skin problems, which are quite effective if done right. So, I’m here today to share with you some tested home remedies for smooth skin that will help you in your fight for perfection and beauty.
But first, we’re going to see why you have problems with your skin.
What Causes Skin Rough Skin?
As many of you are aware, skin problems are common and can be quite persistent. To find the right cure you have to know the root of the problem. However, the thing is that a lot of factors can cause rough texture, dark spots or acne breakouts.
Since you’re not here to read a novel on skin diseases, we’re going to stick to the most important ones:
Improper skin cleaning routine
The simplest reason why you don’t have any success in dealing with your skin problems is your cleaning routine. I don’t mean that you’re not keeping excellent hygiene. What I want to say is that you’re not using the right routine for your skin type.
If you don’t know it, the main skin types are:
So, the first thing you have to do is establish what your skin type is. For example, if you have dry skin and you use alcohol-based cleansers, they would dry your skin even more than usual. It’s no wonder that you won’t be seeing any improvement any time soon.
Also, exfoliating – removing the build-up of dead skin cells – depends on the skin type. If you overdo it, you’re going to damage your skin, while not exfoliating often enough will lead to clogged pores.
My point is that have to choose your skin products based on your type and establish a proper routine for them. You can find some suggestions here.
Lack of moisture
The top layer of the skin acts as a barrier to potential infections, bacteria, and dirt. That’s the one important role. The other one is to hydrate the skin and prevent moisture from escaping. However, sometimes the skin barrier gets damaged due to:
- Hot or cold weather
- Low humidity
- Exposure to chemicals
- Dehydration
- Frequent bathing
If the skin can’t retain or absorb enough moisture, it dries, and you get that uncomfortable sensation as if you are covered in sand.
Sun exposure
Even though sunlight is necessary for almost all living organisms, too much sunlight leads to wrinkles. That’s because you get exposed to UV rays, which break down the collagen and the elastin fibers (the skin’s connective tissues), and your skin loses its elasticity, flexibility, and strength.
The UV rays also increase the production of melanin – the hormone responsible for skin color – which causes sunspots and cancer, in some cases. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you spend your days inside hiding from the sun, but you have to remember to pack your sunscreen with you, especially during summer.
Medical conditions
Finally, many diseases can lead to skin problems ranging from mild ones such as dermatitis (allergic reactions) to serious conditions. For example, thyroid dysfunction can cause dry skin or make you sweat more than usual. Also, skin problems might be the result of medications or a side effect of cancer treatments.
What are the Signs of Healthy Skin?
How can you tell that you have healthy skin? Well, it’s usually obvious from the lack of black spots, pimples, and bumps. Also, the other factors that distinguish healthy skin from unhealthy one are:
- Consistent color – no light/dark-colored patches, no dark circles under the eyes, or red bumps
- Smooth to the touch without rough textures
- No weird sensation – if you feel your skin or itching, pulling, stinging, then you might have a problem
- Well-hydrated
Home Treatments for Smooth Skin
As you probably know, drugstores are full of lotions and creams that promise to resolve your skin issues and make it radiant again. While there is no denying that some of them work excellently and that you can include them in your skin cleaning routine, you can also give these five home remedies for smooth skin a go.
What’s perfect about them is that they are easy to prepare and that you wouldn’t have to spend a small fortune on them. However, since every skin is different, I suggest that you do a patch test before trying any of these remedies. Some of them might not be suitable for sensitive skin.
1. Aloe Vera nourishes the skin
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We’re going to start with one of the most popular skin remedies – aloe vera, which has a well-earned reputation. The gel extracted from the leaves of the plant is helpful for many conditions from sunburn to wound healing because it contains a handful of essential amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants to combat free radicals.
It’s an excellent choice if you need something to nourish your skin and restore its natural glow. Here are two ways to use it:
Necessary ingredients:
- Aloe vera gel
- Turmeric
- Honey
- Milk
- Bowl
- A tablespoon/teaspoon
- Water
Process:
- Get the aloe vera gel and measure one tablespoon in the bowl.
- Add one teaspoon of honey and milk and a pinch of turmeric.
- Mix the ingredients well until you have a paste.
- Apply the concoction to the problematic spots.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
- Pat the skin dry.
- Repeat twice a week.
If you have dry, flaky skin, which needs some extra moisture, you might use this recipe:
Necessary ingredients:
- Aloe vera gel
- Almond oil
- Bananas
- Fork
- A bowl
- A teaspoon/tablespoon
- Water
- A towel
Process:
- Start by cleaning your face/skin.
- Peel the banana and put in the bowl.
- Mash it with a fork.
- Add two tablespoons of aloe vera gel and three teaspoons of almond oil.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Apply the paste in a thick layer to the affected skin and wait for it to dry (around 15 minutes)
- Rinse off with water twice to remove the concoction.
- Pat the skin dry with a towel.
Notes: You can buy the gel from the drug store, or you can grow your own plant and extract it from the leaves. If you get it from the store, make sure that it’s pure aloe vera gel with no additional ingredients or chemicals. If you’re interested in more aloe vera recipes – click here.
2. Saffron for glowing skin
Have you heard about saffron? It’s one of the most expensive spices in the world which has amazing benefits for the whole body, including your skin. It contains antioxidants to battle the free radicals that will damage the cells. In addition to this, it has anti-inflammatory properties, and it soothes the skin.
Saffron can be useful for treating acne, dryness, wounds, blemishes, and it can even lighten your complexion. So, if you have some saffron left in your kitchen cupboard, you can try these recipes:
Necessary ingredients:
- Saffron
- Honey
- A bowl
- Water
Process:
- Get a few strands of saffron.
- Put them into the bowl.
- Add honey enough to soak the saffron.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Use your fingers to apply the honey to the affected areas.
- After 10 minutes you can clean it off with water.
- Repeat every couple of days.
Alternatively, you can use this method to improve the texture of your skin:
Necessary ingredients:
- Four strands of saffron
- Milk powder
- Water
- A cup
- A stove
Process:
- Fill half a cup of water.
- Boil it for ten minutes.
- Put the strands of saffron in the boiled water.
- Then add four tablespoons of milk powder.
- Stir the ingredients well to dissolve the powder.
- Apply the concoction to the skin.
- Wait 15 minutes and rinse with clean water.
- Repeat.
Notes: Be careful when you’re buying saffron because some merchants might sell you a fake one. Also, do not consume too much saffron at once because it can be lethal.
3. Turmeric has potent anti-inflammatory effects
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Another popular spice that you can use to improve your skin complexion is turmeric. The amazing effects of turmeric are because of curcumin, a powerful antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also perfect for treating wounds and control psoriasis flare-ups.
Necessary ingredients:
- Turmeric
- Chickpea flour
- Milk
- A bowl
- Water
Process:
- Measure one teaspoon of turmeric into the bowl.
- Add four tablespoon of chickpea flour.
- Pour enough milk to make a paste.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Apply the turmeric paste on the skin.
- Wait 20 minutes and rinse with water.
- Repeat.
Notes: Turmeric will stain your skin and leave a yellow residue. You might want to use gloves to apply it and mix it into an old bowl you don’t mind throwing away.
4. Lemon juice is a natural cleanser
We can’t forget to mention lemon juice when we talk about home remedies for smooth skin. Lemon juice has many potential benefits when it comes to skin problems, and you can use it to get rid of dark spots, sunspots or uneven tan. It’s one of the best natural bleaching agents, and it’s rich in vitamin C, which treats UV rays’ damage.
The best way to use lemon juice would be in combination with sugar. Thanks to its grainy texture, sugar is one of the best choices when you’re looking for a way to exfoliate your skin.
Necessary ingredients:
- Lemon juice
- Sugar
- A bowl
- Water
Process:
- Measure two teaspoons of lemon juice into the bowl.
- Add two teaspoons of sugar and mix well.
- Apply the grainy paste to the affected area and scrub gently using circular motions.
- Leave the paste to dry for 10 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
- Repeat twice a week.
Notes: Do not scrub too harshly or you can irritate your skin. Also, avoid direct sun exposure after you’ve treated your skin with lemon juice.
5. Green tea reverses skin aging
When I say green tea, most of you probably think only about the benefits of drinking it. However, its leaves can be very useful when you’re bathing with aging or want to make your skin radiant again. It contains flavonoids, which are excellent for maintaining the elasticity of your skin and collagen production.
Necessary ingredients:
- Green tea leaves
- Water
- Brown sugar
- Cream
- A bowl
- A cup
- A stove
Process:
- Pour one tablespoon of green tea leaves into a cup of water.
- Boil it until the leaves impart their color.
- Wait for the water to cool and then measure two teaspoons into the bowl.
- Add two teaspoons of brown sugar and one of cream.
- Mix well.
- Apply the concoction to the mix and rub gently using circular motions.
- Wait 10 minutes and clean it off with water.
- Repeat twice a week.
Notes: Green tea should be consumed in moderation because it contains caffeine.
How to Promote Healthy Skin?
After we covered what home remedies you can use to restore the natural beauty of your skin, here are some tips to help you keep your skin smooth and radiant:
- Avoid harsh soaps, alcohol-based products, and fragrance.
- Establish a proper cleaning routine.
- Always remove your makeup before going to bed.
- Sleep at least eight hours a night.
- Wear protective clothing when you handle chemicals.
- Do not swim in chlorinated pools often.
- Don’t take long, hot baths.
- Always be gentle when exfoliating your skin.
- Eat healthily.
- Give up smoking.
Radiant and glowing skin is not an impossible dream. However, it requires consistency, no matter if you go with home remedies for smooth skin or lotions and creams. So, don’t be disappointed if you don’t see an improvement after the first week or so. Be patient, take good care of your body, and try not to worry so much about how you look.
What do you think about these home remedies for smooth skin? What are your recipes for perfect skin? We’d love to hear them, so share your tips in the comment section.
Cory Fang
A beauty professional, Cory Fang earned her two-year diploma in Beauty and Skin Care before going on to study Reflexology, Somatology, and electrical face and body treatments.She is committed to her client's well-being, and after working at a local beauty business for three years, she went into business for herself four years ago. A proponent on peels, skin needling, facials, and basic home care, she knows what it takes to keep skin and the body healthy.
