One of my favourite raw material in homemade cosmetics is seeds. I have shared here a recipe in which dry powders are used.  This time we make ready-to-use pastes from seeds. I chose chia seeds and sunflower seeds.

The idea behind these pastes is using seeds containing niacin. Niacin is a very effective skin regenerator and anti-aging stuff. Niacin has a great deal to offer for skin care. You can read my article on niacin here.

Skin rejuvenating mask from chia seeds

This recipe is funny because you can even eat it for breakfast if you cannot use it all. Therefore, you do not have to worry about quantities. Just prepare enough paste. It is easier to deal with bigger quantity than too small.  You can also freeze the remaining paste for the next use.

Chia seeds

Chia is a sage (Salvia hispanica). Its home is both Mexico and Guatemala. Chia is a Mayan language and means powerful. Small chia seed contains a huge amount of minerals, vitamins, and vegetable oils. Chia also contains niacin, which is an important nutrient in this mask.

• Chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, caffeic acid and quercetin are all effective antioxidants. They all have specific skin healing effects.
• Niacin regenerates the stratum corneum of the skin and keeps the skin moisturized
• Folate (folic acid) acts as an antioxidant
• Particularly rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, phosphorus, manganese
• Rich in linoleic acid (50%) and about 20% alpha-linolenic acid.

Chia produces a gel-like liquid when the seeds are soaked in water. Chia gel consists of polysaccharides that naturally moisturize the skin.

You will need the following ingredients for a moisturizing chia mask

• 1.5 decilitres of chin seeds
• 1.5-2 decilitres of cold water
• 2-5 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional, do not use essential oils if you plan to eat the rest of the mask)
• Just a drop of spirulina (optional)
• ½ teaspoon ground seaweed (optional)

Do like this:

• Grind chia seeds and seaweed in a coffee grinder.
• Pour the powder into a bowl and mix in the water and the other ingredients (if any)
• Stir well and refrigerate overnight
• Put the mixture into a glass jar and use within a week

Use a chia mask once a week, even more often if you want. Let the mask warm up to room temperature, apply to cleansed face and leave on for about 20-30 minutes.

Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water and cloth.

Traditional Indian sunflower seed mask

This recipe is very traditional and comes from India. The good thing about this recipe is its ease and simplicity. In general, the simplest ingredients and methods of preparation are the best. Sunflower seeds are really high in niacin and milk is a particularly good product for the skin. That’s why I chose this special  recipe for you.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds contain a lot of minerals and a lot of niacin, which is so important for the skin. Sunflower seeds are

• Rich in zinc, manganese, copper, selenium and magnesium
• Rich in skin linoleic acid
• Rich in niacin and vitamin E.

Saffron

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It is very popular in India because it has a lot of good features. Saffron cleanses and brightens the skin. It helps dead skin cells come off, making the skin look younger. Saffron also soothes the skin.

Milk

Milk is a traditional skin care product all over the world. Cow’s milk has been used in this recipe but you can of course replace it with vegetable milk or goat’s milk.

The properties of plant milk depend on the plant. Almond milk might be best for this as it is also high in niacin.

If you use cow’s milk, get as natural, unprocessed milk as possible for this purpose.

• Milk is especially suitable for sensitive skin
• Milk contains proteins that make the skin elastic
• Milk contains natural lactic acid bacteria that soften the skin and help it regenerate
• Milk is rich in B vitamins and alpha hydroxy acid
• Milk contains natural vitamin D.
• Milk contains calcium and other minerals such as potassium and selenium

You need for a traditional Indian sunflower mask

• 3-4 tablespoons of sunflower seeds
• 1.5 decilitres milk, you can also use plant milk, sheep’s or goat’s milk. An authentic Indian recipe mentions whole cow’s milk.
• A few saffron

Do like this:

• Soak seeds and saffron in milk overnight
• Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
• Apply the mask to cleansed skin and leave on for 30 minutes.
• Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water and a cloth
• Use this mask immediately, it cannot be stored

These two seed masks are really effective and easy to make. You can do these masks once a week, even more often. They are very mild.

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Flaxseeds contain a unique combination of ingredients necessary in skincare. Under a dense, hard shell there is a deposit of good fatty acids and important polyphenols. In addition, flaxseeds, when used in skin care, are also particularly well-tolerated. Only few people are sensitive to them.

• Flaxseeds suit particularly well to after-sun products to soothe the skin.
• Flaxseeds are rich in different moisturizing ingredients
• Flaxseeds brighten the skin
• Flaxseeds make pores smaller in the skin

Read more about flaxseeds

Pay attention to flaxseeds quality

When buying flaxseeds, make sure you will choose organic quality. Flax is a plant that easily gathers environmental toxins. Organic flaxseed is therefore safer to use. You can use the same quality for both cosmetics and nutrition.

There are 2 colours of flaxseeds available, brown and yellow (golden). Both of them are about the same quality.

There is an exception; a yellow flaxseed variety called Linola (Solin).  Its fatty acid composition is completely different from other flaxseeds. Linola is low in omega-3 fatty acids. Linola fatty acids are mainly omega-6 fatty acids, or linolenic acid. Linola flaxseed oil does not dry the skin in the same way as regular flaxseed oil, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Linola flaxseed oil is widely used for skin care. Some pharmacies are selling curative creams based on linola flaxseed oil. Its other health benefits are the same as those of regular flax.

It is worth of preparing the flax seeds before use

Of course, flaxseeds should first be washed thoroughly using cold tab water. The seeds often contain dust and impurities. Washing is especially important when you want to make products from unheated flaxseeds.

I personally prefer the use of flaxseeds without heating. Unheated flaxseeds contain all the essential fatty acids and other nutrients. The flaxseed facial mask is made for one time use only. Therefore, no heating is necessary in this product.

When you soak flaxseeds in water overnight, they’ll become soft and moisturized. Soaked linseeds are easy to squash into a paste using a blender.

Preparation of linseed paste

• 1 decilitre of water
• 1 tablespoon of flax seed

Do like this:

• Wash the flax seeds under running water (use a strainer)
• Pour flaxseeds into a glass bowl and add 1 decilitre of cold water
• Leave the mixture on the table overnight
• Use a blender or food processor to mix until smooth.

Now you have flaxseed paste that you can use as a base for your facial masks. Flaxseed paste is also suitable for gentle peeling. When soaked, flaxseeds soften and no longer scratch the skin.

Flaxseed mask for dry, dull skin

• 1 tablespoon flaxseed paste
• 1 teaspoon of moisturizing lotion
• 1 evening primrose seed oil capsule (content only)

Do like this:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and spread over your face and neck
• Leave on for 20-30 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water
• If necessary, add a good face oil or lotion to keep moisture in the skin

Flaxseed mask for acne skin

Flaxseed soothes skin infections. Try the following mask for acne skin.

• 1 tablespoon flaxseed paste
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Do like this:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth
• Apply the mask to the problematic skin area​ you want to treat (face, chest, back, etc.)
• Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes
• Wash the mask off with lukewarm water
• If you want, you can apply a little bit of day cream or a drop of skin oil on your face

Lightly exfoliating flaxseed gel

Flaxseed also works well for skin peeling. Soft flaxseed paste does not scratch the skin. This exfoliation gel has salt to soften hardened skin and rhassouls clay to cleanse pores.

• 1 tablespoon flaxseed paste
• ¼ teaspoon of very fine sea salt, use a mortar if necessary.
• ¼ teaspoon of rhassouls clay

Do like this:

• Mix all ingredients in a glass or plastic bowl, do not use metal dishes or mixers as clay loses its effectiveness
• Apply the gel to your face, rubbing gently with your fingertips
• Spread the gel to the entire facial area (not around the eyes!) and, if desired, the neck and cleavage.
• Rinse the gel off with lukewarm water
• Balance the skin’s pH with toner, apple vinegar water, or lactic acid-based herb fermentation.
• Apply lotion (your choice) or a few drops of good face oil to your face.

Deep cleansing mask of flaxseed and egg yolk

The cleansing power of this mask is based on the lecithin and other cleansing ingredients contained in the yolk. Flaxseeds brighten the skin and remove dead skin cells.

• 1 yolk
• 1 tablespoon of flaxseed paste

Do like this

• Mix the yolk and flaxseed paste in a bowl
• Apply the mask on the face and leave on for 15 minutes
• Wash the mask away using gentle circular motions, light rubbing
• Finally, apply a lotion or a few drops of skin oil.

Flaxseeds are very easy to use in home-made cosmetics

Using these recipes, you get an easy start with flaxseeds. Flaxseeds is an excellent example of an ingredient that is particularly suitable for home-made cosmetics. In commercial cosmetics, the properties of flax do not achieve their rights in the same way. Flaxseeds are rich in nutrients for the skin, but unfortunately, they spoil quickly. Therefore, flaxseeds should be used freshly ground in home-made cosmetics.

Now, when you are familiar with flaxseeds, you can start developing your own skincare products. Tell me how you use flaxseeds in your own products!

Active charcoal has been very popular for several years in many cosmetic products. Its popularity is no coincidence. Active charcoal is one of the most effective skin detox products. Now I can tell you how to use active charcoal in cosmetics.

What is active charcoal?

Active charcoal is usually made from coconut shells. Active charcoal can also be made from peat and wood. Coconut shells are burned in very high temperatures and high pressure. Thanks to the high pressure, active charcoal becomes extremely porous. The porous charcoal is able to absorb incredible amount of harmful substances. One gram of active charcoal has a surface area of ​​a couple of tennis courts. Therefore, active charcoal is not at all the same thing as charcoal used in barbeque.

Active charcoal was not originally developed as a cosmetic ingredient. It has become well known in air filters and water purification. Active charcoal has also become known as medical charcoal. Charcoal absorbs most of the toxic substances from the intestines. Active charcoal filters is very big business in the world. Cosmetics have entered into the picture only later.

Read more about activated charcoal.

Active charcoal in cosmetics, is it safe?

Active charcoal is a non-toxic substance. So it can be given to even a small baby in case of poisoning. However, the disadvantage of active charcoal is its finesse. Finely divided, it is dusty and can be easily transported into the lungs. Therefore, you should always be careful with dry active charcoal. As soon as you mix active charcoal with water or any other liquid, it will no longer expose a risk to your lungs.

How to use active charcoal in cosmetics

Active charcoal is one of the cosmetic ingredients that pull substances away from the skin. Other similar ingredients are cosmetic clays and peat. That’s why I told you about the great properties of peat here. You can find more information about Kaolin Clay here.

Cleansing masks

Because active charcoal pulls substances out of the skin, it is used in cleansing masks. I find that cleansing active charcoal masks are the best skin detox treatments. Active charcoal can be finely dispersed throughout the skin. It is also capable of penetrating deep into the pores. Some people think that deep pore penetration is harmful. It is sometimes quite difficult to clean it from the skin.

How do cleansing charcoal masks work?

A cleansing mask is the best treatment for city travelers like me. The heartbeat of the big city fascinates me, but it also treats the skin badly. In major cities, the skin is exposed to pollution. Small particles of heavy metal are absorbed into the skin surface and easily penetrate deeper into the skin. The active charcoal mask absorbs heavy metals and brightens the skin.

The active charcoal mask penetrates deep into the pores, thoroughly cleansing them. Beauticians say the problem of large pores can be avoided by paying attention to effective skin cleansing. Active charcoal, when used regularly, can help to make pores smaller on the face.

Active charcoal can help balancing oily skin. However, the dehydrating effect of active charcoal is very broad. It absorbs not only fat but also a lot of moisture from the skin. So do not to use an active charcoal mask as only treatment for oily skin.

Active charcoal helps treat acne

Acne is a skin condition that needs expert treatment and medication. Of course, for mild skin pimples, you can first test activated carbon. So, acne is one way to use active charcoal in cosmetics.

Active charcoal soothes irritated skin

In summertime, bites of  insects may irritate your skin. Active charcoal is a very neutral and well tolerated ingredient. It clearly soothes irritated skin. After the active charcoalmask, the skin is brighter and lighter. You can also treat insect bites locally with active charcoal paste. Active charcoal paste helps to absorb toxins from the injection area.

Disadvantages of an active charcoal mask

The disadvantage of continuous use of active charcoal mask is dry skin. Carbon also absorbs moisture from the skin. Therefore, moisturizing the skin after the mask is really necessary.

This is how you make your active charcoal mask

In this mask I have used exceptionally coconut oil. Active charcoal Mask is a skin cleansing mask. It pulls substances out of the skin. Coconut oil is not absorbed deep into the skin due to its large molecular size. That is why it is one of the best oils for this purpose.

Sea salt is an important ingredient for providing osmotic pressure. It lifts harmful substances to the skin surface.

Bentonite clay enhances the effect of activated carbon. It also cleanses the skin and removes impurities from the skin.

Baking soda gently exfoliates the skin. It also has antibacterial properties.

A wooden spoon is essential when handling clay. Glass or plastic are also suitable. Avoid metal spoon. The metal reacts unfavorably with the components contained in the clay. Metals can weaken the effect of clay to absorb impurities from the skin.

Mix

• ½ teaspoon of active charcoal
• 2 teaspoons of bentonite clay
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• A pinch of very fine sea salt

Dishes

• Glass Bowl
• Wooden spoon (plastic included)

Do like this:

• Mix all ingredients together into a paste and apply to your face, avoiding the eye area.
• Let the mask work for about 10-15 minutes
• Wipe the mask thoroughly with paper
• Dip a towel in hot water and dry it. Finally, wipe your face with a hot, damp towel
• If you still feel that your face has not been cleansed enough, you can still do the normal oil cleansing with skin oil.

Face cleansing with active charcoal soap

I would like to tell you about active charcoal soaps from Kolmecosmetics in Finland. I don’t commercially work with them, so this is by no means an advertisement.

Kolmecosmetics manufactures state-of-the-art artisan soaps for face (round), hair (triangle) and body (rectangle). All products are non-toxic products with only the necessary ingredients, nothing else. The products are also zero waste products, as soaps can be purchased completely without packaging.

In the city holidays I love, it’s a good idea to thoroughly clean your face and all bare skin area with active charcoal from any airborne pollutant. This should be done every evening. The dusty carbon powder is really messy to use. Active charcoal soap is convenient to carry and use.

Active charcoal soap is recommended for oily skin and daily use. It dries a little normal skin. Therefore, it is a good idea to carefully moisturize and grease the skin after washing it with active charcoal soap. If your skin is really dry, I do not recommend active charcoal products at all.

My active charcoal soap for face

I myself buy Kolmecosmetics active charcoal soap for deep cleansing the face. I wanted to clean my skin of the fine particles in the big city air. Kolmecosmetics active charcoal soaps are really handy when travelling. Kolmecosmetics soap also removes air pollutants from the skin. I know that active charcoal pulls harmful substances out of the skin. The sea salt in the soap works osmotically. It lifts harmful substances up from the deepest layers of the skin by means of pressure. This way the skin is cleansed very effectively.

Kolmecosmetics also produces high quality active charcoal soap for body and hair. I haven’t tried them yet, but I will. I can get a soap transport bag from them as well. It is a custom-made plastic transport bag for soap, which, however, releases moisture from the bag. So the soap  does not become porridge-like during transport. Really ingenious.

Active charcoal in toothpastes

In toothpastes, active charcoal acts as a bleaching agent. It has the ability to absorb dyes. In addition, active charcoal is non-toxic and does not cause scratches on tooth enamel. It is not corrosive like many enzymes used in teeth whitening. Many synthetic chemicals whiten teeth effectively, but their effect on the body is never completely certain. So I recommend trying active charcoal for teeth whitening.

You can whiten your teeth by making water and active charcoal a paste that you apply to your teeth. Another option is to add active charcoal to the toothpaste. Active charcoal can only work when it is able to absorb discoloration from the tooth surface. Therefore, brushing with active charcoal toothpaste alone will not whiten your teeth. Active charcoal removes the toner to which it may be in direct contact. Active charcoal cannot remove the color etched deeper into the tooth enamel. Active charcoal is also unable to make the tooth’s own color whiter.

Easy homemade tooth whitening paste

This paste is for occasional use only. It does not wash your teeth and cannot replace toothpaste. Use this paste, for example, once a week to keep away, for example, the discoloration caused by coffee.

• For an easy, homemade tooth whitening paste, mix 1 teaspoon of active charcoal and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Apply the mixture on clean teeth and leave for about 20 minutes.
• Rinse and/or brush activated charcoal paste on the tooth and gum surfaces.

Active charcoal in hair care

Active charcoal is also suitable for hair and scalp care. Hair, like the skin, collects a lot of heavy metals from the air. It can affect the condition of the hair, making it look dead.

Activated charcoal can deeply wash your hair as well as your scalp. Active charcoal removes dirt from the hair. Therefore, it is a good idea to apply activated charcoal to your hair and scalp before coloring your hair with henna. If your hair and scalp are very greasy, you can also mix active charcoal with shampoo.

Mix active charcoal with egg yolk

I myself mix the active charcoal with the egg yolk. Egg yolk acts like a shampoo to remove excess grease from the scalp and hair. This helps the natural plant colors adhere to the hair better. The secret of the egg yolk is lecithin. Lecithin is an emulsifier that mixes fat and water. It is easy to rinse emulsified grease off with warm water. The egg yolk does not wash the scalp too clean. That’s why I prefer it over the shampoo.

When making active charcoal masks, I strongly recommend wearing gloves. Fingers and fingernails can easily become darkened. Similarly, all towels, bathrobes and other clothing should be dark. Active charcoal can leave difficult stains on textiles.

De-greasing active charcoal hair mask before coloring with henna

• Mix ½ teaspoon of active charcoal and 3 yolks
• Wet the hair thoroughly and dry until towel-dry
• Apply the mixture carefully to the scalp and hair
• Leave on for 10-15 minutes
• Rinse carefully
• Your hair is ready for henna coloring

Detox active charcoal mask for hair and scalp

Do not do this mask on colored hair. Active charcoal absorbs colors and can cause uneven color in the hair.

Do not use too much activated carbon. It’s really messy. Even a small amount of active carbon is enough to clean a very large area.

• You need ½ teaspoon of active charcoal and ½ dl of water
• Apply evenly to towel-dry hair and scalp
• Leave on for 10-15 minutes
• Really rinse charcoal off the scalp and hair.

Get started with these active charcoal products. Active charcoal is a completely non-toxic and easy to-use ingredient. Active charcoal in cosmetics is very versatile. You can use it to make truly effective detox products for your skin, hair and teeth. Regular use of active charcoal detox masks will take care of your skin’s condition. Over the years, taking good care will certainly also be visible on the skin.

Have you used active charcoal? Pleace, let your comment below!