Oatmeal for your Face

There has been increasing interest in oatmeal in recent years due to its beneficial health effects. Daily consumption of a bowl of oatmeal can lower blood cholesterol, due to its soluble fiber content.

You may know oatmeal as the bowl of hot cereal you have for breakfast on a cold winter morning but did you know it is also an excellent skin care treatment? Oatmeal is a product of ground oat oats (i.e. oat-meal, cornmeal or peasemeal. The unrefined oats (not the instant kind) contain a miraculous property commonly referred to as “mucilaginous - this means it has a slightly slimy quality. While that may not sound very appealing, in actuality, it is a very soothing texture that reduces inflammation, and soothes irritated, dry skin. Oats are also highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and help to soften skin. They have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains (amino acids work as water-binding agents in skin care products.

Oats have also been clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin. Oat grains and straw appear in shampoos, dusting powders, moisturizers, and cleansing bars just to name a few.

When choosing rolled oats for a beauty treatment, make sure to check the ingredients. There are plenty of popular brands available that are nothing but rolled oats, as they should be. Avoid the quick-cook or flavored versions. When the recipe calls for ground oats, use a clean coffee grinder or blender to grind the flakes to a fine powder. When mixed with cornstarch and/or arrowroot powder, you can make a very mild dusting powder for you or baby.

Sometimes skin sensitivities can develop seemingly out of the blue. If this happens, discontinue use. When working with essential oils, remember how potent they can be. It takes perhaps 10 pounds of lavender to make just one ounce of the essential oil. Also, it is best to consult your doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant or epileptic.

The following recipes are perishable and should be used right away.

Oat and Brown Sugar Scrub:

2 Tbsp. ground oats

2 tsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. aloe vera

1 tsp. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a clean bowl until you have a smooth paste. Gently massage onto damp skin, and rinse off with warm water. You can triple the recipe for a fantastic smoothing body treatment.

Banana Bread Masque:

½ really ripe mashed banana - moisturizing

2 Tbsp. ground oats - soothing

milk or cream, add as necessary - softening

pinch nutmeg - antiseptic

2 Tbsp. whole wheat flour - antioxidant

Whip ingredients together, adding cream or oat flour as necessary to get a smooth, paste-like consistency. Spread on clean face and leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

Oat and Honey Milk Bath

½ cup rolled oats

¼ cup powdered milk

2 Tbsp. honey

Place all ingredients in a small, natural fabric bag (muslin and cheesecloth are great choices). Hang the bag under the faucet as you fill the tub, so running water disperses the beneficial properties throughout your bath. You can also use the bag as a sponge and apply directly to dry skin spots.

Always be careful when using natural skin care products to note all ingredients and avoid any which you are allergic to (nuts, for example, are found in many recipes for facial scrubs). If any persistent stinging or redness occurs, thoroughly cleanse your face and rinse well with cool water.