Avocado: Moisturizes

Barley: Anti-blemish; refines pores; retards wrinkles

Beet: Moisturizes

Bicarbonate of Soda: Water softener

Borax: Skin softener; cleanser; bleach; emulsifier when mixed with other ingredients

Bran: Tightens large pores; combats dryness

Carrot: Sloughs; moisturizes

Castor Oil: Relieves itching; fades brown spots; eyelash treatment

Chamomile: Tones all types of complexions

Cocoa Butter: Cleanser; dry skin moisturizer

Corn Syrup: Humectant – holds moisture to skin

Cornmeal: Refines pores

Cornstarch: Natural thickener for creams, lotions, mask s; body powder

Cucumber: Reduces under-eye puffiness; reduces wrinkles

Dandelion: Moistens dry skin

Egg: Conditions; whites best for normal and oily skin; yolks for dry to normal skin

Egg White: Adds silkiness and tightens

Elderberry Blossom: Moistens dry skin

Epsom Salt: Anti-blemish

Fennel: Combats wrinkles

Fuchsia: Soothes

Gelatin: Thickener for facial mask s

Glycerin: Moisturizer; softener; emollient

Grapefruit: Tightens large pores

Herbs: Baths; facial steams; creams; lotions

Hollyhock: Dried petals provide emollient action; moistens dry skin

Honey: Refines pores; tightens skin; moisturizes; retards wrinkles; anti-blemish

Lanolin: Moisturizer; softener; emollient

Lard: Moisturizer; softener; emollient

Lavender: Soothes

Lavender Water: Softens; smoothes

Lettuce: Conditioner

Lime: Acid; astringent

Marigold: Dehydrates – can help reduce excess body fluids

Marjoram: Eases tension

Mayonnaise: Cleans; moisturizes

Milk: (including whole, skim, buttermilk, cream, sour cream) Refines pores; soothes all skin types; cools sunburn

Mint: Stimulates

Mud: (including clay, fuller’s earth) Large pores; oily skin; wrinkles

Nuts: (almonds, cashews, pecans): Scrub to refine pores, combat wrinkles, blackheads and dryness

Oatmeal: Soothes, heals, relieves itching

Oils: Dry skin: almond, olive, peanut Oily skin: corn, safflower, sunflower, sesame Any skin type: avocado, coconut, wheat germ

Okra: Dried leaves provide emollient action

Orange Water: Softens; smoothes

Pansy: Soothes

Papaya: Tenderizes; removes dead surface cells

Pineapple: Cleans; tones

Plum: Anti-blemish

Potato: Reduces under-eye puffiness

Rolled Oats: Softens skin

Rose: Has an astringent effect on oily skin

Rose Water: Softens; smoothes

Rosemary: Muscle stimulant; tightens skin

Sage: Tones oily skin

Salt: Invigorates

Strawberry: Tones oily skin; anti-blemish

Tapioca: Tightens skin; refines pores; aids sunburn and windburn; demulcent – soothing to inflamed skin

Tea: Soothes sunburn; reduces eye puffiness; revs circulation

Thyme: Invigorates

Tomato: Unclogs pores

Turnip: Reduces redness and blotchiness

Vinegar: Refines pores; cleans; softens; aids blemishes, itchy skin, and sunburn

Wheat Germ: Refines pores

Whole Wheat Flour: Thickener for facials

Witch Hazel: Reduces eye puffiness; deodorant

Yeast: Used in mask s for oily or blemished skin

Yoghurt: Cleanser; bleach; for normal and oily skin.