6 All-Natural Age-Defying Skin Recipes

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

Hundreds of expensive products and procedures exist for beautifying the skin and keeping it looking young and fresh, some of which may pose dangers to your health. Instead, try some of these all-natural, do-it-yourself beauty recipes you can use to keep your skin young and glowing—at a fraction of the cost.

1. A skin peel from nature

Probably one of the fastest ways to look younger is to have a skin peel. While the Retin-A, high-concentration glycolic acid, and harsh chemical peels that cosmetic dermatologists prescribe can decrease lines and result in a smooth skin finish, they also strip your skin's protective layer, increasing your chance of sun damage, skin aging, and skin cancer. In fact, the FDA warns that a high concentration of various skin-peel agents may thin the skin.

The alternative? Simply make a natural skin peel right from your refrigerator. You can use eggplant, tomatoes, pineapple or any other fruits and veggies that contain other natural acids. Thinly slice the ingredients and place them on your face, covering the skin thoroughly. Leave on for 20 minutes, remove the fruit and veggie pieces and wash with warm water. For the first few minutes, your skin may look red, but this should clear up quickly. Follow with a natural moisturizer.

2. Cucumber to remedy rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin problem that reddens the forehead, nose, cheeks, and sometimes the chin. Some of the outbreak triggers include alcohol, sunlight, temperature extremes, caffeine, spicy food, among other culprits. In my treatment of rosacea, I focus on soothing the spirit, clearing heat, and using natural remedies to remove skin blockages. A perfect natural remedy is a cucumber mask. Peel the skin off of a fresh cucumber and puree the insides in a blender with one egg white. Coat your face with this mixture, leave on for 30 minutes. And then wash off with cold water. Use this mask daily and you should notice improvement within a month.

3. Yogurt for a smooth skin texture
Yogurt is a traditional ingredient for healthy skin. It contains lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid that gently peels off the dead skin layer, giving you a smooth skin texture. For sensitive skin that cannot withstand commercial alpha-hydroxy acid preparations, yogurt is especially beneficial. Over time, yogurt can also lighten spots and even out a patchy skin tone. To get these results, wash your face and apply organic plain yogurt as a facial cream. Leave on for 15 minutes, wash off with cold water, and finish with a moisturizer. Afterwards, to reduce any redness, apply a cold pack for 10 minutes.

4. Tone with apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural and effective toner for your skin. The malic acid in vinegar helps renew your skin by ridding the epidermis of dead skin cells. Dilute one part cider vinegar in two parts distilled water. After washing your skin, apply the diluted vinegar solution with a cotton pad to your face and neck. Follow with a natural moisturizing lotion.

5. Nature's "facelift"
One of the secrets of Chinese women's youthful looks is the acupuncture face-lift. We have been treating patients with facial-toning acupuncture at our wellness center for over 25 years. Research has shown that acupuncture increases blood flow in the tiny capillaries of the skin and muscles and stimulates collagen production in the dermis layer, which increases skin elasticity. Consult an acupuncturist for a natural face-lift or...

Try this do-it-yourself "facelift":
Using your fingers, you can tone your facial muscles and stimulate the natural production of collagen in the skin. Press firmly with your fingers, working your way methodically along the following points:

Point 1: GB 14 to relax the forehead

Point 2: Yintang to ease furrow between the brows

Point 3: Taiyang to get rid of crows feet around the eyes

Point 4 and 5: LI 20 and ST 3 for minimizing smile lines

Stimulate these points in the morning and at night for beautiful skin tone. For more age-defying tips and techniques, check out my new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.

6. Tasty super skin foods
While many of the tips above use super foods directly on the skin, some good eats also treat your skin. Super skin foods include cherries, peanuts, black soybeans, walnuts, and jujube dates. Citrus fruits are packed with antioxidants that benefit your skin's health. For dry skin, eat flaxseed oil, sesame oil, olive oil, and virgin coconut oil and avocado every day. And eat a daily handful of nuts and seeds, especially pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, and sunflower seeds.

Peaches, an excellent source of potassium and vitamins A and C, have been used in beauty tonics throughout Chinese history. One beauty recipe recommends baked peaches with honey and lavender.

A nutrient found in anchovies and sardines, DMAE (dimethyl-amino-ethanol), is a powerful membrane stabilizer that can reverse age spots on your skin.

To lighten dark circles and minimize skin damage from free radicals, try Asian pear. Asian (or Fuji) pears are packed with copper and vitamin C, antioxidant nutrients that help protect you from cellular damage caused by free radicals, preserving your skin's beauty and vitality.

These natural recipes will bring you beautiful skin well into your late years!

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!