• Before wasting money on expensive products, try natural solutions for common skin care problems.skin care image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Commercial skin care products promise to solve nearly every skin-related problem. From dryness to acne, these products assault skin with chemical ingredients that can often worsen the problems they claim to fix. Money spent on these products can add up, especially on expensive department store products that promise to deliver high results for high prices. Fortunately, many natural and home remedies exist for sufferers looking for alternative solutions to common skin ailments.
  
  

Soothe Dry Skin

• Use milk to remove dead skin cells and lock in moisture. A natural exfoliant, milk contains lactic acid that soothes the irritation often associated with dry skin. Soak a washcloth in cold milk and drape it over the dry area. Let it rest on your skin for five minutes, then remove the washcloth and rinse the milk off. Be gentle when rinsing, leaving some lactic acid behind. You can also add milk to bathwater to slough dead skin off larger areas.
  
  

Avoid Hot Water

• Hot water can strip skin of moisture and protective oils. Limit showers to 10 minutes or less, keeping water cool to avoid drying out skin. Similarly, never wash your face with overly hot water. The skin on your face is far more delicate than the skin on your body and must be treated gently. Rinse facial skin with lukewarm water when washing your face to keep it healthy.
  
  

Tone Skin Naturally

• Combine 4 oz. of witch hazel with 1 tsp. of sage and peppermint leaves to create a natural toner. Steep the mixture for one to three days to allow the ingredients to settle together, then apply to skin using a cotton ball. The sage controls oil while witch hazel enhances skin's protective layer. Peppermint leaves create a cooling sensation that soothes irritated skin.
  
  

Stay Hydrated

• Drink plenty of water to keep skin plump with moisture. Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water each day prevents the dehydration that leads to water retention. By staying hydrated, the body flushes out waste and harmful toxins that can otherwise accumulate inside. It is especially important to drink enough water during winter months when skin becomes dehydrated from exposure to dry air.
  
  

Reduce Oil

• Use lemon juice as a natural way to reduce oil and shine. Mix 10 drops of lemon juice with half a cup of cold water. Use juice from an actual lemon, not bottled lemon juice tainted with additives. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and dab all over freshly cleansed skin. Do not rinse.
  
  

A Natural Eye Mask

• To reduce signs of fatigue under your eyes, grind one-quarter of an apple with one small potato until you have a paste. Apply the mixture to eye skin and leave on. For added comfort, cover your eyes with a washcloth saturated with warm water. Rest for 15 minutes, remove the washcloth and rinse off the apple and potato mixture from the skin. Be careful not to get any paste into your eyes, or they may become irritated.
  
  

Eat a Healthy Diet

• Nutritional deficiencies within the body often appear outwardly on skin. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables keeps skin glowing and healthy. Although expensive, eat organically grown produce whenever possible to limit the amount of chemicals, pesticides and toxins ingested into your body. Limit processed foods that are deficient in nutrients and loaded with artificial preservatives that pollute your body. Consume a multivitamin daily to make sure you receive the proper nutritional balance necessary for healthy skin.