4 Natural Remedies To Replace Your Harsh Facial Cleanser

Cleansing your face should be a process that protects your skin from further damage — after all, it's the body's largest organ and should be protected at all costs — but many facial cleansers can actually do more harm than good by causing redness, drying out the skin and even promoting new blemishes.

Luckily, natural alternatives to these harsh chemical cleansers exist to provide gentle and safe options using simple, affordable and earth-friendly ingredients.

Raw (Unpasteurized) Honey

Why you should try it: Raw honey is an excellent alternative to store-bought cleansers. Pasteurized honey often doesn't contain pollen and has been heated to a point that it's lost all the vitamins and enzymes that are so beneficial to your skin, so it's important to use a raw variety for your skin care. This earth-friendly option also has anti-bacterial and probiotic properties, so it helps to gently remove dirt and impurities, and effectively reduces breakouts while also preventing new ones.

How to use it: To cleanse skin, massage a tsp. of raw honey onto your face. Rinse with warm water and pat skin dry. For a deeper clean, leave the honey on clean skin for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. Try using a raw honey cleanser as part of your morning routine to leave skin feeling clean, smooth and refreshed throughout the day.

Oil Cleansing

Why you should try it: Although cleaning your skin with oil sounds contradictory — isn't the whole point of washing your face to get rid of oil? — this method subscribes to the idea of treating like with like. The oil you use to cleanse your skin actually binds to the oil already on your skin and removes it (and impurities) when rinsed off.

There are countless blending options available and everyone's skin is unique, so the exact blend will vary individually. It's important to cleanse according to what your skin needs, not the latest trend.

Cleansing with oil is done similarly to the honey method above: Warm about one tsp. of oil with your fingers, then massage into your skin in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes. Wet a washcloth with hot water, wring out the excess and place over your face for 30 seconds before gently removing any excess oil. The heat helps loosen the oil and enlarges pores to pull out impurities. Finish with a splash of cool water or toner to close pores and keep them clear.

Natural Toner

Why you should try it: This toner is a powerful, natural astringent that pulls impurities and balances the skin's pH levels while also acting as an antibacterial (apple cider vinegar).

How to use it: The recipe is incredibly simple and only requires two ingredients. Just blend two parts witch hazel with one part unfiltered apple cider vinegar and apply to your skin after cleansing.

Green tea is another great all-natural toner option. Rich in polyphenols, green tea provides your skin with antioxidants, is antibacterial and helps fight inflammation. Brew the tea and allow it to cool before use.

Natural Exfoliant

Why you should use it: Exfoliating with baking soda plays an integral role in your skin care regimen to remove dead skin, keep pores clear and even out skin tone.

How to use it: Using a 50:50 ratio, create a thick paste of baking soda and water (or baking soda and your favorite oil). Massage into skin for one to two minutes and gently wipe away with a warm washcloth. If using an oil blend, follow the same rinsing instructions for the oil cleansing method.