ANSWERS:

Celena, age 15 I'm starting a natural health and beauty club with the local unschoolers that I attend a group with. In all of the research books I have been looking at they recommend strawberries and oatmeal. You powder the oatmeal in a blender and mix it with just enough water to form a paste. You rub the paste on your face and let it harden then wash it off. The strawberries you rub all over your face. They have a high ammount of salycic acid in them. I also use aloe vera gel. It makes your skin very soft and gets rid of acne. I have a few pimples but I never have horrible outbreaks anymore. The gel works best fresh out of the plant, but the stuff for sunburns works also.

Kristin, age 18: Some ideas for reducing oil include:

A mixture of fresh squeezed lime juice and the "goo" of an aloe vera plant from around your porch/backyard. This mix does the trick but it is not for those with super-sensitive skin. Trust me, I know; It feels similar to a store bought astringent

Some ideas for adding moisture back into dry skin include:

Avocados! Mash avocados with bananas and honey. This makes a lovely facial spread that is non-irritating. This mix is full of EFA's that keep skin supple and young looking. It doesn't hurt to eat avocados either to acheive the same effect. Just don't eat the facial mix.

If you have any vitamin E capsules hanging out in your cupboard these can be put to use as well. Snip a hole in the top and squeeze the liquid out onto your palms. This oily stuff is great for calluses. My friend who was a gymnast swears by it.

For skin that has irregularities, massaging olive oil into the troubled area works well but it takes a couple of days of religious application to notice the effects.

And always perhaps the most important thing to remember is: Drink water! And lots of it for radiant skin.

Stephanie, age 17: Well, I know a book you could refer to. I have this book called Living on Earth by Alicia Bay Laurel and it is pretty much a guide to life. It explains methods to make just about everything yourself so that it is healthy and environmentally friendly, and more often than not, vegan or vegetarian. The book includes beauty products, like soaps (facial), different types of baths (Japanese, steam, etc.) and a bunch of other things. You should get this book - it's amazingly helpful, unique and extremely interesting. A "how to" guide to suit your everday needs.

Another tid-bit of advice in regards to healthy skin I have is what my mother told me a few years ago. She said that your face naturally cleans itself, and that if you wash it all the time, you're just becoming addicted to washing it, so if you skip one day of not washing it, it will screw up the balance you have created in your skins oils. Your skin produces oils, and they naturally clean your face. I have not washed my face for years, and my skin is almost perfectly clear, and very healthy looking. Try it out, and see how it goes. Remember that at first it might not clear up, because it has become used to being washed, but progressively it will clear up.

Also, don't touch your face, your hands are so dirty - even if you wash them often. I've noticed that the exact places that a person is constantly touching on their face is the most problematic area on their face (in terms of pimples, oil etc...).

Rachel, age 16: Mash a small ripe avocado for a refreshing face mask. It's not for the everyday beauty routine because of the price and availability, but its a nice treat when they're in season. Water down some lemon juice to treat breakouts. Just test a small area before using it all over - it REALLY stings if you have sensitive skin. Go easy with it so you don't dry out your face. For a toner, I use 2/3 cup water + 2/3 apple cider vinager. It's very gentle. It can make you smell like apple juice, so I choose to splash it off with cold water after it dries, but you could leave it on. Works the same either way. If you're not vegan and don't object to using some animal products, you can combine 2 tablespoons rolled (not instant!) oats + 2 tbs plain yogurt + 2 tbs honey for an exfoliant.

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