Beauty Enthusiasts: 3 Ways Yogurt Can Nourish Your Skin this Winter!

As a beauty enthusiast, you know that healthy skin sets the perfect base for all of your makeup looks, and with winter just around the corner, you and 81 million other people will likely suffer from dry and itchy skin. As a makeup artist and fellow dry skin sufferer with an interests in natural beauty hacks, I have found two articles highlighting the benefits of yogurt for your skin! The first article titled "Yogurt for Skin: Powerful Nutrients in Yogurt for Glowing Skin" by the team at bellatory.com, focuses on the top four nutrients and benefits of plain yogurt. Zinc, lactic acid, calcium and B vitamins contains anti-inflammatory properties, helps prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, facilitates skin renewal and keeps skin glowing and hydrated, respectively. The article states that applying yogurt to your skin can help lighten and brighten it, shrink pores and decrease the appearance of acne and wrinkles on your skin.

The second article titled "Benefits of Yogurt Face Masks" by Lilian M Raji, describes why yogurt is a popular remedy for your health, and why skincare companies are including such a simple ingredient in their products. Raji states that references to the health-promoting benefits of yogurt date back to 6000 BC, and that yogurt's probiotics are the best source to help with internal health. Raji references Dr.Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist and researcher, stating that "probiotics from yogurt interfere with the colonization of acne-and-inflammation causing bacteria." Many popular skincare companies, such as Laneige and Korres, are using these probiotics in their products; Dr.Bowe suggests skipping these price products and opting for a homemade yogurt face mask instead. Drawing on these articles and my experience as a makeup artist with a passion for holistic remedies, I have outlined 3 simple ways you can use yogurt to improve your dry skin. 1. As a Spot-treatment- Simply dip dry cotton balls into one tablespoon of yogurt and apply to affected and patchy dry areas. Keep yogurt treatment on overnight and wash face with cold water in the morning. 2. As a Cleanser- Many mass produced cleansers on the market contain salicylic acid which can further dry out your already troublesome skin. Simply warm a dollop of plain yogurt in your hands by rubbing your hands together, apply to your face, massage for 2-3 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry; the yogurt will also act as a natural makeup remover! 3. As a Moisturizer- If your skin is feeling extra dry, simply combine 4 tablespoons of room-temperature plain yogurt with 1 tablespoon of organic honey. Place the mixture on your clean skin, and let dry for 20 minutes, rinse your face with water, and pat dry with a clean towel. You will immediately discover your smooth and supple skin! Yogurt is definitely a great and natural method to combating your dry skin woes this winter, so get started today! -- Megan is a freelance makeup artist and beauty blogger currently working on completing Northwestern University's Social Marketing Specialization on Coursera.org. She is particularly interested in new and emerging beauty products and is passionate about the movement towards #crueltyfree product testing. You can find her on Twitter @megsp92.