DIY: Rare Earth Daily Cleanser and a little background...

My love of Kiehl's first started when I was eleven and went to visit my best-friend from summer camp who lived in Ohio, and while visiting NYC was staying at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

My grandpa, (who passed on his love for all-natural products to me) picked me up from my city weekend and brought me down to the lobby, where they sold Kiehl's. I remember picking out little samples of egg and herbal shampoos...Hey, it was the 70's!

I was hooked.

Years later, when I was in my early thirties, I lived a block away from the famous Kiehl's store in NYC.

Me and my boyfriend at the time were addicted to a couple products, primarily the Pour Homme shower gel and body lotion, which to me was the perfect unisex fragrance to share.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of strolling around downtown with my girl and what do you know...I found myself right in front of the shop. Well, Pour Homme brought back fond memories, but I had no interest in wearing them! I ended up purchasing one of Kiehl's original fragrance oils in Cucumber. It was the perfect quirky spring fragrance and I love it.

(I read somewhere Bjork likes it, too.)

Things apparently changed at Kiehl's because they are no longer as "generous" with the samples as they once were. Everyone knew you only had to purchase a little something to take home a hefty smattering of their famous samples.

This time, I found myself practically begging for a sample of facial cleanser and only after taking what felt like an oath that I had combination skin! Ugh. Anyway, that is how I found Rare Earth facial cleanser and my skin fell in love with it.

The End...

Not really. See, this Mama is on a tight budget. It is also empowering to make my own (and almost always) BETTER products using the original as an inspiration for my homemade creations. And not that I'm knockin' them, but there are a few (or more than a few) suspicious chemicals, additives, and ingredients in their costly products.

So, I took the key players from the Kiehl's version, mainly the clay...and I created something that makes my skin feel even cleaner and softer, than the "OG!" Sorry, Kiehl's.

I still love you...

My Rare Earth Facial Cleanser

3 Tablespoons Baking Soda

2 Tablespoons French Clay

1 Teaspoon of Sugar (for exfoliation)

1.5 Tablespoon Oatmeal

Put the above ingredients in a blender or other blending device. I used a coffee bean grinder I have and it worked splendidly!

Give it a few whirls until everything is ground up fine.

Careful when you open the lid. You don't want to breathe in clay powder!

Put your lovely facial cleanser in a jar or other air-tight container.

To Use: Place about a teaspoon of cleanser into the palm of your hand. Add a tiny bit of hot water, enough to mix a paste. Gently rub around your entire face, focusing on the oily areas.

You can even leave this on for a few minutes as a mask, if desired.

Rinse and pat your beautiful face dry.

I promise, you will love the way your skin feels.

Hope you'll try it.

***Stay tuned for my tingly deoderant/foot powder recipe!