Talk about all-natural beauty.

"I think it's really just for the experiment," says Erica Mardis, who works in the nutrition and body care department at Earth Fare and makes soaps with her daughter. But she says it is a great gift idea and made in bulk, homemade products can be quite cost-effective.

Because most ingredients can either be found on your kitchen shelves already, or in any grocery store, homemade can prove to be cheaper than the all-organic beeswax infused face salve on the shelf at your favorite health food store.

"We have a papaya skin peel that's like $25," Mardis says.

Comparing it to a "recipe" for a stimulating face wash made from papaya, egg white and honey, she says it probably would be cheaper doing it yourself.

Plus, the health benefit of making your own products is there's no mystery about what's in them.

A good skin firmer
Method: beat one egg white and rub on face. Let dry and peel off.
Benefit: egg white smoothes and firms skin.

Oatmeal and almond scrub
Ingredients: 1/4 cup of oatmeal, 1/4 cup of almonds, water.
Method: puree ingredients adding water gradually until it forms a paste.
Benefit: almonds and oatmeal exfoliate and remove dead skin, leaving face smooth.

Apple, oats, cornmeal and honey scrub
Ingredients: 1/2 an apple, 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/3 cup cornmeal, 1 teaspoon of honey.
Method: puree ingredients together and rub on face.
Benefit: honey has an exfolliant quality because of the natural acids and the sugar enzyme. Apple juice tightens pores while pectin smoothes the skin. Oatmeal and cornmeal exfoliate.

A good toner
Method: mix together one part raw apple cider vinegar to four parts distilled water. Just rub on face first thing in the morning.
Benefit: cleans and clears complexion.

Avocado, sesame oil and yogurt moisturizing mask
Ingredients: 1 avocado, mashed thouroughly, 1 tablespoon yogurt, 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Method: blend or mash together and apply to face. Rinse.
Benefit: avocado, sesame and lactic acid are natural moisturizers.

Egg, honey and papaya mask
Ingredients: 1/2 a ripe papaya, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of honey
Method: blend ingredients and apply to face. Rinse off with warm water.
Benefit: the egg firms skin, while the papaya and honey act as stimulators, energizing the skin.

Staff writer Lillia Callum-Penso can be reached at 298-3768.