I like to tinker. The excitement of experimentation is a major motivating force behind most of what I do. I know that consistency can be a very healthy thing, but the possibility of discovery, mixed with a tendency towards rebelliousness, makes me resistant to routines.
This is one of the many reasons why I love the Sow Your Wild Oats grain cleanser. Let’s start with the name. It’s not called “Quit Joyfully Exploring the Diversity of Experience and Get a Normal Job and a Normal Life” grain cleanser, is it? No. So there’s that. But more importantly, let’s talk about what it does.
Sow Your Wild Oats (SYWO) is a gentle grain cleanser you can use as a daily exfoliator or as weekly mask when combined with other ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen (fellow tinkerers reading this just perked up — I can mix this with stuff in my kitchen?! Yes you can, read on).
Here are the main directions to use SYWO:
Exfoliating Cleanser
How:
• Shake or measure out a flat quarter-size pile (1 tsp) into the palm of your hand.
• Add 1 tsp warm water and mix with fingertips.
• Apply evenly to face and massage well.
• Remove with a warm, damp cloth.
When:
3-6 times/week | AM or PM
“Scrub” for Congested Skin
How:
• Shake or measure out a flat quarter-size pile (1 tsp) into the palm of your hand.
• Add 1 tsp warm water and mix with fingertips.
• Drip 3-4 drops of NO EVIL, Cow Fart Juice or Seeds of Change directly into the mixture.
When:
3-6 times/week instead of oil cleansing. PM only. No more than once every 24 hours if using oil. It is wonderful to apply before a shower and remove in the shower — be sure to still use your washcloth.
Ok, that part is lovely, but there is more. This is where the real fun begins. SYWO can also be used to create several different types of masks, each customized to your skin’s specific needs. When made into a weekly exfoliating mask, there is the added benefit of further breaking down the cell walls of each individual herb. This increases the power of the “action” of the herbs as well as provides a more intense exfoliation due to the naturally present salicylic acid in organic and wildcrafted herbs.
Here’s how to use SYWO as a weekly mask:
Honey for healing. Mix 1/4 tsp honey + 1 1/2 tsp water, then add to SWYO.
Yogurt for hyperpigmentation. Mix 1 tbsp of yogurt into SYWO and let sit for up to an hour before applying to skin. This is my personal favorite. After I take this off, my skin feels spongy, dewy, and fresh.
Mineral Mist to add nutrients and plant essences to your mask. 24 sprays into your hand first, then add SYWO and a little more water if necessary. Do not spray the mist into the dry powder or you will end up with SYWO everywhere except your face (yes, I know it’s obvious but it was morning and some of us may have learned this the hard way…)
Stress Bump Herbal Tea for breakouts. Make it strong and let it cool well before mixing. Add 1 tsp to SYWO.
For all masks: Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse with a warm, wet washcloth.
When:
Weekly for most, 2 times a week if there are drastic changes that need to made.
Here you have it, an adaptable framework that guides you so that you can give your skin exactly what it needs to be nourished and glowingly beautiful. I get the fun of mixing together my own special mask (without torturing my skin with my own weird experiments as I’m sure many of my kindred tinkerers out there have done — put the apple cider vinegar down, my friends), and the joy of having nourished, glowingly healthy and beautiful skin.
Illustration and writing by Krista Dragomer
Krista Dragomer is an Ohio-born mixed media artist living and working in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Her work can be seen at www.kristadragomer.com
More By Krista
Thanks for this! I knew nothing about the breaking down the cell walls of the herbs! I’m so excited to try that yogurt mask.