Learn How to Wash Your Face With Food

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Updated September 10, 2021

honey, pitcher of milk, tomatoes, and rolled oats are all natural facial cleansers — Treehugger / Allison Berler

If you're not supposed to put anything on your face that you wouldn't eat, then take it to a whole level by using food to clean your face. It actually works!

One valuable rule I learned while detoxing my beauty routine is “Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat.” The following list of edible facial cleansers takes that advice to a whole new level. These cleansers are actual foods in unadulterated states – ingredients that you’ve already got in the pantry and fridge – that will make your skin feel fabulous while making chemical-based cleansers completely unnecessary. If you have any more to add to the list, please share in the comments below.

1. Organic full-fat milk

hand pours glass pitcher of full fat milk into green glass cup — Treehugger / Allison Berler

This is the “ultimate quickie cleanser,” according to Julie Gabriel in “The Green Beauty Guide” (a must-read for anyone who’s interested in detoxing their beauty routine). Pour some milk onto a cotton ball and use it to wipe off makeup. There is no need to rinse, although you can add a layer of moisturizer if you want. “Enjoy a mild exfoliation as milk sours and gives your skin a natural glow,” Gabriel writes.

2. Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

woman with top bun rubs plain Greek yogurt on her face to clean skin — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Make sure it’s plain, without any flavorings. Rub it into your face and rinse, or leave it on the skin for several minutes. The lactic acid and probiotics in yogurt nourish and cleanse gently. You can mix with honey in order to make an antibacterial cleanser.

3. Oatmeal or oat bran

Treehugger / Allison Berler

Use it on its own or mix with a spoonful of plain yogurt. Add just enough hot water to soften the oatmeal and make it spreadable. Rub into your face and rinse with tepid water.

4. Organic mayonnaise

hand sticks golden spoon into tall glass jar of homemade mayonnaise — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Organic mayonnaise, which is made of oil blended with eggs, is an excellent natural moisturizer. Spread it directly onto your face or mix with oatmeal for extra exfoliation.

5. Olive, sweet almond, grape seed and coconut oils

Olive, sweet almond, grape seed and coconut oils in various glass bowls with sun reflection — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Pour a bit of oil onto a cotton ball in order to wipe away makeup and refresh your face. You can also use the multi-step oil cleansing method (described in greater detail here) to wash, purify, and moisturize your skin. Add a spoonful of brown sugar or baking soda for extra abrasion, if you wish.

6. Baby cereal

four different types of baby food in glass jars with golden spoons stuck inside — Treehugger / Allison Berler

It may sound unappealing, but baby cereals are made of finely ground grains, which make for excellent exfoliation. Mix with a spoonful of olive or sweet almond oil, rub into your face, and rinse.

7. Tomato

flat lay of tomatoes on vine on wooden cutting board next to bowl of greek yogurt — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Former TreeHugger writer Jasmine Chua suggests using tomato mixed with yogurt to cleanse the face, as it contains complexion-nourishing antioxidants, vitamins, and acids that help slough off dead skin.

8. Honey

golden spoon dipped in jar of honey drips as it's pulled out — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Honey is a wondrous ingredient with antibacterial and moisturizing properties. Rub it undiluted into your face to cleanse and soften. In order to dissolve makeup, blend with a gentle oil such as jojoba or coconut. All the stickiness rinses away with warm water.

9. Dried milk powder and almond meal

open hands hold wet almond meal in palms as a natural exfoliator — Treehugger / Allison Berler

Mix these together in equal parts. Scoop some into your hand, add a bit of water to make a paste, and rub into your face for a refreshing natural scrub.