đ [51 ] | [Glow Naturally: Ditch Soap for a Powerful Herbal Skin Ritual ]
In this short but power-packed episode, Iâm showing you how to glow naturallyâwithout soap, without toxins, and without all the harsh ingredients hiding in even the âcleanâ skincare aisle.
Weâre diving into herbal powder pastesâancient botanical blends like neem, tulsi, turmeric, rose, and chamomile that have been used for centuries to cleanse, nourish, and heal. Iâll walk you through how they work, what they do for your skin, and how to make your own at home.
Youâll learn:
No gimmicks. No 10-step routines. Just real, radiant skin using what He already created for us.
Be sure to grab the free printable recipe guide coming soon! đż
đ Read the full blog + resources at BecomingNatural.com
đ¤ Author: Penelope Sampler | Natural Wellness ⢠Chronic Illness Journey ⢠Faith & Wellness
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đ Note: Iâm just a girl with a wild story and a passion for sharing what has helped me feel my best during difficult times. I share personal experience, documented research, and a whole lot of heart. Always talk to a professional when making changes to your health routine.
Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
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đď¸ Mini Pod: 51 Glow Naturally: Ditch Soap for a Powerful Herbal Skin Ritual
Hey sweet friend, welcome back to the Soap-Free Skin Seriesâour gentle rebellion against surfactants, suds, and skin-stripping nonsense.
Weâve slathered on oils, covered ourselves in honey, rolled in the dirt. And today?
We're taking yesterdayâs podcast about clay as detoxifier, cleanser and nourishment for the skin and kicking it up a notch. Keeping it simple, you can absolutely just use one of the clay powders from yesterday alone. Today as we discuss Herbal Powder Pastes, they are simply icing on the proverbial cake.
While clay cleansing is an absolute queen đ... todayâs episode introduces the KING. herbal powder pastes. Yepâpowdered plants that multitask with quiet strength and holy purpose.
These aren't new trends. These are time-tested healers from traditions like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and yes, even early Biblical herbalism. We're going to cover a few stars including neem, tulsi, turmeric, rose petal, marshmallow root, and chamomile.
âThe leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.â
â Revelation 22:2
...and I like to think that includes your face, your hands, your whole temple.
Letâs talk about why these herbs belong in your soap-free ritual.
đą Why Herbal Powders?
If clay is your base for detox and oil absorption, herbal powders are the nourishmentâlike a serum in solid form. You just mix with a little water (or hydrosol or aloe) into a paste, apply like a mask or wash, and rinse off.
These humble powders do something commercial skincare rarely can: they cleanse, heal, brighten, balance, and softenâwithout preservatives, perfumes, harsh surfactants, and endocrine-disrupting additives found in even âcleanâ cleansers.
⨠Star Herbs & Their Healing Powers
Hereâs your line-up of powdered plant heroes. I donât expect you to remember all of these details and maybe ill find a great way to make a chart out of it. Just know that you cannot go wrong with ANY of these amazing herbs when you use for cleaning your body. They are antibacterial, anti fungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenicâŚ.all the things that commercial soaps ARE NOT and while these options are providing your entire body with added benefits, commercial soaps are giving your body potentially harmful side effects. Which do you prefer?
1. Neem
Why it works: Broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral.
Use it for: Breakouts, eczema-prone skin, scalp issues.
Study says: Neemâs antimicrobial effects have been confirmed in numerous studies, especially in wound healing and acne control.
đż What Is Neem?
Neem comes from the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica), native to India and parts of Southeast Asia. Itâs known in Ayurvedic medicine as the âvillage pharmacyâ because nearly every part of the tree is used for healingâleaves, seeds, bark, even flowers.
For skincare, we use neem leaf powder, made by drying and grinding the leaves. Itâs:
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Packed with antioxidants
Perfect for calming inflamed, acne-prone, or sensitive skin
You might also hear about neem oil, which is pressed from the seeds of the tree. It has a strong earthy smell, but itâs incredibly effective for:
Scalp health
Dandruff
Nail fungus
Deep healing for dry patches
The active compound, azadirachtin, is powerfulâstrong enough to be used in natural pest remedies, yet safe and healing when applied gently to the skin. Itâs one of those rare botanical gifts that defends and restores all at once. If you can believe it, my first experience with Neem Oil was a couple years ago when I wanted to treat my juniper tree. I dontâ know why I keep getting these evergreen trees because they always end up with spider mites. Well, knowing the poisons in bug killers and fertilizers I did my research and found that Neem Oil prevents and treats spider mites safely. I had no idea what Neem was before that and now I just spray my trees with neem twice and year and they are healthy!
2. Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Why it works: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic.
Use it for: Redness, irritation, or dullness.
Fun fact: Tulsi is considered a sacred plant in Indiaâused in prayer and healing alike.
đż What Is Tulsi?
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), also known as Holy Basil, is a sacred herb in India, often grown on front porches and courtyards as a sign of protection and peace. While related to sweet basil, Tulsi is not for cookingâsheâs deeply medicinal.
Tulsi contains compounds that reduce oxidative stress, balance cortisol, and calm inflammatory skin conditions
It's often used for breakouts, hormonal skin flares, or dull, fatigued complexions
Youâll find Tulsi in:
Powdered form (for masks and pastes)
Herbal teas (great for calming from within)
Sheâs beautifully groundingâspiritually and physiologically. And yes, you can grow her! She thrives in sun and warmth, just like you, friend.
3. Chamomile
Why it works: Calms reactive, inflamed skin. Natural source of apigenin, a powerful flavonoid.
Use it for: Rosacea, sensitive skin, puffiness.
Science says: Shown to reduce cytokine activity (aka the root of redness!).
đź What Is Chamomile?
Chamomile is a daisy-like flower with powerful healing properties, especially for calming the skin and spirit. There are two main types:
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): Potent and commonly used in skincare
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): Milder, often found in baby products
German chamomile is rich in azulene, which gives it that signature blue hue in essential oils and helps reduce redness, swelling, and irritation.
You can use:
Chamomile powder in DIY masks
Tea bags opened and blended into gentle face scrubs
Chamomile hydrosol as a calming toner
And yes, chamomile is easy to grow in pots. Just brushing the petals releases a soft apple-like scent that somehow makes everything feel okay again.
4. Marshmallow Root
Why it works: Mucilaginous (slimy in the best way). Forms a protective film on the skin, helping it stay hydrated.
Use it for: Dry, flaky skin; compromised skin barriers.
Spirit note: Itâs like a balm of Gilead from the roots.
𪴠What Is Marshmallow Root?
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is one of natureâs most nurturing plants. When mixed with water, it becomes slippery and gel-like, forming a soft, soothing shield over dry or irritated skin.
Itâs rich in polysaccharides, which act like a gentle barrier, holding in moisture and protecting your skin from environmental stress
Traditionally used to soothe coughs and sore throats, itâs just as comforting on eczema, windburn, and barrier damage
Available in powdered form from most herb suppliers, marshmallow root can be added to any mask to instantly make it more hydrating. Think of it like a soft hug in herbal form.
5. Turmeric
Why it works: Brightens and evens tone, antioxidant powerhouse.
Use it for: Hyperpigmentation, inflammation, dullness.
Pro tip: A little goes a long wayâdonât overdo unless you want to look like Big Bird.
⨠What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a golden rhizome used for centuries in both culinary and healing traditions. Its power comes from curcumin, a deeply pigmented compound that:
Reduces inflammation
Fades dark spots and scars
Acts as a strong antioxidant, protecting against environmental damage
But be carefulâit can temporarily stain your skin yellow, especially if left on too long or used without balancing ingredients.
Use just a pinch in your mask, especially alongside soothing agents like honey or yogurt. Itâs like applying a warm, golden prayer to your skinâone that says, âHealing is happening.â
6. Rose Petal Powder
Why it works: Cooling, soothing, and gently astringent.
Use it for: Irritation, hormonal breakouts, postpartum skincare.
Bonus: Smells divine. Like washing your face with a prayer.
đš What Is Rose Petal Powder?
Made from dried and ground rose petals, rose petal powder is a cooling, calming, and beautifully fragrant herbal ingredient.
Itâs rich in vitamin C, natural tannins, and anti-inflammatory properties
Helps soothe acne-prone skin, tone large pores, and restore a sense of peace and softness to your routine
Also lovely for postpartum care, especially for inflamed or tender skin
You can mix it with oats, clay, or yogurt for a gentle treatment. Itâs safe enough for kids and pregnant mamas. And honestlyâit smells amazing.
đŹ Why Go Soap-Free with Herbs?
Besides being effective, herbal powder pastes skip the:
â Preservatives
â Endocrine disruptors
â Fragrances
â Harsh surfactants
They let your skin function the way God designed itâwith a living, responsive barrier that heals and breathes.
No stripping. No inflammation. No toner. No 5 serums. No drama. Just restoration.
đ A Little Devotional Moment
I think about how many healing stories in Scripture involved dirt, spit, herbs, and oils.
God didnât create our skin to be squeaky. He created it to glow from health, not harshness. To shed what no longer serves. We shed our skin for the same reasons snakes shed theirs. To rebuild from the inside out.
So when you press these pastes onto your skin, I hope you remember:
You are not broken. You are not too far gone from what you have done in the past. Your body is created to heal. You are becoming. And you are taking baby steps to put your body in the best possible position to heal by removing the chemical laden products we are so used to using and replacing with Herbal Gifts.
And these herbal gifts? Theyâre part of the healing.
đď¸ Where to Buy
Look for organic, culinary-grade, or Ayurvedic-grade powders
Trusted brands: Mountain Rose Herbs, Banyan Botanicals, Starwest Botanicals
Just make sure theyâre pure, unblended, and free of fillers
đ Coming SoonâŚ
Iâll be releasing a free printable PDF of herbal powder paste recipes with benefits, mix-ins, and pairingsâso keep an eye on your inbox and Instagram.
đ§ş Recap & Takeaway
Herbal powder pastes are:
âď¸ Cleansing
âď¸ Calming
âď¸ Healing
âď¸ Free from junk
âď¸ Rooted in history
âď¸ Glorifying to the God who made the plants đż
You donât need 14 steps or a $200 cream. You need what the earth already gives.
Thanks for joining me, friend. Whether youâre mixing neem in the kitchen or praying over your skin in the mirror, just remember:
You are not too far gone.
You are already being healed.
Iâll see you in the next mini pod where we talk about Magnesium and Salt. Until thenâbecoming natural, becoming whole.