Something Fun: Home-made Face Masks:

 

You can use basic ingredients found around the house to make your own simple, hydrating masks.  If you have oily or acne-prone skin, mud or clay-based masks are great for balancing out your skin. Dry skin will benefit from hydrating masks made from glycerine, honey and oils.  Ginseng or green tea masks are great for soothing sensitive skin.

a) Egg White Face Mask (for all skin types):

Model Shalom Harlow calls this homemade face mask (only 2 ingredients required!)  "Moisturising and soothing."

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

1 egg white, separated from the yolk and placed in a bowl

1 tablespoon of plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt)

Preparation:

Separate the egg white and place it in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of yogurt (do not use flavoured yogurt!).  Mix it up and apply to face. Leave on for a few minutes then rinse face in warm water, followed by a warm washcloth.

b) Banana Face Mask (for oily skin)

This is a soothing face mask and great if you have bananas around the house.

Prep Time: 4 minutes

Ingredients:

1 banana, preferably ripe (you can keep ripe bananas in the freezer. Let it thaw before using)

1 tablespoon honey

An orange or a lemon

Preparation:

Mix the banana and honey together. Add a few drops of juice from an orange or a lemon. If it’s too runny you may consider adding some oatmeal just to bind it a bit. Apply to face for 15 minutes before rinsing with a warm washcloth.

c) Aspirin Face Mask (for acne, pimples, rashes)

Apparently aspirin is brilliant at spot-treating pimples, clearing up acne and itchy patches. In fact, the aspirin mask gets more than 2030 on Makeupalley.com and 85 percent of these reviews are by women who would "try it again."

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Ingredients:

1-3 aspirin

Coffee cup or glass cup

Shallow dish

Warm honey (runny honey), moisturizer made for the face or natural oil such as almond, olive or coconut.

Preparation:

Depending on the amount of coverage needed, use 1-3 aspirin.  Crush the aspirin into small pieces by rolling a coffee cup or glass cup over them.  Place aspirin in a shallow dish.  Stir in a few drops of water to help the aspirin dissolve into a paste. Add warm honey, moisturizer or a bit of oil (almond, olive or coconut works). Stir well.  Apply as a mask or spot treat the pimple or itchy area.  Allow to dry.  Wash off after 10 minutes.

d) Avocado and Honey Face Mask (for dry skin)

Avocados and honey are particularly moisturizing.  This mask is particularly great for mature, wrinkled and dry skin.  It's best to use a ripe, fresh, organic avocado.  Make sure to mash it up into a creamy pulp.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

½ avocado

¼ cup honey

Preparation:

A classic recipe for dry skin. Mash the avocado in a bowl and stir in honey. Apply to skin and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse face with a cool washcloth.