Homemade facial masks can be made in a matter of minutes from
simple ingredients from avocado to oatmeal or egg whites for example,
and offer so many nourishing benefits for normal to dry, dull,
discoloured or inflamed skin.
You can use a whole range of
ingredients varying from nuts and seeds or oil which are high in
plumping moisturizing essential fatty acids to fruits rich in alpha
hydroxy acids and/or enzymes that really brighten skin and give it a
boost.
Homemade facial mask and serum recipes not only help to
clean and moisturize skin, but also renew and regenerate skin slowing
the again process leaving your skin looking and feeling radiant!
You can make a homemade facial mask from any of the ingredients listed below in minutes:
Cucumber - refreshing and cooling. Great for dark circles and lightening skin.
Yogurt - good in acne masks, soothing, lactic acid aids exfoliation and has a mild bleaching effect.
Avocado
- high in moisturizing fatty acids and vitamins making it anti-aging
and an antioxidant helping to protect dry skin from moisture loss. Good
homemade facial mask base.
Aloe vera - balancing, good for acne and tightening pores.
Almond meal - grounds almonds are great for scrubs and exfoliating masks. Has mild lightening effects.
Apple - good in acne masks. Contains malic acid which is a mild exfoliant.
Arrowroot - dries oily skin and good in acne masks for drying out spots.
Banana - tightens skin and is moisturizing. A good homemade facial mask base.
Brown sugar - contains glycolic acid for natural exfoliation and the granules are excellent for use in scrubs and efoliators
Molasses - high in glycolic acids so it is excellent for lifting off dull dead skin layers.
Chocolate - moisturizing for skin. Antioxidants to neutralize free radicals.
Coffee - Used granules are good for exfoliating masks and scrubs, coffee is rich in antioxidants so good for slowing aging.
Coconut cream or milk
- moisturizing, soothing and softens skin. Also mildly antibacterial
especially extra virgin coconut oil. Great homemade facial mask base
ingredients and as a facial rinse.
Egg whites - tightens sagging skin like a mini facelift. Helps to lighten skin also.
Eggs - high in sulphur and protein rich so helps to bind ingredients while moisturizing.
Kiwifruit, Papaya, Pawpaw or Pineapple
- rich in enzymes that dissolve dead skin. Also high in nourishing
vitamins like vitamin C and fruit acids to lift off dead skin cells.
Helps to stimulate new cell growth.
Canteloupe - high in Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant which captures free-radicals tightening skin and creating clear radiant skin.
Almond meal or ground seed & nut meals
- high in fatty acids which are good for holding in moisture and also
for a mild exfoliating effect. Almond meal is slightly lightening as
well.
Honey - antimicrobial and antibacterial so
great for acne in homemade facial masks and for soothing inflamed skin. A
natural humectant which means it draws moisture to the skin helping to
hydrate dry skin.
Oatmeal - moisturizing soothing
itching skin (oatmeal soaked in cold water then the liquid strained out
is excellent for bites and itchy skin complaints). The ground meal is
great for exfoliating scrubs and masks.
Citrus fruits (and other fruits to a lesser degree) - rich in alpha hydroxy or malic acids which help to lift off dead skin cells and stimulate new growth.
Essential oils
- essential oils are naturally antibacterial so are great to add to
masks for acne treatment. Tea tree and lavender are especially useful
for soothing and treating acne by targeting the bacteria that causes
acne and soothing irritated inflamed skin. Great when combined with
honey and yogurt.
Oils (almond, apricot, olive, avocado, wheatgerm etc
- many oils are rich in antiaging fatty acids and antioxidants that
help to slow the aging process and deeply moisturize skin dwon to the
lower layers. Different oils do different things - oils like starflower
(borage) oil are like a super antiaging treatment on their own while ois
like argan, rosehip and carrot seed are also good for lines, wrinkles,
scarring and stretchmarks. Almond oil is excellent fro lightening age
spots and as an every day cleanser.
Parsley and neroil oil - perfect for rosacea and red veins when added to masks and serums.
As
you can see, there are many ingredients you can use from around your
home and local grocery store. When you combine these ingredients
together you can create amazing homemade facial masks and serums (even
moisturizers) that leave your skin with a radiant healthy glow.
It
is fun and easy to make recipes that are "tailor made" to suit your
specific skin type and condition. You can enjoy the numerous benefits of
homemade facial masks and skin care recipes - many that offer the same
results or better than store bought products without the cost or time
taken to find and buy them.
Try mixing some of these ingredients
together or you can try some more specific recipes by this author to see
the improvements and results in your complexion.By
Mia Gordon
