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Be Good to Yourself: 4 All-Natural, Easy-To-Make Recipes for Your Face
by Thomas Doane
Having worked in the beauty industry for eleven years, I feel like I’ve seen just about everything. Women have come to me to fix dye jobs gone horribly wrong. They come to me with botched haircuts, wanting me to caress and finesse the mess. They come to me complain about their acne and their boyfriends, and to get their nails done. Due to the fact that the salon where I work offers everything from haircuts to facials, hair extensions to massages, I’ve become accustomed to any and all requests.
During this recession it’s been hard for people to maintain their elaborate regimens of beautification—everything is so expensive! Believe me; the services you’ll receive in my shop are worth every penny. But you don’t have to spend a fortune for a facial! Most of the key ingredients in facial masks are available, so go get them there at half the price. These kitchen beauty experiments can be fun, and they’ll also save you a bundle of money.
Below are my top four home facial and masque recipes:
Ingredients
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3 strawberries
Instructions
If you have a mortar and pestle, smash the strawberries and brown sugar together. If not: improvise. Smash thoroughly to a smooth consistency. Apply to face using circular motions.
The brown sugar sloughs off dead skin cells, and the salicylic acid in the strawberries tightens your pores and brightens your skin, resulting in a healthy glow. Beware if you have skin that is sensitive to salicylic acid. The effect is extremely refreshing, and pleasantly fragrant!
Ingredients
1 teaspoon dried milk
1 teaspoon water
Instructions
This is about the simplest, most minimalist recipe ever. It’s quick, easy, and effective; and results in silky, milky, smooth skin. Mix up a dab of dried milk and a dab of water and massage the mixture into your skin for 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
The lactic acid in the milk gently exfoliates your skin without stripping essential oils, and leaves your skin smooth and soft. This combination works well for oily skin.
Ingredients
¾ cup oatmeal
½ cups water
¼ cups honey
Instructions
Boil oatmeal and water, set aside and add honey when cooled.
Apply to skin and allow drying for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Oatmeal soothes and heals skin, while the honey has antioxidant properties. This masque is safe for all skin types.
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‘Avocado Mask’
½ mashed avocado
1 egg white
Instructions
Blend together and apply to skin for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Avocados moisturize the skin and provide Vitamin E and other natural oils, while the egg whites contain proteins that, when dry, restrict and remove a layer of dried skin cells, revealing fresh skin beneath. This recipe works well with dry skin.
If you know you have sensitive skin, I recommend researching the ingredients to ensure that you don’t have an adverse reaction to some or all of the ingredients. The first time you attempt any of these remedies, monitor your skin’s reaction, and rinse immediately if you notice burning, itching, or any other signs of discomfort.
Author Bio: Thomas Doane is one of Belts and Bangles fabulous contributing authors. He believes in that beauty doesn’t come easily, but it can come cheaply. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks about natural beauty solutions from Thomas Doane.
