Face Masks to the Rescue

I’m sure all you ladies must have been to a professional salon for a facial. So you definitely also know what a face mask is. Let’s have a little talk about face masks. In a salon, they must be applying a face mask after your skin has been cleansed, exfoliated, any extractions done and then the massage. There are various face masks for different kinds whether your face is oily, dry and sensitive or dehydrated. They’re let to sit for about 10 or 15 minutes and then washed off. Most face masks consists black moor mud, clay, seaweed, aloe vera, algae, some kind of essential oil, herbs or massage oils.

How do face masks help us?

Face masks are a kind of treatment which can help you with your skin concerns. But yes, it needs to be the right kind for your skin. Face Masks can help you in hydrating your skin, removing of excess oil, improving the appearance of pores and is a great way of removing impurities too. Another reason is well, just to pamper yourself. Face masks are generally used once or twice a week depending on the kind of skin.

Now talking about face masks we also should inform you that the more natural the product is, the better it is for your skin. Most of us know the effects of chemical products. Apparently our skin can absorb at least 60% of the chemicals which are found in products. Products containing paraben, lead, formaldehyde can be very harmful for both men and women. Hence, while using any kind of beauty products it is suggested that it contains antioxidants like red tea, rosemary, Lycopene, Parsley or Coenzyme Q10. Vitamin A and C are also considered beneficial. And it is always best to use natural products as much as you can. For example – coconut oil which is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial can be used for cleansing your skin or hair, moisturizing, removing make up and so on. Honey is also a great skin care product which is used in cleansers and other natural beauty products for acne due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.

Talking about face masks specifically, let us look at ways to make our own face masks. The face masks that we have listed out are extremely easy to make and can be made in your very own kitchen. Most of the products are also easily available. You can get them at any supermarket, Lulu, Carrefour and so on.

Coconut and Honey – We’ve already told you how beneficial both coconut oil and honey are for our body. One point that we didn’t mention is that honey is great for your complexion too. Take one tablespoon of Organic virgin coconut oil, two teaspoons of honey (raw honey) and a teaspoon of lemon juice (fresh). You may not always get raw honey at your usual supermarket so you can try. If you do not want to use lemon juice, you can increase the proportion of honey to a tablespoon. Now, this face mask is going to be all gooey and could drip around. So be careful, you don’t want to attract the ants or bees do you? (Sorry, joking!) You can leave this mask on for about 15 or 20 minutes and then wash it off with some lukewarm water.

Avocado mask – There are times when we buy bananas and they become so ripe that you do not feel like eating them. Well, it’s time for a mask! Avocados have antioxidant properties and hence good for wrinkles and fine lines. It is also a good moisturizer. Bananas are rich in vitamin A and hence also a good moisturizer. All you need to do is take equal proportions of Avocado and a very ripe banana (say half and half) along with a tablespoon of olive oil. You can add some essential oil too if you want (maybe lavender oil for the lovely smell). Mash it up well or use your trusty food processor and leave it on your face and neck area for about 15 minutes. Always remember to pat dry your face after washing.

Another mask can be made with yogurt. Take some local honey maybe a tablespoon, half an avocado, a few tablespoons of yogurt (unflavored). If your skin feels extremely dry, this mask would help you immediately.

Egg White Mask – The simplest of masks and the best for skins that break out easily. Egg white helps tighten as well as tone the skin and shrinks the large pores which automatically reduce oiliness. For acne prone skin this face mask is really good. It leaves your skin refreshed and shiny. All you need to do is separate the white from the yolk and apply it to your cleansed face. It can be left for about 15 minutes. You can feel your skin tighten up as it dries. Once you wash it off you can feel the softness and you will feel fresh.

Turmeric and Lemon Face Mask – Grind up oats in a food processor and make it into flour like consistency (rolled oats). Take 3 tablespoons of it, Manuka Honey a tablespoon, half a teaspoon of ground turmeric and a fresh lemon juice. Manuka Honey is from New Zealand and one of the purest kinds. You can get it at manuka honey and sometimes in Carrefour too. Combine all these together, apply and leave it on for 15 minutes. The turmeric will leave a yellow tinge. So you will need to wash your face several times. Manuka Honey is great for acne prone skin, in exfoliation, retaining moisture, and helping with softness and radiance.

Pumpkin Face Mask – Pumpkin has fruit enzymes and Vitamin A and C which helps in softening and soothing the skin. Take about a quarter cup of pumpkin puree, quarter cup of rolled oats as explained above (preferably gluten free), ground cinnamon say about half a teaspoon and raw honey about two teaspoons. If you feel that the consistency is too thick, you can add a little water or more honey to thin it out. There is no stead and fast rule to the proportions. Each one would have a different liking.

All of us should make natural face masks an important part of our skin care routine. Take out a few minutes every week and you will surely see a noticeable difference. Agreed, you cannot open the door while you have your face mask on! Ha! Ha!