Homemade Facial Masks

Natural homemade face masks are a great way to heal and improve your skin without chemicals and most of them are already in your kitchen! :)
All of these masks can be done 1-2 times a week. I've done all of these and promise they'll work on most people. (Sometimes they won't work because everyone's skin is different. It's about finding what works for you:)
Honey MaskOne of the most popular face masks is a Honey mask.
Honey has amazing healing properties and is a natural anti-bacterial.
You can use honey from your local grocery, but make sure it's 100% honey with nothing else in it. You can also use manuka honey which is supposedly the best honey to use, but a little more expensive.

Take a small amount of honey and apply a thin layer on the face and leave for 15-20 minutes, then wash off with warm water and moisturize.


Honey and Aspirin Mask

This is a very popular mask and it is great for acne-prone skin. Aspirin is basically Salicylic Acid which is a Beta Hydroxy acid that's used in many skincare products for acne and exfoliation. It leaves the skin feeling really soft!

Take two aspirins and put them on a small plate. Then sprinkle a few drops of water on them and wait 30 seconds. Next, take a spoon and crush the aspirin until it crumbles into tiny bits. Now add a tablespoon or two of honey(or aloe vera) and mix it all up.

Apply to the face and leave for 20 minutes then rinse and moisturize.






Egg White/Yolk MaskEgg White - This is a great face mask if you want to brighten and tighten the skin. It helps reduce redness in the face and gives the face a lift. It's a good one to do before a night out.
Whisk the white of one egg in a bowl until it gets nice and frothy. Take a cotton pad and dip it in the egg white and apply evenly to the face. Leave it on for about 15 mins then wash off with your normal cleanser, then tone and moisturize. This one really works well!

Egg Yolk - This mask is for skin that needs extra moisturization. Take the yolk of one egg and in a bowl, and break the yolk with a fork. Lightly beat the egg yolk for a few seconds until it becomes smooth then apply to the face like the egg white. Leave on for 20 mins then rinse, tone, and moisturize.
It'll leave your face feeling soft and replenished:)


Honey and Avocado
This mask really helped my skin out last year when I was ill and stressed out. Avocado is very good for the skin because it's rich in vitamins and high in fat which helps dry, dull skin.
Take one half of an avocado and smash it with a fork in a bowl, then add honey. Mix together an apply on the face. Leave for 15-20 mins then rinse and moisturize. This mask refreshes tired skin and leaves it feeling clean and hydrated.




Yogurt Mask
Yogurt contains lactic acid which is a colourless natural substance, derived from sour milk. It was discovered over 200 years ago in fermented milk. It is known that Cleopatra and other women used to bath in sour milk to obtain beautiful skin.
Lactic acid is in many cosmetic products including moisturisers and anti-wrinkle creams.
This mask stimulates collagen production, acts as an exfoliant to the skin, and helps with photo-aging and sun damage(sunburn too). It's also a wonder for acne-prone skin, oily skin and hyperpigmentation marks left over from acne.
Take one tablespoon of plain yogurt and apply evenly to the face and neck. Leave on for no more than 10 minutes! Otherwise it might irritate your skin. Rinse and moisturize :)


Oatmeal Mask

This is one of my favourite masks because it's especially good for oily skin. Oatmeal absorbs excess oil on the skin whilst moisturizing at the same time.
Take 2 tablespoons of uncooked oatmeal and add 2 tablespoons of water. Mix until you get a nice paste and apply evenly all over the face. (You can also use cooked oatmeal as well.) You may look nuts with this mask on but it feels nice and soothing on the skin. Leave on for 15 mins then rinse, tone and moisturize.

You can also add a tiny bit of lemon juice as well to this mask or to the Egg White mask for extra toning.



Tomato Mask
This is another great mask for oily skin. Tomatoes act as an astringent and are packed with Vitamin A and K which are beneficial for the skin. Take one slice of tomato and rub it all over your face until evenly coated. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse. Your face should be shine free and glowing:) A tomato is nature's toner.






Green Tea Mask There have been a number of encouraging studies of skin benefits of green tea. Animal studies showed protection from skin cancer. Both animal and human studies have credibly demonstrated that topical green tea formulations reduce sun damage. Green tea appears to exert sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea may synergistically enhance sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen. It's an excellent anti-inflammatory so this mask will reduce any puffiness as well so use under and on your eyes too:)

Make sure the tea has cooled and dip a cotton pad in and swab it all over your face. Leave on for 20-30 minutes then rinse and moisturize.


Enjoy!


Laura
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