Use natural ingredients and tools found in your kitchen to remove dead skin cells, eliminate fine wrinkles and protect your skin against dryness, all signs of aging. It's very satisfying to make your own masks, cleansers and creams because you can control the quality and freshness of the ingredients as well as experiment to find the exact mixture that works best for you.
Step 1
Combine the cucumber and water in your blender and puree. Strain into a jar and refrigerate until needed. Rinse out the blender for the next step.
Step 2
Combine strawberries, papaya, honey, oatmeal, yogurt and sesame oil in your blender and puree until smooth. Fruit and yogurt contain acids from which alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) is derived. AHA refines the face, exfoliates and removes the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal the smooth living skin beneath. Honey is a humectant; it absorbs water out of the air to moisten skin. Oatmeal is soothing to sensitive skin. Oil is emollient, which means it smooths your skin and retains moisture just as your natural skin oils do.
Step 3
Apply the fruit mixture to your face and rest for ten minutes. If you have leftover mask, share it with a friend, or add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it and refrigerate. Use no more than 24 hours later as the puree has no preservatives and will not keep well.
Step 4
Rinse the mask off of your face. Then use the cucumber mixture to tone and further freshen your face. While your face is still wet with cucumber liquid, massage a teaspoon of coconut or olive oil into your skin to retain moisture, smooth your skin and add a lustrous glow.
Tips and Warnings
- You can substitute avocado for the strawberries and papaya, for very dry skin. You can substitute any oil of your choice for the sesame oil and coconut oil. If this mixture makes too much, rather than wasting the leftover mask, next time cut the ingredients in half for a smaller batch.
- Generally, "if it's edible, it's spreadable," which means that fresh food ingredients are generally safe for use on your skin. However, if you are uncertain about any of the ingredients, be sure to perform a patch test. Just apply a dab of any of the ingredients to your inner arm and wait 24 hours. If no irritation develops, the ingredient is likely to be safe.
Things You'll Need
- Blender
- 1/4 cup fresh cucumber
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 oz. jar or cup
- Small strainer
- 2 large strawberries
- 2 tbsp. of fresh papaya
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. finely ground oatmeal
- 1 tbsp. yogurt
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 1 tsp coconut oil
References
- "Recipes for Natural Beauty"; by Neal's Yard Remedies, 2008
- "Stephanie's Home Beauty Salon: Make Your Own Face Masks From Fruits, Vitamins And Natural Oils"; Darie S; 2008
- "Face, Hair and Body: Making Organic Masks, Treatments and Lotions for Natural Beauty"; Gill Farrer-Halls; 2004
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