Thanks to a growing interest in using more "green," environmentally-friendly, "natural" products, more and more people are making their own skincare products at home. With a multitude of both online and print recipes widely available, as well as countless online vendors selling the needed ingredients, it's not as difficult as it might seem. A face mask or facial is an easy product to begin with.
What Is a Face Mask?
According to Janice Cox in "Natural Beauty for All Seasons," skin cells regenerate every 21 days. Therefore, a facial mask can be an important step in helping get rid of the old, dead cells to make way for the new, healthy cells. Cox goes on to say that a facial is a "total treatment for the face that consists of deep-cleansing, conditioning, and moisturizing the skin." Oily skin is just one of several skin types and has its own specific needs in regard to a face mask.
Types
In "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions," author Donna Maria reports that people with oily skin have glands that produce excess oil, which results in a greasy texture as well as enlarged, clogged pores. For this reason, face masks for this type of skin use ingredients designed for extra deep cleaning but are careful to avoid over-drying the skin as well. For instance, to help oily skin feel fresher and revitalized, mix together a combination of 1 tsp. brewer's yeast (found in health food stores) and 1/3 cup of plain yogurt to form a thin paste. Pat this onto the oily areas of the face, and allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Egg White and Lemon Juice Mask
Another easy face mask made with commonly found ingredients, to clean pores and prevent black heads, consists of beating together 2 egg whites with 1 tsp. of lemon juice until fluffy. Apply this to the face, wait 10 to 20 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water. Egg whites are also known to help temporarily tighten skin, smoothing the appearance of wrinkles.
Strawberry Face Mask
A face mask a little easier to prepare in the early summer months when strawberries are more plentiful consists of 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 2 egg whites, 3 tsp. honey and 1 cup strawberries combined in a blender. Apply the mask to the face and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. As with all face masks, be sure to avoid the eye area when applying this. With its acidic properties, lemon juice is particularly helpful in deep cleaning oily skin.
Tomato Face Mask
Another simple mask very helpful to oily skin starts with removing the skin and seeds from a fresh tomato. Mix the remaining flesh of the tomato with 2 tsp. of potato flour to form a paste. Add more flour if it's runny. Apply to the face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. As with recipes containing lemon juice, tomato is also acidic, thereby providing a deep cleaning ideal for oily skin.
References
- "Natural Beauty for All Seasons"; Janice Cox; 1996
- "Making aromatherapy Creams and Lotions"; Donna Maria; 2000
- Witty Living: Facial Masks for Oily Skin Type
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