Strawberry and Yogurt Face Mask for Acne

Two of the best natural ingredients for preventing breakouts are salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids. Both are found in my strawberry yogurt face mask for acne, as well as many skin care products for clear skin. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that peels away the top layer of skin and unblocks clogged pores. Being oil-soluble, it is really effective for clearing up those sebum-filled pores. Alpha hydroxy acids, such as citric, lactic, and malic acid, also help to naturally exfoliate the skin. They are used for anti-blemish and anti-aging skin care.

Strawberries are a natural source of both salicylic and alpha hydroxy acids. They are great for cleansing, renewing, and brightening the skin, creating a smoother, clearer complexion. Yogurt is a staple DIY face mask ingredient, an excellent source of alpha hydroxy acids, as well as anti-bacterial zinc. I also like to add raw honey, for some more anti-bacterial action, always a plus with an acne face mask, and some balancing clary sage essential oil.

To make this berry yogurt face mask for acne, you will need:

• 2 strawberries, diced and mashed 
• 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt
• 2 drops of clary sage essential oil, optional
• 1 teaspoon of raw honey

Stir together all the ingredients. Spread over a recently cleansed face. Leave on for 15 minutes. An oily skin tip — it is still important to use a facial moisturizer even if you have acne. Use a light lotion instead of a rich cream and wait until skin is completely dry before applying.

The Best Essential Oils for Oily Skin

Balancing, toning, and cleansing, these are the best essential oils for oily skin. Add them to your homemade face masks and DIY skin care recipes to help control a greasy complexion, cut down on breakouts, and help reduce large pores. Oily skin is hereditary, not a side effect of poor skin care habits, and it is a particular problem during hormone shifts ( the teenage years, the menstrual cycle, and stressful times of life). Aromatherapy skin care does not get rid of oily skin, but it can help to keep your skin under control.

The following are my five favorite essential oils for oily skin:

1. lavender — great for acne, oily skin, and even dry skin, lavender is the amazing skin normalizer, add to facial steams and masks to help balance your complexion.
2. clary sage — awesome on its own or in combination with lavender, clary sage essential oil balances oily, greasy skin, calms, and tightens skin tissue with gentle astringent properties.
3. geranium — another balancing essential oil, geranium is a gentle astringent that helps to keep skin clear and smooth. It can be irritating to very sensitive skin.
   
4. cedarwood — a skin astringent, cedarwood helps to clear congested, oily skin, this is one essential oil that can be irritating so only use one or two drops when adding to recipes.
5. petitgrain — this calming and cleansing essential oil treats oily, greasy skin while also fighting blemishes, it comes from the leaves of the orange tree

Add three or four drops to face mask recipes to enhance their effect. For a basic mask, combine alcohol-free witch hazelwith clay powder. Add three drops of your essential oils of choice, such as one of cedarwood and two of clary sage. This is a great at home treatment for oily skin. Try using it two or three times a week for a huge difference in this not-so-easy to deal with skin condition.

Easy Oat Face Mask for Dry Sensitive Skin

Oats are the quintessential sensitive skin skin care ingredient. With emollient properties they help to keep skin smooth and soft. Oats are also calming, acting to reduce redness and inflammation. For a softening, protective face mask for dry, sensitive skin, look no further than your breakfast oatmeal. Grind the dried oats (or start with an organic oat powder if you have some) to make a fine powder. Mix with vitamin E and antioxidant rich olive oil and calming chamomile tea and you have a soothing, moisturizing facial in no time.

To make this homemade sensitive skin face mask, you will need:

• 2 tablespoons oat powder
• 1-2 tablespoons chamomile infusion
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Start by brewing a cup of chamomile tea. If you are allergic to ragweed, use lavender tea or rose water instead of the chamomile. Stir the oats, chamomile, and olive oil together. Cleanse the skin with a very gentle facial cleanser. Coat the face and neck with the oat face mask. Leave it on for five minutes. Gently dry and finish with your moisturizing facial cream.

When my skin really starts to act up with redness and dryness (which basically happens every autumn), I use this dry skin treatment once a week and I start drinking a cup of cleansing tea once a day, as well as lots of water. It is easy to forget to stay hydrated when the weather cools down — how much is this part of the problem with winter dry skin? Keep the water and herbal teas coming to keep your skin glowing! 

Chocolate Avocado Face Mask to Fight Wrinkles

Good news for your skin — chocolate is good for you! Not the commercial, sugar infused chocolate candy bar, but real, organic, minimally-processed cocoa powder for an amazing cup of healthy hot cocoa or a piece of rich, midnight dark chocolate. Aside from the protective, free-radical fighting power of the cocoa flavonoids, my chocolate avocado face mask has three different source of vitamin E for skin repair, as well as a complex blend of fatty acids to guard against moisture loss and to soften the skin. This homemade mask is decadent, luxurious, and great for dry, mature, and normal skin types.

To make this chocolate avocado face mask, you will need:

• 1/4 of a ripe avocado, well mashed
• 1 teaspoon unprocessed cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons coconut milk

As with the cocoa powder, be sure to use the most unrefined and pure sources of sesame oil and coconut milk for the maximum amount of antioxidants and anti-wrinkle benefits. Sesame oil is very high in vitamin E and is often used in Ayurvedic body care. I love it for the skin rejuvenation benefits ( I also use it as a massage oil for my legs).

Mix all the ingredients together, keeping in mind that the more you mash your avocado, the smoother your mask will be. The oils from the avocado are easily absorbed into the skin — this fruit is not only a rich source of carotenes and vitamin C for the skin, but it is also a great carrier for the antioxidants from the cocoa! Smear over clean skin. I only leave this mask on for about 10 minutes. Rinse well, gently massaging the creamy chocolate and avocado paste into the skin while rinsing. Pat your face dry and finish with your anti-aging serums and facial moisturizer. 

Lavender Powder Face Mask for Inflammation

To get rid of inflammation on the face, and that red, ruddy complexion, look to the calming herbs. Lavender, which soothes the skin (smells divine), and also helps to balance an overly oily or overly dry complexion, is the key ingredient in this homemade face mask for inflammation. Rose and chamomile, which also have anti-inflammatory properties (as well as anti-bacterial action) back up the pure, powerful lavender powder in the form of essential oils.

This face mask is ideal for rosacea sufferers and for dry, sensitive skin. With so many different anti-bacterial ingredients (honey, lavender, rose, and chamomile) it is also useful for blemishes. For someone with redness and acne, well, it doesn't get any better than this calming, cooling facial.

To make this face mask to reduce inflammation, you will need:

• 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon lavender powder
• 2 drops rose essential oil
• 2 drops chamomile essential oil

This skin treatment is incredibly easy to whip up. Stir the lavender powder and honey into the yogurt, mixing well. Add the essential oils and stir again. Spread over clean skin. Let the mask set for about 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. Finish with a spritz of your calming toner (lavender hydrosol is a great finishing touch to this mask!). And then moisturize. If your skin is red and sensitive, keeping skin cells protected with a lipid barrier is essential. Aside from using this face mask, try sticking with natural skin care products if you have problems with inflammation, rosacea or sensitive skin. 

Five Surprising Healthy Drinks for Skin

What is the secret to having beautiful skin? Well, there are dozens, but one of them is diet, which includes beverages. What are the best healthy drinks for skin? Aside from pure water and the obvious list of green tea and cleansing herbal teas, the following beverages may surprise you in their health perks for skin. They are absolutely packed with antioxidants to protect cells from damage, vitamin C to promote collagen production, and a few other benefits that you may not have thought of when it comes to creating a radiant complexion with hydrating, nourishing drinks.

Hot Cocoa

Not sugary hot chocolate mixes, but pure, minimally processed cocoa powder, is good for your skin. According to an article published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the antioxidants in cocoa trump those found in red wine and green tea. These flavonoid compounds help to protect cells from breakdown, in other words aging — sagging, loose skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Treat yourself to a cup using pure, organic cocoa powder, raw honey or brown sugar, and soymilk. Soymilk is another great source of antioxidants and it is not as heavy on the digestive system as cow's milk (at least for me!). Or, try coconut or almond milk to make your skin healthy, antioxidant brimming cup of cocoa.
Carrot Juice

Not many people drink it. Everyone should. An 8-ounce glass of carrot juice has 700 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. Just think what that can do for your skin! Vitamin A is known to help repair sun damaged skin. Could this mean less photoaging with a glass of carrot juice a day?

Banana Berry Smoothie

Make fresh fruit (and vegetable) smoothies for your skin. Not only do you get the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but you also get the fiber. A high-fiber diet helps to keep waste out of your body, and out of your skin. Try increasing your fiber intake and see if you have less problems with acne! Blend one banana, four strawberries, a handful of ice cubes, and a generous splash of orange juice for a glowing skin breakfast drink.

Black Tea

Green tea is great for your skin, but so is black tea. It may not have quite as many antioxidants, or even the same ones, but it is a healthy, protective drink for skin that shouldn't be overlooked. Drink black tea, green tea, oolong, and white, even kukicha, it's all from the same life-giving tree. 

Grape Juice

Fresh grape juice is highly recommended for flavonoids and that amazing antioxidant that is used in anti-aging skin care products, resveratrol. It is excellent for your heart and your beautiful face, helping to keep skin cells healthy. A glass of juice may not have a super high dose of resveratrol, but drinking down a sweet, juicy cup of anti-aging compounds is definitely a positive step for your complexion.

Don't go overboard with grape juice, or anything in life for that matter. Ten glasses of grape juice and seven cups of cocoa does not mean more skin benefits, it means way too much sugar for your body to handle. Word for the wise, a high-sugar diet makes wrinkles worse. Drink these beverages in moderation to have plumper, more radiant skin. Drink lots of water too, and you still have to eat a healthy diet.

Lime Water and French Green Clay Balancing Face Mask for Blemished Skin

Lime hydrosol and French green clay are two of the best skin care ingredients for blemished skin. Lime water balances pH. It increases circulation to the skin, acts as a toner, and helps to reduce breakouts. French green clay sucks out impurities while also replenishing the skin with a wealth of nutrients. Try this simple balancing face mask to help sop up oil and leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed. I add a little extra antiseptic action with tea tree oil to help fight pimples.

To make this mask you will need:

• 2 tablespoons French green clay powder
• 2 + tablespoons of lime hydrosol (not lime juice!), enough to make a paste with the clay
• 3 drops of tea tree essential oil

Mix together and smear over clean skin. Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes. I like leaving on my clay masks until my skin feels very tight, but go ahead and rinse it off if the drying clay feels uncomfortable. Pat the face dry and finish by dabbing the skin with the lime hydrosol. Follow with a light facial moisturizer. If you don't have French green clay, try bentonite, white, or rose clay powder.

For a great oil-cutting toner, try mixing equal parts of lime water and rose water in a small spray bottle. Spritz the skin throughout the day for a calming, refreshing skin lift for oily skin. 

Peach, Argan Oil, and Rose Face Mask for Aging Skin

When you want to pamper aging skin, go for argan oil. It is rich in restorative vitamin E, softening fatty acids, and protective antioxidants for skin, including phenols and carotenes. Use it in a face mask for aging skin to help prevent wrinkles and to deeply hydrate dull, dry skin.

To optimize this homemade anti-wrinkle skin treatment I love using peach puree (steam and puree two fresh peaches and have plenty of vitamin A and vitamin C rich puree for homemade face masks and as a healthy topping for yogurt and waffles!). It gently exfoliates as a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids while also providing skin vitamins to help promote skin repair. I also use two of the best anti-aging essential oils — frankincense to promote cellular regeneration and rose to calm and tone the skin.

To make this aging skin face mask you will need:

• 1 tablespoon argan oil
• 2 tablespoon peach puree
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon oat flour
• 2 drops frankincense essential oil
• 2 drops rose essential oil

Combine everything in a ceramic or glass bowl. Start by cleansing with your facial cleanser. Spread the mask over the skin. Leave on for 30 minutes. This is a great time to sip a cup of herbal tea to plump the skin, and to listen to some meditative music (stress is bad for your skin!) After rinsing off the mask, dry and moisturize.

When skin looks really dull and ruddy, try using this mask three or four times in a week and drinking lots of water and tea. When I let my skin go this really helps to get some of that youthful glow back.

Five Amazing Essential Oils for Dry Skin

Adding three or four drops of essential oil to your favorite face mask recipe doesn't just add a unique fragrance to your skin treatment. Essential oils have amazing benefits for your skin, especially for a dry complexion. Try these essential oils for dry skin to help balance, moisturize, and protect your skin. Add them to any hydrating skin treatment. Substitute them for one another in custom face mask recipes. They are that little extra touch that can turn a basic honey or clay mask into an incredibly therapeutic treatment for your skin.

The five best essential oils to use for dry skin problems are:

1. patchouli — a tonic for the skin, promoting tissue regeneration and a great astringent
2. lavender — calms inflammation while also normalizing skin conditions
3. rose — gentle astringent, calms the skin, has a hydrating effect
4. sandalwood — skin moisturizer, perfect for mature skin
5. ylang-ylang — balances overly dry skin, or overly oily skin, a good choice for dry, combination skin

For a basic dry skin face mask with the essential oils  use:

• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut milk
• 4 drops essential oils of choice

Stir together all the ingredients. Try combining the oils for a dynamic moisturizing effect, such as two drops of rose and two of sandalwood. Apply to a clean face and leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse, pat dry, and follow with your hydrating cream.

Use the same oils in your next bath for a soothing, moisturizing soak. Try 10 drops in a cup of milk. Sit in your aromatherapy bath while wearing your mask. It's an instant home spa for dry skin. 

3 Amazing Coconut Face Masks for Different Skin Types

I love the way that coconut makes my skin feel — plump, soft, and supple. While ideal for dry and aging skin (virgin coconut oil is great for smoothing wrinkles!), even acne-prone skin can benefit from a coconut face mask. Try one of these homemade skin care recipes, whichever one is best for your skin type. Also, try adding coconut milk to smoothie recipes (coconut milk, cocoa powder, banana, raw honey, and ice is a personal favorite) and using nourishing coconut oil in place of butter for baking. Coconuts have vitamin C and E as well as zinc, all important beauty nutrients.

For a coconut mask for dry skin and for defeating fine lines use:

• 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
• 1 inch of a ripe banana, mashed
• 3 drops of frankincense essential oil

Whip all ingredients together with a fork or spoon and apply to a clean face. The banana adds some antioxidant action while the frankincense is good for cellular regeneration. Rinse off after 20 minutes, pat dry, and moisturize.

For a coconut face mask for acne, combine the anti-bacterial action of virgin coconut oil, raw honey, and tea tree.

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil

For a powerful mask, use extra virgin coconut oil and manuka honey. Manuka is expensive, but it has strong anti-bacterial properties and plenty of amino acids and other nutrients to feed the skin and promote healing.

For sensitive skin use,

• 1 tablespoon of pure (not light) coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon oat flour (or enough to make a soft paste)
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil

Stir all the ingredients together. Start by gently cleansing and patting the face dry, then apply. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes, letting your skin drink in some serious coconut milk moisture. Oat and lavender both act to calm and soothe. Rinse with cool water and put on your facial moisturizer. Remember, for all coconut face masks, make sure your milk or oil is at room temperature before preparing.

How to Make a Lavender Lemongrass Facial Steam for Oily Skin

Facial steams are great skin treatments to use to open pores and stimulate the skin before using a face mask. Or you can use a therapeutic steam treatment for skin on its own to deep clean pores and loosen debris. How to make a facial steam for oily skin and acne? Use the powerful anti-bacterial astringent combination of lavender and lemongrass. Both of these healthy skin herbs will fight bacteria. Lavender will calm and normalize the skin. Lemongrass will tone. The two together have a beautiful, uplifting aroma.

To make this oily skin facial steam, you will need:

• 1 quart of boiled water, use distilled, spring, or filtered, not tap unless you live in an area where you are comfortable with the tap water, I don't
• 2 tablespoons dried lavender
• 2 tablespoons dried lemongrass

Boil the water before adding the herbs. If you have a glass ceramic pan, use it, otherwise metal is fine. Reduce the heat to a simmer and then add all of the dried herbs. Simmer for three to five minutes and then place your pan and simmering herbs on a table where you can sit comfortably over the steam. Make a canopy over your head with a towel and hold your face over the rising steam for 15 minutes.

This treatment is refreshing for skin and perfect for normalizing an oily complexion. Try it before a clay mask for a super potent anti-acne skin treatment. Finish by dabbing distilled witch hazel on the skin to close pores, or even some of the infusion, as long as it is no longer hot.

Powerful Healing Face Mask for Sunburn With Aloe and Chamomile

Wear sunscreen and stay in the shade, especially when the sun is beating down on your earthly position. When you do catch some rays, try this easy but powerful natural treatment. With aloe, honey, chamomile, and carrot seed, this face mask for sunburn is all about healing and repairing the skin. It is great for preventing face peeling from sunburn, for soothing redness, and for helping to repair damage. With plenty of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it is a potent recipe for after sun exposure repair.

To make this sunburn face mask, combine:

• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 tablespoon of pure aloe (such as Aubrey Organics)
• 2 drops of carrot seed essential oil
• 2 drops of chamomile essential oil

Stir together. While I normally recommend opening pores with a warm wet cloth or a warm facial steam, you may want to skip that home facial step and dive right into skin healing and cooling with this mask. Warm water may feel too abrasive for sun damaged skin. Gently rinse with your facial cleanser and cool water. Pat dry. Dip your fingers in the mask and apply a coat over the face and neck. When I get a burn I also use this repairing potion on my chest and shoulders. Double the recipe if you want to coat your upper body as well.

Let it set for 15 minutes, soaking into parched skin. Rinse off. I use a cool shower. Definitely follow with a natural moisturizer. If you don't have anything that is fragrance free, rub more aloe into the skin and then follow with sweet almond oil. To feed your skin inside and out, drink a big glass of carrot juice to give your skin a vitamin A skin repairing boost.

Amazing Vitamin A Face Mask to Reveal Radiant Skin

What can a vitamin A face mask do for your skin? A lot! The benefits of vitamin A for the skin have been well-researched and well-proven. MSNBC's Skin and Beauty lists this vitamin as the best overall age fighter. Vitamin A derivatives, which are called retinoids, are formulated into creams and anti-aging serums to help fight and reverse the signs of skin aging — wrinkles, age spots, and a dull, rough complexion.

Try vitamin A on the face for a smoother, more radiant complexion. Research on retinoids show that the effects do take time, several weeks. Meanwhile, go for a combination of natural skin care for a dose of natural vitamin A and high quality skin care products that contain the derivative. I do use a vitamin A serum at night for my skin. I also love my homemade face masks, which offer a diverse set of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids along with the vitamin A.

For a fountain-of-youth facial (best results with weekly use), try this recipe for a DIY vitamin A-rich face mask, made with apricots and sweet potato, two of the orangest, most carotene-rich fruits and vegetables. Add carrot seed essential oil, one of the best essential oils for aging skin, and a dollop of creamy plain yogurt for more vitamin A and some exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids. (Skip the skim and low-fat yogurt when it comes to skin care, they are short on nutrition!)

To make this rejuvenating vitamin A mask, you will need:

• 1 fresh apricot, peeled and pitted
• 3 tablespoons of cooked sweet potato (eat the rest of this healthy veggie for lunch or with dinner, getting plenty of vitamin A in your diet is so important for healthy skin)
• 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 4 drops of carrot seed essential oil

Blend all of the ingredients in the blender until you have a smooth puree. Cleanse the skin with your facial wash and warm water. Smear this skin-rejuvenating, orange and yellow mask over the face and neck. Leave on the skin for 30 minutes. Wash off and follow with a vitamin A moisturizing night cream.

This recipe makes enough for two masks. Store the remainder in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two days. Thaw to room temperature before applying to the skin.

Revolutionize Your Beauty Routine With This Dirt Cheap Face Mask Ingredient

Making homemade face masks is a way to use only natural ingredients to treat your skin, but it is also a way to save money. Many market products are amazing. I love some of them! They are luxurious, they come in pretty bottles, and they promise amazing results. They are not always the best option for really powerful skin care however, and they are never the cheapest choice.

For the ultimate inexpensive face mask, try a little baking soda and water. Baking soda exfoliates, helping to remove the top layer of skin and dirt. It kills bacteria. It even acts to neutralize the skin's pH. Wash your face, make a paste, and apply. Leave it on for five minutes and rinse, gently scrubbing for a vibrant dose of skin exfoliation.

Baking soda is the perfect skin care ingredient for acne and oily skin. It is an ingredient that people with rosacea and sensitive skin should avoid. Baking soda is insanely versatile. Use it as a face mask ingredient with water, hydrosols, essential oils, honey, or cream. You can even use it for body care. For soft skin (seriously, try this!) add one cup of baking soda to hot bath water. Soak for 15 minutes. Relax and enjoy a moment of peace. Treat yourself to a cup of fresh juice or herbal tea when you are done and find out the true meaning of silky smooth skin.

Papaya and Buttermilk Face Mask for an Even Complexion

Soften your complexion with the dynamic alpha hydroxy acid duo of papaya and buttermilk. Citric and lactic acids combine to slough away dead skin cells and unclog pores — no more need for inflammation and redness! The papaya is rich in both vitamin C and beta carotene for skin repair and renewal. Buttermilk is super cleansing with natural anti-bacterial properties and zinc. This papaya and buttermilk face mask leaves skin feeling renewed and looking creamy buttermilk flawless.

I also use honey to help lock in moisture. Rose essential oil is great for a little astringent, anti-inflammatory action. This is basically a youth tonic for your skin. To make this skin evening face mask, you will need:

• 1/4 cup of fresh papaya (approximately)
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 3 drops rose essential oil

Blend the fruit, buttermilk, and honey in the blender. Move to a bowl and add the rose. Clean the face with your facial cleanser. Once the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of the mask over the skin. Don't forget your neck, an area that can definitely use some antioxidants to stay in shape. Leave this skin treatment on for ten minutes — just enough time to blend your papaya and banana smoothie, a great way to get more skin nutrients. Cleanse, pat dry, and put on a little face lotion to finish. Amazing anti-aging skin boost — thank you buttermilk!

Milk and Organic Sugar Face Mask for Smooth, Creamy Skin

Glycolic acid is all the rage in anti-aging skin care. One of the alpha hydroxy acids, it promotes skin rejuvenation. Used regularly, it is said to smooth out the skin, creating a glowing, radiant complexion. Well, I thought I'd give glycolic acid a try with some organic sugar cane (don't use processed sugar!) and another one of the alpha hydroxy acids — lactic acid from a little milk.

Warning! My milk and sugar cane face mask is messy. It is not going to dry on your face like the typical neat and clean face mask. It is a great skin treatment for evening out the complexion and giving your face an exfoliating, nourishing experience. The milk really helps to make the skin feel soft right after use, while scrubbing with the sugar stimulates the skin, which is always a good thing for boosting nutrient and oxygen intake for cells. The small things count when it comes to skin care.

To make this milk and sugar facial treatment you will need:

• 2 tablespoons organic cane sugar
• 3 teaspoons milk or cream
• 2 drops of neroli essential oil

Stir together the milk, sugar, and orange blossom oil. Cleanse the face with your daily facial cleanser, opening pores with a splash of warm water to rinse. Coat your face with the mask. I do this over the sink, continually reapplying the milky sugar and buffing the skin with the sugar crystals.

This is really more of an exfoliating sugar scrub, but wearing it on the face like a mask for a few minutes is a great way to give your skin some nutrients from the milk as well as the beneficial properties from the neroli oil, which, by the way, stimulates cell growth — the perfect addition for this renewing, anti-aging facial.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Watermelon Sensitive Skin Face Mask for Summer

Summer is right around the corner, which means you are going to find sweet, fragrant watermelon at the market — the perfect ingredient for a
sensitive skin face mask to help replenish and repair sun-damaged skin. This ultra pink melon is high in vitamin A, a key nutrient for protecting skin cells from damaging UV rays. Eat up your fresh watermelon this summer (go for the apricots, peaches, mangos, and summer carrots as well) and slather your face with this cooling, hydrating fruit. Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen everyday, and you should be able to keep your skin in goddess worthy condition.

Watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C and silica, two nutrients that are required for the production of new, healthy collagen. You also get some antioxidant activity from the vitamin C and carotenes. Like cucumber, watermelon soothes irritated, dry, or damaged tissue. I like to add aloe vera juice for more repairing, regenerative properties. Yogurt helps to gently exfoliate, while also moisturizing. Finish with calming lavender and this mask is going to restore and renew even the most sensitive skin.

This is one of the best homemade facials for rosacea, dry skin and mature skin. It is therapeutic for any face that has spent the day in the sun. To make this sensitive skin face mask you will need:

• 1/4 cup fresh watermelon chunks
• 1 teaspoon aloe juice
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Blend the melon, aloe, and yogurt in the blender. Move to a bowl and then add the lavender. Apply to a clean face. While letting your face mask set, rinse out the blender and make a fresh watermelon smoothie for more nutrients for gorgeous skin. The double dose of vibrant nourishment will really replenish and restore your complexion. My personal favorite recipe — a handful of blueberries, fresh watermelon, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, five or six ice cubes, and a spoonful of raw honey.

photo credits: Mary K Baird 

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pore Refining Face Mask With Green Clay and Orange Blossom

Isn't it wonderful that some luxuries in life are actually good for you, like chocolate and French green clay? Grab your piece of rich dark chocolate and some green clay powder, and try out this pore refining face mask. It is one of the best for smoothing out the complexion, deep cleaning, and shrinking those oh-so-horrendous pores on the face. It combines nutrient-rich French green clay and calming, toning orange blossom water. Once you have the clay powder and flower water you can whip up this facial in no time for a fraction of the cost of a commercial mask or a trip to the spa.

Drawing out impurities and dosing the skin with trace minerals from decomposed plant matter, French green clay is wonderful for refining pores. The more gunk — oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, dirt, and makeup — in pores, the larger they are going to appear. The super cleansing action of green clay is the ultimate solution to this problem, sucking out all of the gunk, while also supplying the skin with silica (think collagen production), zinc (think anti-bacterial action) and other nutrients. Toning and tightening, it also draws blood flow to the skin, bringing oxygen and nutrients to nourish cells.

Why orange blossom water? This delicately astringent hydrosol helps to shrink pores while also refreshing the skin and calming inflammation (great for acne). Wait, it gets even better. Orange blossom water is also regenerative, so you get a pore refining, anti-aging homemade facial.

To make this green clay pore refining face mask, you will need:

• 3 teaspoons French green clay powder
• 3 teaspoons orange blossom water
• 2 drops rose essential oil
• 1 drop frankincense essential oil

Mix everything together in a glass or ceramic bowl. Use more or less flower water to make a paste. To prepare the face, lay a warm, wet cloth over the skin for about thirty seconds. Very gently pat the skin dry. Apply the mask, smearing an even layer over the entire face. Rest, enjoy some music, or to get really luxurious, sip on a cup of drinking chocolate (try making with soy milk or water to cut down on dairy products, which aren't the best thing for the skin). After ten to fifteen minutes, rinse off the mask, dry, and put on your best face cream.

To refine pores, try using this treatment three times a week for the first week. Then, scale back to once a week. If you don't have oily skin, use this homemade refining treatment once a week. Another tip for dealing with large pores is to increase your water intake. Try drinking more water and herbal tea to help balance oily skin.

Honey Lime Face Mask to Balance Skin

Honey is sweet and softening, lime is sour and tightening. Together these two
ingredients can help to balance the skin, whether it is too oily or too dry. This honey lime face mask, using fresh lime juice and raw organic honey, is a super sweet natural treatment to create more beautiful skin. It is easy to make, so try it two times a week to see how well it improves your skin.

Raw, high-quality honey is first of all nourishing. It contains antioxidants, amino acids, and other nutrients to help protect and repair skin. Honey is one of nature's best tools for softening the skin. Dry and aging skin will benefit from the moisturizing properties of honey. Anyone who is prone to blemishes (aren't we all?) will appreciate the anti-bacterial properties. Putting honey on the face in a homemade facial is a great way to make it so bacteria cannot survive on the skin.

Lime juice adds some collagen boosting vitamin C, some exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, and some great natural astringent action. Being very acidic, fresh lime juice is great for tightening and toning the skin. Add some lavender essential oil for an extra harmonizing kick. Lavender calms and normalizes, and like all essential oils it is anti-bacterial.

To make this balancing honey lime face mask, you will need:

• 2-3 tablespoons raw honey
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 drops lavender essential oil

Warm the honey and lime juice in a sauce pan over a very low heat, just until warm and soft. Move to a bowl and add the lavender. Smear over a clean face and neck, leaving on for twenty minutes. This is a great before bed mask. I like to wear it while soaking in a honey and milk bath for a double softening and cleansing skin treatment. This is a honey and lime heaven on earth pampering treatment. Relax, close your eyes and simmer in natural honey and citrus. Rinse well, splash the face with cool water and moisturize.

Exfoliating Oat Face Mask to Remove Dead Skin

With dried oats you can easily put together a homemade exfoliating facial to help
scrub away the surface layer of the skin, encouraging new cell growth. This face mask to remove dead skin combines oats with yogurt, honey, and patchouli essential oil to nourish, moisturize, and renew, as well as exfoliate.

The lactic acid in the yogurt also has an exfoliating action, helping to release old skin cells. Honey (use raw, organic honey!) is anti-bacterial and it helps to keep the skin soft and supple with humectant properties. Patchouli is the perfect essential oil to enhance this homemade mask. It is great for promoting healthy tissue regeneration, stimulating new cell growth. Patchouli has a balancing, toning effect on the skin and it is good for all skin problems, from acne to dryness.

To make this oat face mask to remove dead skin, you will need:

• 3 tablespoons dry oats, crushed or lightly ground
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 3 drops patchouli essential oil

Stir together the yogurt and honey. Add the patchouli and then stir in the oats. Wash the face with warm water and then put on the mask. Leave it on for five minutes. Then, scrub the mask into the face using fingertips. Rub in a circular motion, focusing on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin for about two minutes. Rinse well (try rinsing over the kitchen sink to minimize the mess). Pat dry and put on your moisturizing lotion.

Tomato Honey Olive Oil Face Mask to Replenish Dry Skin

For dry, brittle skin, drink lots of water, eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, tofu, and eggs, and use this honey olive oil face mask with fresh tomato. It is perfect for replenishing the skin with nutrients to nourish and protect. With humectant honey to help hold in moisture and fatty acids from the olive oil to form a protective barrier against moisture loss, this homemade treatment is perfect for balancing dry skin. Add some fresh tomato for some topical beta-carotene and lycopene to give this traditional mask an extra anti-aging edge.

Warning! Regular old processed honey and olive oil are not optimal skin care ingredients. Use raw, organic honey for the maximum amount of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for the skin. Raw honey also has anti-bacterial properties, which is great for acne protection. Use extra virgin olive oil as well. The higher quality, unrefined oil may be a little pricier, but it is the only way you are going to create a facial for your skin that is loaded with vitamin E and anti-bacterial action.

To make this tomato honey olive oil face mask, you will need:

• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of finely chopped tomato

Stir the honey and olive oil together. Finely dice half a plum tomato, three or four cherry tomatoes, or about one-quarter of a medium tomato to get your two tablespoons of fresh tomato. Smash the tomato dices with the back of a form or muddle in a mortar and pestle. Mix into the honey and olive oil so the juice from the tomato is well blended into the mask.

Gently cleanse the face and then dab dry. Apply this super moisturizing mask for dry skin over the face. Leave it on for fifteen minutes. Rinse well. For these extra sticky masks (as in all homemade honey facials) I wear the mask before taking a shower so I can rinse it off in the shower. Finish with a toner, such as distilled witch hazel or rose water, or even try Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner, and then moisturize.

Rose and Egg Face Mask to Tighten Skin

This is an aromatherapy twist on the classic egg white facial. It combines whipped egg white, which refines pores and pulls the skin together, with two astringent essential oils — rose and lemongrass. If you have sensitive skin, skip the lemongrass as it can be irritating. The rose and egg combine to create the ultimate face mask to tighten skin, ideal for oily skin or for an anti-aging skin tightening treatment, or to help reduce large pore size, which is often tied with excess oil production and acne.

So, how does it work? Egg white tightens (you will feel it tone the skin with a pulsating sensation from the increase in blood flow like you would with a clay mask). This helps to create a smoother complexion. It won't eliminate fine lines or clear up blackheads overnight, but it is a great, natural pore reducing treatment. Egg is also a great source of amino acids for the skin; you may as well feed your face while refining pores.

Both rose and lemongrass are wonderful astringent essential oils that are ideal in skin care recipes. They tone and tighten, while also helping to keep the skin clear and bacteria free. Both rose and lemongrass also have a calming effect.

To make this face mask to tighten skin, you will need:

• 1 egg white, whipped
• 3 drops rose essential oil
• 1 drop lemongrass essential oil (omit if sensitive)

Add the egg white to a non-plastic bowl. Add the essential oils. I used lemongrass (and have sensitive skin). It is slightly irritating for the first three or four minutes of wearing the mask. Using it is definitely optional. Next, whip, whip, and whip. With a wire whisk it does take four to five minutes to create a nice, frothy, nourishing skin tightening mask. I recommend savoring a piece of chocolate while whisking for a few antioxidants, and to make the egg whisking more fun.

Cleanse the face, rinsing with warm water. Apply the rose egg foam over the skin, being careful of the eye area. Leave this mask on for twenty five minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Dab with rose water for an extra toning treatment. Your face will instantly feel softer and smoother. Finish with your skin moisturizer.

Clary Sage and Parsley Face Mask to Purify the Skin

Rich in chlorophyll, parsley is one of nature's best cleansers. Try it mixed in a
smoothie for a fresh green drink for the body. Use a parsley face mask to purify the skin. This green is also a good source of vitamins A and C, both of which help to protect skin cells from damage and repair and build new skin tissue.

Add clary sage essential oil, with its astringent, antiseptic, oil-balancing properties, and this homemade face mask is ideal for anyone who has oily skin and is vulnerable to acne breakouts. Jojoba oil, which is the base of this facial, is also great for reducing oil and preventing clogged pores. It is also a natural source of vitamin E for the skin. All together this facial gives skin a detoxifying boost, while also cutting back on excess sebum production.

To make this clary sage and parsley face mask, you will need:

• 1 bunch of fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
• 3 drops of clary sage essential oil

For the steam prep treatment (optional):

• 2 cups of freshly boiled water
• 3 drops of peppermint or rosemary essential oil

Soak the parsley in room temperature water (use filtered, distilled or bottled, not tap) for ten minutes. Chop and then muddle to break down the herb (this helps to make the beneficial compounds in the parsley accessible to the skin). Add the jojoba oil to a bowl. Add the clary sage and then stir in the parsley.

To open pores before applying this mask, soak a wash cloth in a bowl of the hot water and peppermint or rosemary essential oil. You can also toss a peppermint tea bag in the water if you do not have the essential oils. Place the cloth over the skin, leaving it on the face for about thirty seconds. The warmth and the mint or rosemary will boost blood circulation, stimulating and opening the skin so it can absorb more parsley detox benefits.

Gently dab the face with a cloth to dry and then smear on the mask over the face and neck. Leave on for about twenty minutes. When finished, wipe off most of the mask with a cloth (you may want to rinse the parsley from the cloth in the kitchen sink to keep the bathroom sink clean). Rinse the rest of your face with cool water. Pat dry. Tone with a dab of witch hazel for an oil-reducing finish and then moisturize as usual.

Jasmine and Coconut Oil Face Mask for a Super Moisturizing Treatment

If you have dry skin, at all, then a coconut oil face mask is for you. It is rich, loaded with moisturizing, softening fatty acids, and it smells like heaven. Combine with jasmine essential oil, one of the best essential oils for the skin, and you have a simple but potent skin smoothing facial. Anyone with dry skin or who wants to help smooth out fine lines can benefit from a homemade coconut mask. For oily skin or serious acne, this facial can feel too heavy.

So what's the scoop on coconut oil for skin care? Well, first, the fat. The fatty acids in coconut oil are different than what is found in other vegetable oils such as sweet almond or olive oil. They are mostly medium chain fatty acids, which form a barrier to slow moisture loss and to protect the skin from bacteria. Even eating coconut oil (try it as a natural sweetener for your tea or coffee) can help to plump and soften the skin. Anti-microbial and intensely enriching, this tropical oil is a great asset when it comes to protecting and softening your skin. Soft, supple skin is much less prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. Aside from the fatty acids, coconut oil is a nourishing source of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and a key nutrient for skin healing.

Jasmine essential oil is a perfect complement to coconut. It helps to relieve dry skin, while also cleansing and toning. Jasmine also has a wonderful sweet floral smell that goes well with coconut and it is very uplifting to the psyche.

To make this moisturizing jasmine and coconut oil face mask, you will need:

• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, extra virgin highly recommended
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 3 drops of jasmine essential oil

Soften the coconut oil by placing in a pan over boiling water. Then add the coconut, honey, and jasmine to a bowl and stir together. Apply to a clean face. Leave on for twenty minutes. Rinse well by wiping with a warm wash cloth and then splashing the face with cool water. After a coconut oil facial you really don't have to use a moisturizing creme as with other face masks. Use once a week if you have very dry skin, rosacea, or if you are beginning to see fine lines.

Cucumber Chamomile Face Mask to Reduce Redness

Whether it is from rosacea or simply dry and sensitive skin, that redness and inflammation is in the way of a gorgeous, even complexion. Try this homemade face mask to reduce redness, which combines a dynamic blend of calming, anti-inflammatory ingredients. Completely pure and without any of the preservatives or other additives of commercial skin care products, natural homemade skin care is a great option for those who have really delicate skin.

The key ingredient in this facial is cooling cucumber. Packed with organic acids and vitamin C, fresh cucumber will nourish, while also calming the skin and reducing redness on the face. It also helps to tighten pores and promote a more even skin tone.

Lavender and chamomile essential oil add more anti-inflammatory action. Both help to reduce inflammation, while also destroying bacteria, which can be a cause of the redness and irritation. Lavender is also great as it helps to normalize the skin. These two essential oils together are gentle enough for even very delicate skin, and they are powerhouses when it comes to calming and harmonizing.

Oats are great for sensitive skin. They soften and calm, reducing irritation, itching, and dryness. Whether on your skin or for breakfast, oats are magnificent for healthy skin. Rich in saponins this plant is a master emollient, but it also provides plenty of B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Nutrient-rich and easily absorbable avocado oil completes this redness reducing face mask. A source of vitamin E and B vitamins to help repair skin and improve health, as well as essential fatty acids to soften, this is one of the best nourishing oils to use in face mask recipes. It penetrates beneath the surface layers of the skin for intense therapy and it helps to calm inflammation.

To make this cucumber chamomile face mask to reduce redness, you will need:

• 4 inches of fresh cucumber (approximately) pulverized in the blender
• 3 teaspoons of avocado oil
• 2 teaspoons of oat flour
• 3 drops of chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops of lavender essential oil

Stir all ingredients together. Rinse the face with a gentle cleanser (try Desert Essence Nourishing Organic Cleanser which uses aloe vera with cucumber and chamomile). Smear the mask over the face. Leave it on for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing well. Pat dry and then dab the face with distilled rose water. Once the face is completely dry, moisturize as usual. Be sure to use a natural face cream if you are trying to get rid of facial redness!

Anti-Aging Vitamin C Face Mask to Fortify the Skin

When it comes to anti-aging skin care, vitamin C is the super nutrient. A regular
vitamin C face mask is a great tool for fortifying the skin against the aging process. As an antioxidant vitamin C goes after those free radicals that break down collagen and lead to skin inflammation and wrinkles. It is one of the nutrients that is used to form collagen, the protein that is found in skin and other tissues. In conjunction with silica (eat lots of brown rice, cucumbers, and oats for silica), vitamin C helps to boost collagen formation. As the body ages, collagen production slows down. Combined with the damaging effects of free radicals, and mature skin doesn't have a chance against aging — without lots of vitamin C in the diet and in skin care.

This homemade anti-aging facial revolves around one of the sweetest vitamin C-packed fruits, kiwi. Kiwi fruit is very high in vitamin C, as well as a range of antioxidants and other nutrients including carotenoids and potassium. Kiwi is also a source of alpha hydroxy acids, which gently remove accumulated skin cells. This mild exfoliation is helpful for unclogging pores, but also for treating dry skin and wrinkles. The AHA's will help to remove the top layer of the skin, promoting healthier, faster skin renewal.

Orange essential oil is a general tonic for the skin, supporting the formation of collagen and reducing any inflammation. It also has antiseptic properties. Be sure to use this vitamin C mask in the evening. Orange essential oil can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so do not use before heading out to enjoy a sunny day.

This nourishing, anti-aging facial treatment is rounded out with raw, organic honey. Keep raw honey in the cupboard for homemade skin care recipes, but also as a healthy natural substitute to sugar and other sweeteners. Raw honey supplies antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Basically, it is a healthy skin super-food. It also has anti-bacterial properties and helps the skin to lock in moisture.

To make this vitamin C face mask you will need:

• 1/2 fresh, peeled and diced kiwi fruit
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 2 drops orange essential oil

With the back of a fork, mash the kiwi into a pulp. Stir in the honey and then add the essential oil. Apply to a clean face, leaving a thin layer over the entire face and neck area. Relax for about twenty minutes. Read some poetry and listen to some soothing music. Try a cup of chamomile tea, sweetened with your raw honey and enjoy a full skin care, mind care treatment at home. Rinse, moisturize, and repeat next week.

Red Rose Face Mask for Radiant Skin

This face mask is amazing for revitalizing and renewing the complexion. It combines pink clay with the best of the best rose and rose red skin care ingredients. It is loaded with antioxidants for anti-aging power and it is simply brimming with vitamin C. This vitamin is not only a cell-protecting antioxidant, but it also stimulates collagen production and it may be helpful in protecting the skin from sun damage. Try this red rose face mask to help boost your complexion and slow skin aging. It is therapeutic for all skin types and the perfect homemade facial when your skin needs a nourishing antioxidant boost.

Pink clay is gentler than other, more intense clay masks, but it still does the job. It is wonderful for removing dirt and grime, without stripping away the skin's natural oils. It also gently exfoliates, leaving the skin revitalized and ready for renewal, ready for the vitamin C!

Red raspberries are high in vitamin C as well as other nutrients for the skin. They contain vitamin E, potassium, and even omega-3 oils to soften the face. This fruit will also add more exfoliating power with alpha hydroxy acids. Rose hips are one of the best sources of vitamin C. Make a cup of tea. Use some for this face mask recipe, and then drink the rest for a little immune system boost. Just for more rose benefits for the skin, rose essential oil adds a toning action to refine pores and tighten the skin, as well as some anti-bacterial action.

To make this red rose face mask you will need:

• 1 tablespoon of pink clay powder
• 4 to 5 raspberries, smashed with a fork
• 2 tablespoons rose hips tea (more or less for consistency)
• 3 drops of rose essential oil

Stir all ingredients together in a ceramic or glass bowl. Use more rose hips tea until you have a soft paste. Splash the face with warm water and then glaze the face and neck area with the mask. Leave it on for twenty minutes. This is a great anti-aging, revitalizing facial to use once a week whenever you can get your hands on fresh raspberries. If you want to make this skin revitalizing treatment even more dynamic, use rose water as an after toner. Once the face mask is rinsed off, dab rose water over the skin with a cotton ball or cloth. Finish with a hydrating cream.

Green Tea, Berry, and Grapeseed Homemade Anti-Aging Face Mask

Any facial that is packed with antioxidants can help to slow the development of aging skin, aka, the dreaded fine lines and wrinkles. This recipe for a homemade anti-aging facial combines three antioxidant-rich ingredients — green tea, blueberries, and grapeseed oil. All three not only have excellent free radical fighting power, but each has its own bonus properties to help keep the skin smooth and young looking.

Green tea, which in extract form is a popular ingredient in anti-wrinkle face creams, is loaded with catechins. These compounds go after free radicals, which would otherwise harm cells and cause wrinkles. They also have an anti-inflammatory action. Blueberries are high in cell protecting anthocyanins, as well as vitamin C to boost skin collagen formation. They also provide alpha hydroxy acids for mild exfoliation. These natural compounds help to release the old layer of skin, stimulating new growth. Grapeseed oil is not only an antioxidant-rich anti-aging ingredient for homemade face masks, but it is also moisturizing. With vitamin E and fatty acids, it nourishes, protects, and softens the skin.

To make this homemade anti-aging face mask, you will need:

• 1 tablespoon matcha green tea powder
• 1/2 cup of blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 3 teaspoons grapeseed oil

*This recipe actually makes enough for two full face masks. Blending the berries, tea powder, and grapeseed oil in the blender, it is easier when there is more to work with, so you may as well make two masks for a double, two day anti-aging treatment.

Blend all ingredients for about thirty seconds. Put half of the mask paste in a bowl for use. Immediately put the other half in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Apply this anti-aging berry, matcha, and grapeseed facial over the face and neck area. Leave on for twenty minutes before rinsing off. Use the second half the next day for another anti-aging boost for your skin. Set the mask out to thaw so it is at room temperature (and easier to work with) before applying it to your skin. Add one teaspoon of distilled water for a smoother consistency if necessary. A great way to warm and soften the second mask is to add a teaspoon of brewed green tea if you are drinking a cup. More antioxidants, wonderful!

Seaweed and Witch Hazel Face Mask to Reduce Oil

For some people, excess sebum production can be one of the trials of life. Oily skin can lead to breakouts and a constant influx of pesky blemishes, even into adulthood. With a healthy diet (lots of water, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and green tea), good skin care habits, and an awesome face mask to reduce oil, you can help to balance and tone your complexion.

The key ingredients in this homemade facial are seaweed powder, such as kelp powder, and witch hazel. Seaweed is a natural detoxifier, helping to draw out impurities and waste, while at the same time infusing cells with sea minerals and vitamins. Witch hazel is a great astringent, reducing oil and toning the skin. You can even use pure distilled witch hazel in place of a commercial toner by dabbing the face with a cotton ball or cloth and the witch hazel after cleansing or after using a homemade facial. Jojoba oil also helps to balance oil production. A natural wax ester, which is remarkably close to the skin's own oil, jojoba sends the message to oil producing glands that there is no need to produce so much pore clogging sebum!

To make this homemade oil reducing face mask you will need:

• 3 tablespoons seaweed powder
• 3 tablespoons distilled witch hazel
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil

Open pores with a splash of warm water. Pat the face dry with a cotton cloth. Stir together the kelp, witch hazel, and jojoba and then smear over the face. Leave on for fifteen minutes and then rinse off with cool water.

Soothing Homemade Face Mask with Oatmeal and Rose Water

If you have dry and sensitive skin, or have problems with redness, inflammation, and even rosacea, you will love this soothing homemade face mask. The central ingredient is oat flour, which is primarily an emollient. If softens the skin and protects tissue, which is why oats are not only great in homemade face mask recipes, but also in soothing baths for dry skin and inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. A bowl of oatmeal is also great for soothing the mucous membranes of the digestive system. To get even more dynamic, oats are also one of the best natural remedies for depression; drinking oat straw tea can help sooth an irritated nervous system, by nourishing nerves. Oats are definitely one of nature's most soothing ingredients and a go to for sensitive skin.

Rose water is a wonderful gentle astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic tonic to help tone tissue, reduce dryness, and even out the complexion. Be sure to use pure distilled rose water. Add a touch of lavender, another botanical that calms mind, body, and skin, and you have the ultimate soothing homemade face mask. Lavender is also great for reducing inflammation and destroying bacteria that can cause acne or irritation.

To make this oat and rose water face mask you will need:

• 3 tablespoons oat flour (you can grind rolled oats in the blender or coffee grinder to get a powder if you do not have oat flour on hand)
• 3 tablespoons distilled rose water
• 2 drops of lavender essential oil

This is one of the easiest face masks to make. Simply stir all the ingredients together in a non-plastic, non-metal bowl. Apply to a clean face with fingertips and leave it on to dry and infuse into the skin. Fifteen minutes is enough. To go all out for a soothing, homemade spa treatment, soak in the tub with one cup of oat flour, one cup of milk, and eight drops of lavender essential oil while wearing your mask. Sip a cup of oat straw tea after the bath and facial while you relax with your version of soothing music, and then drift off to the most peaceful sleep that you could ever imagine. Try this therapy three nights a week and you will soften, sooth, and calm your skin, body, and mind.

Red and Blue Homemade Skin Brightening Face Mask

What better to brighten and liven up your complexion than the brightest of fruits —
blueberries and tomatoes. Packed to the brim with antioxidants to prevent fine lines, reduce inflammation, and even out the skin, this skin brightening face mask is wonderful for all skin types and ideal for dull, aging skin. Try it twice a week when you notice that your complexion is blotchy or faded. It can also be used as an anytime wrinkle preventing facial.

Blueberries and tomatoes are super fruits for your skin. They are both high in vitamin C to boost collagen formation and to protect cells as an antioxidant. Blueberries are also a great source of anthocyanins to neutralize free radical damage and to slow the development of fine lines. Tomatoes supply the anti-inflammatory antioxidant lycopene to reduce redness and blotchiness. Tomatoes are also a great cleansing ingredients, helping to remove excess oil and dirt.

These bright fruits combine well with a little apricot kernel oil to promote skin repair with vitamin E and to help lock in moisture with phytosterols. Sweet orange essential oil rounds out this brightening face mask. It has a natural detoxifying effect. It also supports collagen production in the skin.

To make this homemade skin brightening facial you will need:

• 10 blueberries, more or less
• 1/4 of a fresh tomato
• 1 teaspoon of apricot kernel oil
• 2 drops of sweet orange essential oil

Pulverize the fruit in the blender for about ten seconds and then move to a small bowl. Add the apricot kernel and sweet orange oil and stir. Open pores by placing a very warm, wet wash cloth on the face for thirty seconds and then smear the mask over the face and neck. Leave on and relax for twenty minutes. Rinse well with cool water and moisturize. With regular use, expect smoother, brighter skin and a healthy fruit glow.

Vitamin E Face Mask for Skin Repair

Acne scars, fine lines, and blemishes can all benefit from a little skin repair.
Using this homemade vitamin E face mask is a great way to nourish and protect the skin, but also to encourage skin repair with vitamin E. This fat-soluble nutrient is found in all of the nourishing oils — olive oil, apricot kernel, avocado. Wheat germ oil is particularly high in this vitamin antioxidant, which helps to protect cells from damage and helps to repair tissue. Vitamin E is found in a lot of skin care products, from facials to moisturizing lotions. Using a nutritional oil in a homemade mask, you get natural vitamin E. Wheat germ oil is also packed with phyosterols, which may also aid in skin repair. These compounds are definitely great for keeping the skin soft and smooth, and for creating a protective barrier against moisture loss.

To make this homemade face mask even more powerful it is combined with fresh mango, another great source of vitamin E. Mango is also rich in carotenoids, antioxidants which are known to protect the skin from oxidative stress and inflammation. Add a little oat flour for more natural emollient properties and nutrients and you have the ultimate homemade skin repair face mask.

To make this vitamin E facial you will need:

• 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil
• 1/4 of a fresh mango
• 1 teaspoon of oat four

Peel your mango and add about one-quarter of the fruit to the blender. Enjoy the rest. Add the wheat germ oil and oat flour and blend for thirty seconds. Smear over a clean face. Leave on for twenty minutes and then pat dry. While mangos are in season, try this mask once a week to help revitalize skin and repair tissue. It is great for smoothing the complexion and helping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Strawberry and Apricot Kernel Anti-Wrinkle Facial

Nourishing skin is one of the best things that you can do to help prevent wrinkles. When berries are in season I like to use this strawberry and apricot anti-wrinkle
facial to help soften my complexion and to infuse skin with free radical fighting antioxidants. Use it three times a week during the summer to keep the skin supple and the complexion bright.

Strawberries are loaded with antioxidant compounds, including quercetin, ellagic acid, and vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps the body form new collagen and is always a welcome nutrient in any anti-aging skin care treatment. I even use vitamin C cleansers, I like the Jason Natural Ester-C skin care line. Strawberries are also great for exfoliating the skin with alpha hydroxy acids.

Apricot kernel oil is also going to give the skin antioxidant action with vitamin E. This nutrient is also important for skin repair. Apricot kernel is of course a great source of essential fatty acids, mostly omega-6 oils to help fight inflammation and to protect against moisture loss. Finish with rose essential oil for a gentle toning and anti-bacterial action and you have one of the best anti-wrinkle facials that you can make at home.

To make this strawberry and apricot face mask you will need:

• 4 medium sized strawberries, more or less
• 2 teaspoons of apricot kernel oil
• 3 drops of rose essential oil

Clean the face with warm water and your normal cleanser. Gently dry by dabbing with a cotton cloth. Blend all ingredients together in a blender for thirty seconds. Spread this strawberry mask over your face and neck, gently rubbing into the skin. Leave on for twenty minutes before rinsing and following with a moisturizer. While your mask is setting, rinse out the blender and use a few more strawberries for a delicious antioxidant-packed fresh fruit smoothie!

Yogurt, Banana, and Ginger Face Mask to Nourish Skin

This is a great homemade facial that doubles as a healthy breakfast for your skin.
Use this yogurt, banana, and ginger face mask to brighten your skin and your morning. Yogurt and banana nourish and soften while ginger doses the skin with antioxidants and has a warming effect, gently stimulating circulation to the skin, increasing the flow of nutrients and oxygen to cells. Banana is also a great source of wrinkle-fighting antioxidants and skin nutrients, including B vitamins, potassium, and zinc.

This face mask recipe gets an A+ for convenience and well-being. Use it in the morning to soften the skin before putting on your sun protecting face cream and any makeup that you may use. I use it once or twice a week as a breakfast mask, or whenever I have a really ripe banana that I need to use. Bananas with yogurt and a cup of warm ginger tea is an excellent breakfast. Once again, I highly support enjoying the healthy foods that you are putting on your skin, not only to get the double dose of nutrients, but also to make sure that nothing goes to waste. I appreciate efficiency, even in skin care.

To make this yogurt, banana, and ginger facial you will need:

• 1/3 of a ripe banana
• 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of ginger tea

Mash the banana with a fork while your ginger tea is infusing (don't forget to cover while steeping for a stronger infusion). Stir in the yogurt and ginger. Smear over a clean face. Leave on for twenty minutes while you enjoy your breakfast and sip your ginger tea. Rinse the face clean and gently pat dry. Moisturize and beautify as normal.

Avocado and Yogurt Face Mask for Plump Skin

Plumper, smoother, younger looking skin is what everyone is after these days. If you don't want to use injections to fatten up your complexion, try this avocado and yogurt facial for a natural, subtle effect. This homemade face mask will not have the same impact as a professional cosmetic treatment, for better or for worse, but it will nourish and soften the skin and give a brighter, more youthful complexion.

If you like it, try it once a week to help fortify your skin with easy to absorb fatty acids, as well as antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin C, and amino acids. This is a dynamic combination of healthy fats for softer, smoother skin. On my own personal quest to prevent wrinkles (or at least slow their development), this is one of my favorite at home facials.

To make this avocado and yogurt facial, you will need:

• 3 tablespoons of soft, ripe avocado
• 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of apricot kernel oil

Mash the avocado well with a fork. Next stir in the yogurt and apricot oil until you have a smooth creamy mixture. Open your pores with warm water and then apply this face mask to your skin. Leave on for ten minutes before rinsing off. Finish with a rich moisturizer. I highly recommend eating the rest of the avocado with a green salad. Not only is this fruit perfect for face mask recipes, but it is also one of the most important foods to eat for healthy skin with B vitamins and other nutrients.

Chamomile Oatmeal Honey Face Mask

If you want to really nourish and hydrate your skin, try this chamomile oatmeal honey face mask. Its purpose is to soften the skin, reduce dryness, and reduce any
redness, inflammation, and even acne. I like to use it as a softening mask in the winter when my skin starts to get dry and blotchy from dry weather. Try using it three times a week for two weeks to get a softer, smoother, more evenly toned complexion.

The base of this face mask is oats, pulverized into a fine powder, which you can do in the coffee grinder or blender. If you are going to use this mask more than once, then pulverize a cup of rolled oats so you have plenty of oat powder ready to make your softening facials with. Why are oats so great for the skin? They have emollient properties, protecting and reinforcing skin tissue. Oats are also packed with nutrients that the skin can benefit from, including B vitamins.

Milk or cream is added to this chamomile oat and honey facial to give the mask consistency, to add more nutrients to soften the skin (that's why cream or whole milk is better — you get more of the beneficial fatty acids), and to brighten. Milk provides lactic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid, helping to promote cell renewal.

The raw honey is your anti-bacterial and super moisturizing ingredient in this homemade facial. It helps the skin lock in moisture, which is a must for dealing with seasonal dryness. Try this or other honey face masks regularly if you suffer from dry skin.

Chamomile essential oil is what makes this mask even more gentle and sweet. Chamomile calms and soothes with excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It will also act as a second fighter against bacteria.

To make this chamomile oatmeal honey face mask you will need:

• 2 tablespoons of oat powder
• 2 tablespoons of milk or cream
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 4 drops of chamomile essential oil

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl, adding more or less milk until you have a smooth paste for your facial. Open pores with a little warm water. Spread the mask over your skin and leave on for fifteen minutes. Rinse and don't forget to moisturize when you are done. For intense softness, try a night creme to help replenish even more moisture while you sleep.

Purifying Peppermint and Seaweed Facial for the Ultimate Skin Detox

This is the homemade face mask to use when doing a full beauty detox treatment. Whether you are juicing for a few days or simply taking a day to detox, do your skin a favor and use an epsom salt bath to sweat out impurities and use this at home seaweed facial to intensely detox the skin.


Seaweed is used in skin care for two main reasons. First it supplies a heavy dose of nutrients for the skin, from vitamin C to magnesium. Second, it has a detoxifying effect, helping the cells to release waste and replacing toxins with nutrients. I suggest mixing seaweed powder with a strong peppermint infusion. Peppermint is a natural diaphoretic, encouraging the release of toxins through the skin. It also has anti-bacterial properties.

To make this peppermint and seaweed facial you will need:

• 1 tablespoon of seaweed powder, such as kelp powder
  
• 1 tablespoon of strong peppermint tea, or enough to make a paste

First, brew your tea. If you have loose leaf peppermint, then I recommend brewing one quart of peppermint tea with three tablespoons of dried peppermint, otherwise use four bags of tea. Use one tablespoon of the tea for your mask and then add the remainder to a detox bath. Add the peppermint infusion and one cup of epsom salts to hot bath water. I like to soak in this peppermint detox bath while using this mask.

Otherwise, just make a strong infusion with one peppermint tea bag and one-half cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes and then use one tablespoon for the seaweed facial. Mix the peppermint with the powdered seaweed in a glass or ceramic bowl. Smear over your clean face. Do this while sitting in the bath, or simply put your feet up and relax for twenty minutes. If doing the full detox body treatment, rinse the mask and the heavy toxin release off in a cool shower. If just doing the mask you can use a cloth. After this purifying seaweed mask and detoxifying skin treatment you will feel refreshed, renewed, and ready for a peaceful, perfect night's sleep! Be sure to drink juice or water or even sip a cup of tea to re-hydrate.