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.

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.

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.

The Best Homemade Face Mask for Blackheads — Clay, Lemon, and Rose

What is the best homemade face mask for blackheads? It is a face mask that will pull toxins, oil, and waste from the skin with a vengeance, while refining pores. A powerful, impurity-sucking clay mask, made with the natural astringent action of fresh lemon juice and rose is the ultimate in homemade facials for blackheads. Leave it on long enough and it will pull blockages from your pores, while then tightening the skin and reducing pore size so more blackheads are less likely to form.


It may seem like clay powder is just too basic to really reduce acne problems, but clay is one of the best solutions for skin problems, especially blackheads. First, clay is rich in minerals for the skin. I always use Bentonite clay, which is rich in silica to help form new collagen. Once it has a chance to dry on the skin, it pulls out dirt, dead skin cells, and anything else that is clogging pores and leading to blackheads and other blemishes. Using a clay mask is so strong, that after two masks, I had a small dark blemish that had been in my skin for months simply slide out with a pinch from my fingertip (although I don't recommend pinching the skin to remove blackheads as this can do more harm than good!).


Clay powder can be mixed with distilled water or apple cider vinegar, but when it comes to a strong astringent and refining and brightening the skin, go for lemon juice. Lemon will shrink pores, help the clay remove impurities, and promote skin renewal with alpha hydroxy acids. Lemon is not a good choice for sensitive skin. Also, be sure to use sunscreen after use if going outdoors. I suggest wearing this mask in the evening, not before you are about to go out and enjoy a sunny day. Alpha hydroxy acids and sun exposure do not mix! Rose essential oil acts as a secondary toner, and it also will calm the skin.

To make this homemade face mask for blackheads you will need:

• 3 teaspoons of clay powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of water
• 3 drops of rose essential oil

Add the clay powder to a glass or ceramic bowl. Add the lemon, water, and rose oil and stir. Add more water as needed to make a paste. Prepare the face with warm water to open pores. A relaxing way to do this is to get a clean wash cloth wet with hot water. Place it over the face for one minute, this will feel wonderful. Very gently pat the face dry, it does not have to be completely dry. Smear the mask over your skin. Let it set for fifteen minutes. The mask will dry and the face will become really tight, but don't worry. This means it is working! Wash the face clean, dry, and then use a moisturizing face lotion to finalize this ultimate skin care treatment.

Homemade Winter Hydrating Face Mask with Honey and Sage

There are two things that you should do in the winter to relieve seasonal dry skin — drink lots of water and try this homemade hydrating face mask. During the winter my skin becomes extremely dry, which does not lead to a lovely, soft complexion. When the climate is arid it is time to give your skin a little extra moisturizing care. This winter facial combines the astringent action of sage with one of nature's best moisture protectors — honey. Round this mask off with some apricot kernel oil and you have a potent natural solution for dry skin in the winter.

Sage smells beautifully and is a great herb to use for roasting winter vegetables and holiday meats. It is also great for your skin, especially in the winter. Sage has astringent properties, acting to reduce pore size and to relieve itchy, dry skin. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, which helps if you have any acne in addition to the seasonal dryness. One important note, sage essential oil may be the powerhouse ingredient in this homemade hydrating face mask recipe, but it should be used with care. Only use a tiny amount, one to two drops. Sage should be avoided if pregnant, if you have high blood pressure, or epilepsy.

Honey, and I mean raw, organic honey, is loaded with nutrients for the skin. It is also naturally anti-bacterial and it helps the skin to hold in moisture, a must for a dry complexion. Apricot kernel oil is going to give this dynamic hydrating treatment another moisturizing angle by smoothing the skin and protecting against moisture loss.

To make this honey and sage face mask you will need:

• 2 tablespoon of raw honey
• 2 teaspoon of apricot kernel oil
• 1 or 2 drops of sage essential oil

Whip all ingredients together until you have a super-softening, gooey, aromatic paste. Smear it over clean, dry skin with your fingertips. Leave it on for twenty minutes and then rinse clean with tepid water. Even though your skin feels soft and supple, still put on a moisturizing face lotion after the facial. Try this one out if you suffer from dry skin in the winter and let me know what you think.

Seaweed and Lemon Detoxifying Face Mask

This is not the face mask for the faint of heart, or for dry, sensitive skin types. It is for those who have oily skin and are likely to do battle with regular blemishes. This detoxifying face mask combines seaweed powder with lemon to draw out impurities and to tone the skin. Try using it once a week to reduce breakouts and to give your skin a softer, cleaner complexion, naturally.

Seaweed is an excellent tonic for the face. We are talking serious nutrients for the skin and a powerful natural detox. Seaweed will help to draw the bad stuff out — oil, bacteria, and dirt — while supplying the skin with a rich dose of nutrients. Vitamins and minerals from the sea include vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, and zinc. Zinc in particular is great for reducing acne because of its anti-bacterial properties. Seaweed also stimulates circulation and helps to balance moisture levels. I like to use Starwest Botanicals Organic Kelp Powder -- 1 lb, which you can use for all your beauty care needs, but you can also throw a tablespoon into smoothies for a boost of minerals.

Combine the benefits of seaweed for the skin with the astringent action of fresh lemon juice and you have a dynamic detox facial for your skin, without having to pay for a high-end face mask. Lemon will help to tighten pores and draw the skin together, reducing overall sebum production. Lemon is also naturally anti-bacterial. Be sure to use fresh lemon juice. Squeeze out a small amount for your mask and then use the rest in a fresh strawberry, papaya, and kelp powder smoothie, which is a great antioxidant boost for your skin. If you have sensitive skin, lemon can be irritating. You may want to try a gentler face mask, such as a honey and yogurt facial.

To make this detoxifying face mask you will need:

• 3 teaspoons seaweed powder
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• purified water, enough to make a paste

First get your face ready to absorb the sea minerals and lemon. One way to do this is to run a clean wash cloth under hot water. Then rest it on the face for about thirty seconds, warming, opening, and stimulating. Next mix the seaweed powder with juice and water in a small bowl. With your fingers, spread the mask over your skin. Once you have a nice even coating of the seaweed and lemon face mask, then let it set for up to ten minutes. Use your same cloth that you used to open pores to wash off the mask. Dry and put on a moisturizer to keep your skin soft and supple, but not oily! Be sure to use a face lotion that contains sun protection if you are going outside. Lemon juice increases the skin's sensitivity to the sun.