Key Ingredients For a Natural, Homemade Facial Mask

       Every woman wants to have beautiful, soft, glowing skin. Every female needs primping, pampering and relaxation. But most importantly, EVERYONE likes to save money. One way to achieve all three of these things is to use an all-natural, homemade facial mask. If you haven’t yet succumbed to the “all-natural” craze, just keep in mind that your body absorbs all of the products you use on it. The purpose of a face mask is for your face to absorb moisture and nutrients from it. So if your face mask of choice is filled with chemicals, you face will absorb those as well.

       Also, saving money using household ingredients isn’t about being cheap, it just frees up more money for you to spend on things you love and can’t make at home; like bags, clothes and shoes -- Available now at ShopChicLife.Storenvy.com When making a homemade face mask, it is important to keep in mind the type of skin you have and what you want your face mask to do. Do you have dry or oily skin? Are you treating any active breakouts? How sensitive is your face to irritation and breakouts? Because everyone’s skin is different we’ve decided against giving any specific recipes and instead, listed some of the best ingredients for facial masks and their benefits to allow you to decide what would be best for your skin type. (Remember to do a skin blot test before trying anything on your face)

HONEY – Honey is a natural humectant, or moisturizer. It keeps skin soft and acts as an antibacterial to reduce swelling and redness of breakouts. Honey is very good on sensitive skin and is a great all-purpose component to any face mask not only because of its individual benefits but also because it provides great binding and texture for the mask itself.

 PLAIN YOGURT – Yogurt contains fats that help keep the skin moist and Lactic Acid that acts as an exfoliant. It also stimulates collagen production to tighten pores and improve skin texture. Yogurt is also gentile enough for sensitive skin.

 OATMEAL – Oatmeal has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe dry, itchy, irritated skin. This makes oatmeal good for treating acne, rosacea, eczema and rashes. Oatmeal proteins protect from infection while fats and starches provide a protective and moisturizing quality. Oats also contain saponins which enhance nutrient absorption, lift dirt, oil and toxins from the skin and reduce pore size. Oatmeal also serves as a buffer that can enhance skin tone and texture. Cooked oatmeal is best for stimulating the anti-inflammatory properties and ground oatmeal increases the exfoliating benefits. And like the aforementioned ingredients, oatmeal is fine to use on sensitive skin.

EGG – Egg whites clear acne by drawing out excess oils and tone skin complexion. Protein in the yolk can tighten and lift skin. If you have oily skin it’s best to only use the egg white. (If you choose to do this, the yolk can be used with a hair conditioner as the proteins are good for strengthening hair.)

LEMON JUICE – The acid in lemon juice helps to brighten dark spots and fade scars. However it may be too harsh to use on sensitive skin.

 

AVOCADO – Avocados are rich in fats proteins and oils which serve to moisten and soften skin along with evening out complexion. Also, they give the facial mask a cool color.

PUMPKIN,MANGO AND PAPAYA – All three of these are rich in Vitamins A, C and E which are the most beneficial vitamins for skin. Vitamin A unclogs pores, revitalizes the skin, and reduces wrinkles thus making skin softer and smoother. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that help protect skin from damage.

 

 


OILS – Various oils are good for moisturizing and cleansing normal to dry skin. Jojoba oil is very similar to the oil produced by human skin. Some people with oily skin that is prone to acne experience a decrease in breakouts because jojoba oil can “trick” the body into producing less oil. Coconut oil has great antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Almond oil mixed with sugar makes a great exfoliating cleanser.

CUCUMBER – What’s a facial mask without eye pads?! Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory properties and a high water content that help reduce eye puffiness. Cold cucumbers also helps to reduce blood flow to the eye area, further alleviating swelling. Using cucumber slices on your eyes helps to keep the skin smooth and hydrated and prevent lines, wrinkles and damage from swelling.