Now that you’ve hit the new year, you might be on the search for a better, brighter you. While starting from the inside out is the best way to get in trim for 2016, focusing on your skin’s health can also work wonders on the way that you both look and feel. With the aftermath of the holiday season stretching your budget a little more thin than normal, however, luxury facials and skincare treatments can feel a little further out of reach than normal. Luckily, however, there is another way.
The humble homemade facemask is making a comeback and this time, it really means business. While shop bought masks promise any number of miracle skin cures, there could be more good lurking in your kitchen cupboards than you ever realized. Packed full of naturally occurring minerals and vitamins, natural foods can work wonders when applied to your skin in the correct quantities. All it takes is a little knowhow, and a couple of extra minutes. Easy, quick; who said skincare had to be difficult?
Banana Face Mask
While we’re told how much good bananas can do when they’re inside our bodies, we’re rarely given information on how powerful they can be when applied on the outside. Bananas are packed full of Vitamin A to help to reduce dark spots and blemishes and brimming with Vitamin B, which helps to moisturize skin and dramatically reduce the signs of ageing. As if that wasn’t enough, they also boost the skin’s defences against harmful sun rays, keeping your skin health very much in check!
For this mask, you need to mash one half of a banana and mix in a tablespoon of orange juice and honey. Apply the mixture to the face and wash off after 15 minutes, being careful around the eye area. Simply rinse with lukewarm water and moisturize as normal. Voila!
Honey and Lemon Mask
The combination of lemon and honey, in any setting, works wonders. Although typically used to fight colds and infection, the powerful duo can be incredibly effective when applied to the skin’s surface. Lemons are full of natural vitamins which help to banish blackheads, clear up any troublesome acne and get rid of any dry skin cells. The honey in the mask is a great moisturizer, and will counteract the harsh acids in the lemons to give you baby soft skin.
First of all, mix one tablespoon of honey in a bowl with half a squeezed lemon. Apply the mixture all over your face, being careful to avoid the eye area or any particularly sensitive patches. Let your skin soak up the mask for 15 to 30 minutes and wash away with warm water. Finish the mask with a splash of cold water to close up your pores and finish things off with a moisturizer. Perfect skin couldn’t be more simple!
Breakfast Face Mask
While it might have all of the properties of your favorite meal, the Breakfast Face Mask is an incredible addition to your skincare regime and can really help to improve the look and feel of your skin. Filled with proteins and whole grains, this mask is best suited to people with angry and oily skin, as it will correct and soothe any skin imbalances. This mask is a little messier than most, so you might want to prepare the components in the kitchen beforehand, to avoid any unwanted spillages.
Mix an egg yolk a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of olive oil and half a cup of oatmeal in a bowl, being careful to combine all ingredients sufficiently. Next, spread the mask over your face and leave it to set for between 15 to 20 minutes. When the mixture is beginning to dry out, rinse from your face with lukewarm water and moisturize as normal.
Milk Facial Mask
Milk is one of the gentlest ingredients on blemish prone, sensitive skin and if all drugstore products are bringing you out in a rash, it can be a great alternative to try. Milk isn’t just great for one skin group either; packed with essential enzymes and vitamins, it is a great moisturizer, exfoliator and cleanser in one, removing dirt and dust more effectively than most other products. In fact, whatever your skin type, milk can help you to perfect your complexion; it’s not all about drinking one glass a day.
For this facial mask, you need to mix ¼ cup of powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste; when doing this, make sure you add the water in gradually so that you can control the texture. Coat your skin thickly with the face mask, leave it to dry on your skin and wash off gently with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry with a towel and complete your facial routine as normal.
The road to great skin is not as winding or difficult as many would have you believe and in many cases, you already have all the components you need for a perfect complexion in your cupboards. This year, it’s time to get a little savvy with your skin routine and with these masks, you might just get perfect skin sooner than you thought.