Herbal Facial Masks and Diet Tips for Summer
Summer is just around the corner and for those of us who have been cooped up in cold-weather locations, it is a glory to behold. There are so many ways we can treat our body well this season and counter-act the effects of all that rich, heavy food over the holidays that might have not only added a few inches to our waistline but also added some unwanted skin reactions on our face.
You have only to try one or two of the hundreds of delicious fruits and herbs that summer offers to get your waistline back and shape and clear that skin in no time. If you don’t want to eat them, then try applying them directly to your skin as a facial mask or body scrub!
First lets looks at some of the seasonal fruits that might still be available, depending on what zone you live in. These fruits are chock-full of 
nutrients and lots of phyto-chemicals to help build collagen and re-build acne-scarred skin.
Nearly everything will be in bloom soon, so you have no excuse to not try at least of some of this delicious harvest or at least experiment with a new facial mask. Most fruits and vegetables have great propensity to eliminate toxins and flush your system of all those - pore-clogging bacteria and excess oil that creates acne flare ups and breakouts.
Yellow and orange produce items are typically high in beta carotene, potassium and Vitamin C, and thus reduce the impact of aging, prevent against macular degeneration and prostate cancer; they also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and supportcollagen and bone growth. Enjoy orange and yellow peppers, pumpkins, plus acorn, delicara, spaghetti and butternut squashes to receive these benefits.
BERRIES: berries are the first thing one might think of in the summer - all those delicious colors and fragrances to take in - AND they are excellent for your skin - not only on the inside but on the outside as well. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, any berries you can think of - Naturally blue and purple foods contain additional nutrients including the super anti aging reservatol (famousfor itshigh (concentration in red wine) and other flavonoids that fight inflammation and cancer, plus ones that support immune anddigestive function and mineral absorption. Find can find high concentrations of these age-fighting phytonutrients in grapes or purple bell peppers (found at your local farmers’ markets), purple yams or sweet potatoes and pomegranates also have these amazing phyto-nutrients to protect cellular DNA, slow the aging process and heal acne flare ups and scars.
For a direct treatment, simply crush the berry mix into a pulp and add directly to the face for an instant fruit facial mask and anti-acne fruit acid treatment.
These amazing fruits also slow the aging process by impeding oxidation, combatting dryness and strengthen the barrier for improved elasticity and long-lasting beauty. Taking in large doses, they can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and inhibit the breakdown of elastin that causes sagging. the free-radicals will also help to prevent overall premature aging.
With all these benefits, what have you got to lose?
Herbal Facial Mask Recipes From Home
October 13, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
If you are looking for some great homemade facial mask recipes to save some money, keep reading. Some of these facial skincare tips I found on the web, others were notes from herbal classes I took. So, depending on your skin type, here are lots of great facial masks to try at home. When possible always try to use organic or natural ingredients to prevent possible allergic reactions. Enjoy!
FOR OILY SKIN
For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on your face and neck area and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!
I haven’t tried this one personally, but I heard it works well too. Said to have a cleansing and softening effect: mix regular clean kitty litter, the clay kind, with water and strain out the grit. Mix in a little water and appy to a damp face for 10-15 min.
For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.
FOR NORMAL / COMBINATION SKIN / ACNE
Why buy acne products when you use strawberries? Strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid which is found in most over-the-counter acne medicines, according to Janice Cox, the author of “Natural Beauty at Home.” This is Cox’s recipe. The yogurt is great for soothing skin.
Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup strawberries (fresh, not frozen please)
* 1/4 cup sour cream or non-flavored yogurt
Preparation:
Mash together the strawberries and yogurt or sour cream. Spread on face and wash after 10-15 minutes.
ADDITIONAL FACIAL MASK RECIPES
Mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 min then rinse.
For trouble-prone skin, mix oatmeal with water to form a paste.
FOR DRY SKIN
For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 min. Rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry. If your skin is a bit dry you can put a dab or two of either extra virgin olive oil, or any light organic oil, like jojoba or almond if you need a heavier moisturizer after cleansing or a good moisturizing facial mask.
Homemade Facial Scrub Instead of Soap
For a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only. Never use plain store-bought soap. If you do use soap, make sure its a n organic or natural blend that won’t strip your skin of it’s natural acid mantel. You can also open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth).
For a great facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a “gooey” consistency, use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water. You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry..remove with cool water.
Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.To make your hair shine, rub in some regular mayonnaise,shampoo out after 15 minutes.
Honey wins for Best Organic Facial Treatment
One of the best facial masks that I have found is honey. Honey is a antural anti-micoribal and an excellent wound healer. First, use a warm cloth to open pores, smear on organic or herbally infused honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week.
You can also mix a little gound oatmeal with the honey, which makes an excellent natural face mask.
Exfoliating Facial Mask
For an easy exfoliating mask, mix three tablespoons olive oil or any skincare oil (almond, jojoba) and one tablespoon kosher salt mix and gently rub into dry skin. Do not use around eye area. This works great on elbows and feet, but it can also be used on cheeks and forehead
Egg Whites / Egg Yolk Facial Masks
Just beat one egg white until it is frothy. Spread it all over your face. Wait until it dries. Rinse it off. My face feels very clean and “tight” after this application. And then you can use the yolk for cooking.
Some reccommend using a raw egg yolk. Just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.
Match Your Facial Mask to Your Skin Type
For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.
For dry skin, use an egg yolk.
In all cases, spread mixture on face and allow to dry. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
For oily skin, witch hazel makes an inexpensive toner.
For dry skin, you may want to add moisturizer while skin is still damp.
One reader said ” The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender and either skim milk. If you are trying to fade spots, use lemon juice. Really works well for dry skin.”
More Facial Mask Ingredient Choices.
Having fun playing around in your kitchen - mix and match for the best facial treatment for you!
The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.
For dry skin, try:
* an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey
* sour cream
* plain olive oil
* avocado
For oily skin:
* dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub)
* puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;
* cucumber (it will whiten your skin);
* beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);
* carrots (but don’t use this one more than about every other week because it can overdry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.
General refreshing masks:
* grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly)
* strawberries (test behind your ear first, because many people are alergic to strawberies used this way even though they can eat them just fine)
* honey and ricotta cheese
Many fruits and vegetables can also be used to good effect. Anything acidic (lemon, strawberries, etc) will tend to whiten and refresh your skin, but you need to be careful if your skin is dry.
In general, don’t apply masks more often than about twice a week, and try to vary the ingredients.
It is a good idea to test the mask first for allergic reactions. Apply a small amount behind your ear, wait 20 minutes, then wash off. Then wait 24 hours. If the skin behind your ear is normal, then go ahead and use the mask.
