Beautilicious

DIY facial

Published On: February 24, 2017 01:25 AM NPT By: The Week Bureau


Nobody said looking your best would be easy. It takes effort and some dedication to present the best version of yourself. But contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to shell out a fortune to achieve that. Whether you are suffering from sensitive, oily, acne-prone, aging, wrinkling or dry skin, chances are the remedies are at your own home.  

Face masks aren’t only a luxurious treat, it can also be an inexpensive and creative way to achieve healthier skin. From moisturizing, detoxification, increasing circulation to replenishing nutrients, it helps pamper your skin. In fact, facials with face masks have also been recommended to clear acne, give a face lift, reduce signs of aging, and keep your skin bright.

There are many such recipes of homemade face masks that have been passed on for generations. The Week complies some of the best for you here.

Banana – honey face mask
Recommended for: Oily greasy skin
Mix one ripe banana with one tablespoon of honey, then add a couple drops of orange or lemon juice (from actual fruits and not store bought fruit juices). Mix, apply, leave for 15 minutes, and then rinse with cold water followed by a warm washcloth.

Benefits: Honey is one of the most nourishing skin care ingredients. Especially when used in raw form, honey naturally moisturizes and can help improve a multitude of stubborn skin conditions. It also has antimicrobial properties, making it an effective acne fighter. Add to that, it is also packed with antioxidants. 

Similarly, bananas are rich in potassium and moisture and will hydrate and moisturize dry skin, making it soft and supple.

Eggs & Joe
Recommended for: Aging skin
Here you will only need one whole egg (make sure it’s organic) and one tablespoon of fine coffee grounds. After that, the steps are pretty straight forward. Combine the egg with coffee grounds. Make sure to include the egg yolk in the mix as well. Apply the mixture to your face. Make sure to avoid the eyes. Let it then soak into skin until it dries. 

To add in an extra exfoliating step, you can also use the coffee grounds to rub your skin in circular motions when you are washing it off. Your skin will feel fresh, as you’ve gently removed dead cells off the surface of your skin. Wash thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel.

Benefits: You’re likely used to drinking your coffee and eating your eggs separately but despite of how odd this may sound, the combination of coffee and eggs is famous. These two skin care ingredients have famously been recommended for helping nourish and revive your skin.

The protein and nutrients found in organic eggs help preserve and protect skin, keeping it tight and looking young. With frequent use, you will see a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. The coffee grounds, on the other hand, eliminates dead skin cells, improves blood circulation and also has skin smoothing effect.

Cucumber and Aloe Vera face mask 
Recommended for: Dry skin
Peel cucumber and place it in a blender. Add two tablespoon of Aloe Vera to it. Blend these two natural ingredients together until they form a thick consistent mixture. Smear this paste onto your face, leaving it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off the mask with cold water.

Benefits:  As we know, Aloe Vera has been lauded for its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera also acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells which helps to keep your face looking healthy.

The cooling properties along with antioxidants and silica present in cucumbers help rejuvenate the skin. It also reduces water retention and hence is believed to control puffiness under the eyes.

Green tea and lemon juice face mask
Recommended for: Normal skin
For two tablespoon of brewed green tea (cooled), you will need half a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. For extra benefit, you can also add a pinch of turmeric powder. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Then with the help of a cotton ball pat the mask on cleansed face.

Wait a few minutes for it to dry and repeat. When all the pack is finished, leave it on for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Benefits: Green tea acts as a potent antioxidant and natural UV protector. Packed with mineral, it nourishes skin and fights signs of aging as well. Lemon juice, on the other hand, contains vitamin C that boosts collagen development. It also contains citric acid that tightens skin pores and lightens the skin tone. Further, it’s also a rich source of lutein that has natural antioxidants to fight aging and increase UV defense.

Pre and post procedures
Before applying a face mask, one has to wash up, that’s a given. However, the preparations for facials don’t end there. You might want to carry out these simple pre as well as post steps for better results. It’s what the pros at salons swear by. They have been known to optimize the results of your facials.    

Exfoliate
Exfoliation helps by unblocking the surface of the skin thereby allowing products to penetrate it better. This isn’t even a complicated process. Simply apply a gentle face scrub to damp skin and massage into the skin with your fingertips. 30 seconds of this should be enough to help exfoliate your skin.

Steam up
Warmth softens the skin, increases circulation, thus again helping the nutrients from the face mask seep into the skin better. There are ways to steam at home as well. For this, you can use towels soaked in hot water. Just be sure to check the temperature of towels before putting them on your face. Another effective way is to drape a towel over your head and bend your head over a steaming bowl of water.

Moisturize
A facial leaves your face feeling soft, smooth and fresh. However, don’t assume that’s enough care for your skin for the day (or worse, the week). Always remember to apply moisturizer even after you have carried out your facials.


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