Natural Cleansers, Soaps and Face Masks

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.

Select the Right Anti Aging Skin Care Products

Most of us are very concerned about our aging skin. This shows in our willingness to spend large amounts of money on anti aging skin care products. Not only do we purchase large quantities of anti aging skin care treatments, we spend billions on cosmetic surgery to look younger as well. None of us want to look older than we are; we would rather look much younger.

The fact that we spend millions on anti aging skin care products and treatments every year actually shows that the majority of the treatments do not work as they say they will. If they did, we would not have to keep trying different kinds of products for our aging skin.

That is not to say there aren’t good anti aging skin care products on the market. There most definitely are - and here are some pointers for choosing the right ones.

What to Consider When Buying Anti Aging Skin Care Products

Avoid skin care products that contain fragrances or other chemical ingredients. These can actually cause more harm than good as they absorb into your body. Foreign chemicals do not belong in the body. It is counter productive to use chemicals on the skin for an anti aging treatment.

Use perfumes and body sprays to add a nice scent to your skin instead. The difference between sprays and lotions is that with a lotion, you are rubbing the chemicals into your skin. Sprays are less concentrated and left on the surface.

Products that contain collagen are a complete waste of time. The claims made by skin care manufacturers who put collagen into their anti aging skin care products are completely false. The only true way to put collagen into the skin is to use something that stimulates natural collagen production.

The Results are in the Ingredients, Not the Advertising

The majority of those in the skincare industry are out to make money and that is their primary goal. They will spend millions of dollars on advertising just to get people to buy their product. Most of the time, the product is not as good as they claim it to be because it is not made with the best ingredients. It seems they would rather spend good money on advertising than on quality lotions that are effective.

Using Celebrities to Endorse Anti Aging Skin Care Products & Treatments

Celebrities are often used to promote products. A good example of this is Proactive Solutions. Vanessa Williams and Jessica Simpson both promote this anti-acne skin care line. The painful truth is that they are highly paid for their endorsements. That is not to say the product does not work, but rather it reveals a different sort of motivation behind their advertising.

Smaller companies that put money into their products are the best bet for your money. When it comes to anti aging skin care products, it is far better to buy from smaller companies that put their money into the ingredients rather than in the pockets of celebrities.

Anti-aging Skin Care Tips

If you want to avoid the early signs of aging, there are plenty of anti aging skin care products available for you. You can also look up tips and guides on how to make your skin firmer and healthier. On the other hand, there are treatments for anti aging, which are easy to follow. These treatments will not take up much of your time. The best skin care treatment does not necessarily involve expensive products. You do not have to buy costly products, in order for you to prevent wrinkles from appearing around your eyes and your mouth. Anti aging tips include simple reminders such as drinking water constantly. As simple as this step, you will be able to keep your skin healthy.

Exposing your skin to an appropriate amount of the sun’s rays is one way of preventing premature aging. Sunlight is capable of providing your skin with vitamin D, which is also great for keeping your teeth and bones healthy. However, too much sun exposure can cause skin problems. This is true especially if you expose yourself to sunlight between 9 AM to 4 PM. During these times, the heat of the sun is harmful and can lead to skin cancer and heat stroke. Minor problems caused by too much UV rays exposure include skin rashes, blemishes, and dark spots on the skin.

If you need to go out, when the sun is really hot, you have to keep yourself protected. You should wear a hat to keep your face away from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen lotion and cream are anti aging skin care products that keep UV rays from penetrating into the inner layers of your skin. However, you have to remember that there are some products for anti aging that are harsh for your skin. One of the best ways to know if the product is good for you or not would be to check its ingredients. You should be aware of products that contain petroleum and alcohol-based ingredients.

Another anti aging tip is to take in much filtered water. Avoid tap water since this contains chemicals that are harmful to your body and to your skin. The sad fact is that there are several individuals that do not consume enough amounts of fluids that are needed by the body. This can lead to dehydration and premature aging. Aside from anti aging skin care products, water is a great way to keep your skin looking radiant. To make your skin healthy and supple, you have to consume at least eight glasses of water everyday. This anti aging guide is better than any kind of skin care product.

You also have to remember that a proper diet is a good anti aging tip. Organic leafy greens are great for maintaining the health of your skin. Green and leafy vegetables are comprised of antioxidants that prevent free radicals from damaging your systems. Free radicals are capable of destroying your cells. Once your cells are damaged, this can cause early symptoms of aging like wrinkles.

Face creams, hand and body lotions, and moisturizers are among the most effective anti aging skin care products. They support your body’s production of elastin and collagen, which help in making your skin appear younger. What is more, these products even out dark spots on your skin and face, and they eliminate wrinkles and fine lines.