Sunday, December 5, 2010

Honey-Yogurt Mask

Honey Yogurt Mask
~ Hairband
~ 1 Tbsp honey
~ 1/4 C plain unflavored yogurt

1. Combine yogurt and honey until well mixed.
2. Spread evenly across your face.
3. Leave on until dry and ONLY until dry.
4. Wash off with a warm towel and follow up with a toner and moisturizer.


Benefits
Yogurt's antibacterial properties make it a useful, de-germing cleanser, and its lactic-acid content soothes irritation, clarifies the pores and softens the skin. Yogurt is also known for its probiotics (live active cultures), which are helpful in naturally treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
Honey contains powerful antioxidants which fight free radicals and reverse aging. It helps disinfect and speed the healing process in wounds, scrapes and burns. So it not only smooths dry, rough, wrinkled skin, but honey also makes skin supple and plumps up wrinkles. Honey is a valuable moisturizer for your face as well as your body.

Tips
~ If your skin is prone to being oily, stick with low-fat yogurt. If you have dry spots or dry skin, go with the good shtuff. (full fat)
~ Don't use any flavored yogurts. There's too much sugar and artificial crap in it that isn't good for your skin.
~ Keep the yogurt mix in the fridge to cool down and it feels wonderful on a hot day or after a workout.
~ Got extras? Eat it. :D

Warnings?
~ No flavored yogurts. Plain ONLY.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Tomato Oatmeal Mask

Tomato Oatmeal Mask
~ Hairband
~ 1 medium tomato, crushed
~ 1/2 Cup Rolled/Quick oats (unflavored)

1. Combine oatmeal and tomato in some sort of blender/masher/food processor. (I use the Magic Bullet, not gonna lie.)
2. Blend until combined and pasty.
3. Spread thick and evenly across your face, making sure to target acne areas or areas with blackheads/large pores.
4. Leave on for at least 30 minutes, longer is preferred. (I left it on for roughly an hour)
5. Rinse off with warm water and follow up with a moisturizer.

Benefits
Tomato acts as a natural cooler and astringent. The large amounts of vitamin C brightens up skin and vitamin A helps repair. The natural acid (Like lemons or oranges) balances out your skin, gets rid of any excess oil, and helps heal acne. Antioxidants fight free radicals which can, if used long-term, fight signs of aging.
Oatmeal works as a gentle scrub, ridding your lovely face of dead skin and dirt. It relieves dryness and evens your skin tone and it's really very calming.

Tips
~ Make sure the tomato you use is clean and preferably organic.
~ If the mix is too runny, by all means add more oatmeal, and visa-versa if it's too thick.
~ For a finer consistency, blend the oatmeal alone at first until it's at a texture you like.
~ You're going to have extra mix (I did.) Stick it in the fridge and it will last a few days, although the effects won't be as...eh hem... effective.
~This mask can be used cold and feels wonderful on a hot day.

Warnings?
~ DO NOT, and I mean DO. NOT. Use any type of flavored or instant-mix oatmeal. Rolled oats are okay, and Quick-1 minute oats are okay. C'mon people.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Egg Yolk Mask

Egg Yolk Mask
~ Washcloth
~ Hairband
~ One Egg Yolk, slightly beaten

1. Make sure your face is clean and any hair is tied back.
2. Slightly beat the egg yolk and spread evenly across face. Make sure to avoid the hairline.
3. Leave on for 30 minutes or until completely dry.
4. Wash off with the washcloth and follow up with a light moisturizer.

Benefits
Egg yolk is extremely moisturizing. The vitamin A is good for skin repair and the yolk cools your skin and evens your skin tone.

Tips
~The egg yolk can get a little smelly. It can also get a little drippy, so carry around the washcloth.
~ Please don't eat the egg yolk.
~ The Yolk is a little hard to rinse off, so a little scrubbing with the washcloth may be needed. Be gentle though. :]
~ This mask is FABULOUS after the egg white mask.


Warnings?
~Don't sleep with this mask on.
~Do not use this mask more than once or twice a week, or your skin will begin to tolerate it and it will lose it effectiveness.

If you use this, please comment. I'd love to hear your results.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Egg White Mask

Egg White Mask
~ Washcloth
~ Hairband
~ 1 Egg White
~ 1 tsp. Lemon Juice

1. Make sure your face is clean and your hair is tied back.
2. Combine egg white and lemon juice and spread on face immediately.
3. Coat your face with the mixture adequately and leave on for 30 minutes or until dry.
4. Rinse the white off (Use the washcloth) and follow up with your favorite moisturizer. Tada!

Benefits
Egg white has loads of protein which helps repair and rebuild skin cells. When the egg dries, it tightens and evens your complexion, dries out acne, and brings impurities to the surface. (like blackheads)
Lemon juice is a natural acne fighter and helps sterilize your face.

Tips
~ Carry the washcloth around with you in case you drip. It can get a little messy.
~ Please don't eat the egg. It is technically edible, but consumed raw puts you at risk for salmonella.
~ When you rinse, it's good to wet your whole face entirely first. It's easier to remove the egg white that way.

Warnings?
~DO NOT sleep with this mask on. The egg white can trap bacteria and sweat and make your skin worse if left on too long.
~You may smell the egg. It doesn't smell very pleasant. But the affects of the mask is worth it. The lemon also helps with the smell.
~The mask may get a little itchy. Withhold the urge to itch!
~After mixing the egg white and lemon, use immediately because if left to sit, the acid in the lemon juice will "cook" the egg. It's how they make ceviche, ;]
~Please, PLEASE follow up with a moisturizer.

If you use this, please comment. I'd love to hear your results.

Salt Facial Steamer

Salt Facial Steamer
~ 3 cups tap water
~ About a handful of Kosher/Epsom Salt
~ A medium size pot
~ A large heat-safe bowl
~ A large towel
~ Hairbands to pull hair back

1. Combine tap water and salt in the medium pot and heat on medium/high heat until salt dissolves. Once dissolved and boiling, pour into the heat-safe bowl.
2. Make sure any long hair is tied back and out of the way and lean over the bowl with your face roughly 4-6 inches away from the water.
3. Make sure the towel is constantly on your head and over the bowl (so it traps the steam) and steam for at least 10-30 minutes. Play some music. :]
4. Once done steaming, wash your face with cool water or a facial scrub and follow up with a moisturizer.

Benefits-
The steam's heat and moisture opens up your pores so you can sweat out the bacteria and impurities. It gets rid of blackheads too.
The salt detoxifies and sterilizes your pores so they can stay clear.
Combined, the salt and steam clears your complexion and softens and sterilizes your skin.
Breathing in the steam will loosen up mucous in your sinuses. It can help with colds and allergies.

Tips
~ When you first put the towel over your head, it will be hot. Stay within your comfort zone with the heat and distance from the water at first. It'll cool down after a few minutes.
~ At first, it may seem a bit hard to breathe. No worries, that's just the steam in the air. Remember, this is a little sauna for your face. :] If you feel like you can't breathe or go for the required time, then by all means, take a break.
~
Go ahead and mess around with the water or salt amounts. It won't bite.
~ Anyone who has claustrophobic tendencies or is uncomfortable with small spaces, be careful with this one. It is indeed a small space. Again, just stay within your comfort zone.
~ You can follow up this steam with a facial scrub or a facial mask. Because your pores are open, whatever you'll follow up with will be more effective.

Warnings?
Don't steam your face more than 3 times per week. If used too often, it has the possibility of drying out your skin and causing more acne.

If you use this, please comment. I'd love to hear your results.

Welcome

Hey Yo.

So I'm Tay. I'm a 17 year old senior who takes photos in her free time. But alas, that's not the focus of this blog. My aim is to try out recipes. Not cake recipes or smoothie recipes, but face recipes.
I don't like all the chemicals they put in facial cleansers, toners, and moisturizers nowadays. So what I'm doing is creating and testing *technically* edible and 100% natural substitutes. Acne prone, dry, oily, complexion, anything that can help your skin become more beautiful and overall, healthier.