Make it Yourself Monday- More Facial Masks

I know that I have posted several masks before, but here are some different ones.

Mint Mask
1/4 cup soy powder
1/4 cup plain yogurt (unflavored)
2 drops peppermint EO

This is a make and use immediately product. Mix the soy powder and the unflavored yogurt together, creating a paste. Then add in the EO and mix well. Put it on your face and neck and allow it to set for 20-30 minutes, then rinse with tepid water and pat the skin dry. After drying, don't forget to moisturize as you normally would. This mask is for all skin types, but especially benefits dry skin, as it won't over-dry the skin. The peppermint EO serves to clarify the skin. You should use this treatment once a week for great skin care.


Mean Green Mask
This next mask is a variation on two others that I have previously posted. This one mixes cucumber and clay, for one refreshing and moisturizing mask. It is another one that needs to be used once it is made. You will need;

1/4 cup French Green Clay
1 large cucumber, peeled and mashed
9 ml sweet almond oil (you may sub apricot kernel oil)
*distilled water may also be needed, depending upon the moisture level in the cucumber

After you have peeled and mashed the cucumber, place it in a bowl with the French Green clay and mix well. If the cucumber doesn't give enough moisture, add in enough distilled water to make the paste easy to apply. You want a soft, but not runny mixture. Once you have the correct consistency, apply it to your face and neck, and allow it to dry thoroughly. Stay still while the liquid evaporates from the recipe, which should take about 15 minutes. It will feel like it is pulling and this is the action that tightens your pores. Once dried, wash it off your skin with tepid water, pat dry, and moisturize as normal.

**I have a correction from last Friday's post as well. The Citrus Lavender soap does not have cocoa powder in it, but instead has vanilla powder. I have added a note to that post to correct the error.

Some More Food You Can Use

A few weeks back I did a couple of posts on foods that you could use for your beauty care. I inadvertently left the following recipe sitting on my draft board, so here you go, one more! Sage Cucumber Potato Ice Cubes 1/4 small raw potato, peeled 1/2 medium-sized cucumber, peeled 2 Tbs sage infusion, cooled* *to make a sage infusion you take 1/4 cup sage (fresh or dried) and pour 1 cup almost boiling water over it, allow to steep for about 30 min. then strain. Throw out the sage and store the "tea" aka infusion in the refrigerator in a glass jar, covered. This will remain good for about 2 months.* Slice the potato into chunks then mash into pieces in a food processor to get them as fine as possible. Use the food processor to puree the peeled cucumber very briefly. You don't want to over process it. Then strain the excess juice. The whole thing will be runny, but preserve the more pulpy part.Now mix the potato, cucumber and tea together and pour into an empty ice cube tray. Freeze.Next time your eyes are puffy, red and/or sore, pop out one of these ice cubes and place it over the eyes. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes, or you may just dab them on, if leaving it lay on bothers you. When finished, rinse your eyelids off & pat dry. You'll see the difference! The cubes will remain good, in the freezer for 2 months. Also, for another, quicker, easier remedy, you can throw a few slices of cucumber or 2 teaspoons in the freezer before you get into the shower in the morning. After you've gotten out of the shower & dressed, place the frosted spoons or the cucumber slices on your eyelids. Sit back and relax for 10 minutes.The cool of the spoons reduces puffiness, while the cucumber actually possess a natural ingredient that helps to sooth irritated skin.

FOOD YOU CAN USE

MORE FOOD YOU CAN WEAR, IF YOU DARE!

Here are some more recipes that utilize the food in your refrigerator to care for your skin. Look through and try a few!

NOURISHING MASK

With carrot, avocado and cream

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 carrot, cooked and mashed

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and mashed

3 Tbs. honey

Combine all ingredients in a bowel and mix well, then spread over the face and neck. Relax for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Carrots are high in beta-carotene and anti-oxidant vitamins, heavy cream is high in calcium and protein, and avocado is a rich source of vitamin E. This mask will improve skin texture, diminish age spots and rebuild collagen when it is used regularly.

FACE MASK

with pineapple

4 large pineapple chunks or 1/2 cup canned pineapple, drained

3 Tbs. ev olive oil

Put the pineapple and oil in the blender and blend until mostly smooth. Apply to your face and neck with your fingers, relax for 15 minutes then rinse with warm water and pat skin dry.

Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme which helps rid the skin of dead cells and dirt. It also helps counteract histamines, therefore it has anti-inflammatory properties. The pineapple fruit also acts as a mild astringent and skin freshener. The olive oil has excellent healing properties, is a great source of vitamin E, and will help to restore the skin's surface. Together, this masks ingredients combine to make a very beneficial treatment.

HAND MOISTURIZER

with apricots

6 dried apricots

2 cups water

1 oz beeswax

1 cup apricot oil

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup aloe vera gel

5 vitamin E capsules, open and use the gel only

place apricots in a small saucepan, cover with the water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, then set aside and allow to cool. Use a double boiler (put adequate amount of water in the bottom pan) to melt the beeswax, apricot oil, and coconut oil together. Cook, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes, then pour into a glass container and set aside. Put the apricots and water into a blender and blend until smooth, then strain through a cheesecloth, trash the solids and put the liquid back into the blender. Add the aloe vera gel and the vitamin E to the blender, then mix on low speed. While still blending on low, slowly drizzle the beeswax into the blender, blending and drizzling [on low] until this mixture has the consistency of cake frosting. You may OR may not use all of the beeswax. Once you have the right consistency, pour the mixture into jars. Store in a cool place. This mixture will thicken as it cools. Apply it to your hands after every washing. This moisturizer is particularly effective on prematurely aged, dry, sensitive, and/or inflamed skin!

HAIR PACK for DRY HAIR

with avocado and mayo

1 avocado, peeled and pitted

1 cup real mayonnaise

Mash the avocado in a small bowel, then blend in the mayonnaise. Once mixed, gently massage into the scalp and hair, then cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Leave on for 20 minutes, then shampoo as usual.

This mixture is a wonderful conditioner for dry hair and can be used as often as needed.

MOISTURIZING HAIR WRAP

with molasses

1/2 cup of molasses, honey or maple syrup

Apply molasses, (you can substitute honey or maple syrup if you want) directly to damp hair, massaging into the scalp. Once worked in, cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes, rinse with warm water, then rinse and shampoo as usual.

This treatment is incredibly easy to do and will add shine and moisture to your hair.

PUFFY EYE REMEDY With potatoes and cucumbers

1/4 small raw potato, peeled 1/2 medium-sized cucumber, peeled 2 Tbs sage infusion, cooled *(to make a sage infusion you take 1/4 cup sage (fresh or dried) and pour 1 cup almost boiling water over it, allow to steep for about 30 min. then strain. Throw out the sage and store the "tea" aka infusion in the refrigerator in a glass jar, covered. This will remain good for about 2 months.)* Slice the potato into chunks then mash into pieces in a food processor to get them as fine as possible. Use the food processor to puree the peeled cucumber very briefly. You don't want to over process it. Then strain the excess juice. The whole thing will be runny, but preserve the more pulpy part.Now mix the potato, cucumber and tea together and pour into an empty ice cube tray. Freeze. Next time eyes are puffy, red and sore, pop out one of these ice cubes and place over the eyes. Leave on for 2-3 minutes, or you may just dab them on if leaving on bothers you. When finished, rinse your eyelids off & pad dry. You'll see the difference! The cubes will remain good in the freezer for 2 months. Also, for another, quicker, easier remedy you can throw a few slices of cucumber or just two teaspoons into the freezer before you get into the shower in the morning. After you've gotten out of the shower & dressed, place the frosted spoons or the cucumber slices on your eyelids. Sit back and relax for 10 minutes. The cool of the spoons reduces puffiness, while the cucumber actually possess a natural ingredient that helps to sooth irritated skin.

Food for Though....NOT!

Food You Can Wear, If You Dare!

lol, my title may be a bit extreme, but accurate none the less. There are a lot of foods that are great for skin care. They have properties and nutrients that are great for your skin, not to mention the fact that they are likely already in your kitchen or refrigerator, so that makes them very handy.

ACE INHIBITOR TONER

with cranberries and savory

1 Tbs. crushed, dried savory leaves

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup fresh cranberries

Put the savory leaves into a small bowl and cover with the boiling water, and allow to steep for 15 minutes, then strain and reserve the liquid. Put the cranberries into the blender and puree. Once pureed, strain and reserve the liquid, adding it to the savory liquid, now called an infusion. Soak cotton pads or a washcloth in the liquid, then place on face for 15 minutes, making sure to avoid the eye area. After the 15 minutes, remove the cotton or washcloth and rinse with warm water, then pat dry.

The acidity in the cranberries works as a mild astringent and a great toner, while the Savory helps to cleanse the skin of excess oils.

SENSITIVE FACE COLD CREAM

with cucumbers

2 small cucumbers, peeled and halved

1 cup lanolin

1/4 cup almond oil

1/2 cup boiling water

Blend the peeled cucumber in a blender until it is liquefied. Slowly add the boiling water to the cucumber liquid, then set aside and allow to cool.

Melt the lanolin in a saucepan, over low heat. When melted, remove from heat and gradually add in the almond oil, stirring constantly. Strain the cucumber pulp through a cheesecloth, reserving the liquid and trashing the pulp. Gradually add the cucumber juice to the lanolin oil mixture, stirring all the while. Once thoroughly mixed, spoon into a small plastic or glass jar and store in the refrigerator.

This cold cream is extremely refreshing! The cucumber juice acts as a mild astringent, and is perfect for cleansing sensitive skin, while lanolin absorbs and holds water next to the skin, adding moisture.

NIGHT CREAM FOR DRY SKIN

with egg and lemon

1 egg

1/4 cup sunflower oil

1/4 cup sesame oil

1 Tbs. liquid lecithin

1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup coconut oil

Blend the egg and the sesame oil together in a blender, at low speed. While the blender is running, slowly add in the sunflower oil, lecithin and lemon juice. Then gradually add in the coconut oil and blend until the mixture is thick. Place mixture in refrigerator for one hour, then blend on low speed again. Once blended, spoon into a jar and store in the refrigerator. This recipe will keep/stay good for about two weeks. Apply mixture to your face and neck just before going to bed each night.

This night cream helps to rebuild and regenerate cell tissue. The lemon's citric acid kills bacteria on the skin, while the sesame oil has natural sunscreen properties. The coconut oil helps to seal in moisture and leave your face feeling very smooth.

COOLING HAND WASH

with cucumbers

This hand rub exfoliates, deeply cleanses, and moisturizes the hands. It is especially good if you have irritated hands, puffy hands, or abrasions on your hands, as it will decrease the puffiness and help to heal irritations and abrasions.

1 small cucumber, peeled

1 Tbs. witch hazel

Put the cucumber into a blended and liquify. Add the witch hazel to the cucumber juice, then wash your hands in the liquid. Pat skin dry and moisturize.

HAND RUB

with avocados

1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup sweet almond oil

1/4 cup ev olive oil

1/4 cup water

Put the avocado, oatmeal, almond oil, and olive oil into a blender and blend until smooth. Put blender on low, and while still blending, drizzle in the water until the paste has a consistency of thick pudding. You may or may not need the full amount of water listed. Once the consistency is right, rub/massage the mixture onto your hands in a circular motion. Rinse off with tepid water and pat dry. For full effectiveness, and to maintain results, this mixture should be used twice a week.

Next post will be a continuation of this one, as I have some more FOOD recipes for you! So come back and see how you can use carrots and apricots!