Homemade Facial Masks

Facials are expensive and if you are looking to cut corners without neglecting your skin then it's time to start taking care of business at home. The recipes are simple and you may even have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.

Before you begin - Give yourself a face sauna or place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores.

Deep cleaning masks

Peel off masks

First choose your fruit - (why not pick organic if you can). Some fruit will have to be pureed in a blender beforehand so you have the juice consistency.

For dry skin - apples, raspberry, papaya, peach.

For oily skin - oranges, grapefruits

Mix:

Tablespoon of powered Gelatin (the kind you use for Jello)
1/2 cup of your choice juice

In a microwavable bowl, heat until gelatin dissolves into juice. Place in refrigerator for 20 minutes. Should thicken but don't let it set like jello. Apply mask and let set for 20 minutes. You'll know when it's ready to come off. Peel off and lightly rinse face with cool water to tighten pores.

Clay Masks --- to clean out pores and soften your skin.

Fullers Earth can be found in powder form at health food stores

1 tablespoon dry clay
1 egg yolk
1/4 of a mashed avocado
few drops of water to make paste smooth

Apply to cleansed face and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Simple masks for oily skin --

Orange Yogurt Mask

1 tsp plain yogurt
the juice of 1/4 of an orange

Stir to mix and then with fingers smooth onto face mixture and smooth onto face. Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse.

Apple Facial Mask - especially nice for skin that is acne prone

1 medium size apple, grated,
5 tablespoons of honey

Mix the grated apple and mix with honey to make a mask. Smooth over skin then let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Egg and Oatmeal Mask

1 Egg
1/2 cup of Cooked Oatmeal
1 tsp of Olive Oil

Mix Egg and Oatmeal then add in olive oil. Smooth onto face and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse off.

Masks for dry skin

Basic Honey Facial Mask

Smear on honey. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.

Egg and Honey Mask

1 egg
1 tsp honey
1 tsp olive oil

Beat egg till frothy. Then add other ingriedients. Apply this on the face and other dry areas on the body and wash after 15 minutes.

Avocado Honey -- skin softening

1 large ripe organic avocado, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons honey

Mash the avocado and honey together immediately before use. Apply to a clean face (away from eyes). Let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Banana Mask

1 ripe banana
1 tsp. Olive oil
1 drop lemon essential oil.

Mix together then, smooth over face and leave on for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water. Smooth on a rich moisturizer

Normal - oily skin

Peach Delight

1 medium cooked peach
1 tablespoons honey
oatmeal

Mash soft cooked peach, then add honey and oatmeal. Apply to skin and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water