Face Masks

Depending on their ingredients, masks can tighten and tone, hydrate, nourish, draw out impurities, help blemishes heal, calm and soothe, or rejuvenate the skin—or any combination thereof. Below are three of my favorite homemade masks. 

Turmeric Face Mask 

Turmeric can benefit your skin as a home remedy for acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes. It also reduces skin inflammation due to being high in antioxidants and slows down cell damage. As well, it can help reduce pigmentation that evens out skin tone.

Ingredients: 

½ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon organic apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of organic, raw, local honey

½ teaspoon yogurt

Directions:

In a small bowl mix: turmeric powder, honey, apple cider vinegar, and yogurt. Try to get a consistency that will stick to your face. Be careful not to make it too thin as it may drip.
Apply the mask carefully avoiding your eyes. Allow the mask sit on your face for 15–20 minutes then rinse with warm water.If you have any leftover, you can cover and leave in the fridge for your next application. Apply twice a week for best results.

The Breakfast Mask

This breakfast-themed mask helps calm and mattify oily skin, thanks to its mix of soothing oatmeal and tightening egg yolks.

Ingredients:

1 egg yolk

1 tbsp. of honey

1 tbsp. of olive oil

1/2 cup of oatmeal 

Directions: 

After combining all the ingredients in a bowl, apply to face and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. 

Chocolate Face Mask

Dark chocolate can works wonders in terms of perking up our moods and giving us a boost of antioxidants, when consumed. If applied topically, you also get the benefits of its anti-aging properties, which help the production of collagen.

      Ingredients:

       1/2 cup of cocoa powder

       3 tablespoons of oats

       4 tablespoons of cream

       1/4 cup of honey

       Directions:

After combining ingredients, apply a delicate layer, let sit for 10 minutes and gently rinse it off. 

Hair Masks

A hair mask. You mean conditioner? 

Not necessarily. A hair conditioner is generally used to provide moisture to the hair. Conditioners make the hair look smooth and shiny. A hair mask on the other hand, works as a protective barrier, shielding the hair from an aggressive external environment. Over time hair masks make hair more shiny and silky, they restore, hydrate, nourish and moisturize. The use of a hair mask depends on the condition of the hair itself. There are numerous types of hair masks for treating discolored, damaged, and dry, hair. As well as masks for oily scalp and dandruff. Below are two tried and true hair masks.

 Coconut Hair Repairing Mask

The Coconut Hair Repairing Mask restores the moisture and shine back into your hair and softens it.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. of coconut oil

1 tbsp. of honey 

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, then transfer the mixture into a pot and heat on the stove top until fully melted. After mixture has slightly cooled, apply to you hair from top to bottom. Cover hair with a shower cap and let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Avocado Hair Mask

The Avocado Hair Mask will restore shine, fight frizz, repair any damage and adds moisture. 

Ingredients:

1 avocado

2 eggs

1 tbsp. of honey

1 tbsp. of coconut oil

Directions:

After combining all of the ingredients into a bowl,apply the mixture onto hair from roots to ends. Allow mixture to sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse out with warm water. 

        

Lip Scrubs

Lip scrubs are an important part of caring for the sensitive skin on our lips. This is especially true over the winter months when the cold air can dry the skin out, and throughout the warm summer when the sun can easily damage the lips. However, unlike lip balms, which are simply made of soft butters and waxes that help to hydrate and moisturize the skin, smoothing it out, lip scrubs are a little bit more complex.Lip scrubs are quite similar to lip balms. They’re usually made from waxes, oils, fats, and butters, which help to hydrate and moisturize the skin. Lip scrubs will feel quite rough to the touch, and that’s because they’ll also contain an exfoliating product, which works to gently remove any dry skin from your lips. They’re ideal for smoothing and preparing the lips before applying your favorite lipstick for a flawless finish.Scrub away the winter blues with these homemade lip scrub recipes, that will have your lips feeling plump, soft, and chemical FREE. 

Brown Sugar & Honey 

 Ingredients:

 2 tbsp. of brown sugar
 1 tbsp. of coconut oil
 1/2 tsp. honey

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly and store up to a month in glass jar or tub with lid. Old eye cream jars work great.

To apply: Rub scrub into lips and exfoliate gently. Let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse off with warm water. Apply a generous slather of lip balm afterwards to re-hydrate lips. Use 1-2 times weekly.

Peppermint & Coconut Sugar

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of coconut sugar
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon olive oil 
1 drop peppermint oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl 

until they resemble a coarse paste. Store 

in a glass jar or lidded container.

To apply, hold a warm wash cloth over lips for 

3-5 minutes to soften. Slather with minty scrub and let sit for 5 minutes. Wash off with a warm wash cloth and apply usual lip balm. Lips will be tingly, fresh and plump.

Almond Chocolate Mousse

                                                 Ingredients:

   

3 tablespoons white granulated sugar

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon  almond extract1 tsp. of honey

 Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in small bowl until a gritty chocolate paste forms. If too thin, add additional sugar; if too thick, add additional olive oil and honey. Store in sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. 

To apply, swab the lips with a thick glob of chocolate scrub masque and leave on for up to 5 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water and apply a light coating of lip balm or petroleum jelly.