The subject of face masks and making your own beauty products recently came up on our message forum. One of our members Manx minx posted a few of her recipes for making organic face masks, she gave her permission for us to put them up so here they are.
Dry Skin mask | Honey Face mask | Oily skin mask | Marie Antoinette’s face mask | Butter face mask |
Nourishing face mask for dry skin
Ingredients
2 oz/60g ripe avocado flesh
1 oz/25g orange juice
1 tsp/5g pure honey
1 tsp/5g molasses
5 drops chamomile essential oil
How to make
Put all the ingredients in a blender, or mash by hand in a bowl. Add extra orange juice if the mixture is too thick. Use your fingers to spread the mask over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, before removing. Use a warm flannel to rinse off the mask – this will help gently exfoliate skin as well as clean your face. This mask will keep for a day or two in the fridge if you don’t use it all.
Honey face mask for sensitive skin
Warm a small pot of honey in a double boiler, then test a small amount on your hand to make sure it’s not too hot. When warm, apply the honey generously over your entire face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water.
Egg white mask for oily skin
Ingredients
1 egg white
6 drops witch hazel
6 drops lemon juice
How to make
Whisk the egg white until it’s stiff, and then add the remaining ingredients. Gently apply the mixture to your face, avoiding your eyes. Leave to dry for 15 minutes or so. Rinse well with warm water.
Marie Antoinette’s face mask
This wife of King Louis XVI of France was a legendary beauty. Many believe that this mixture was the secret of her clear and glowing skin – so much so that it’s still used as a popular facial treatment in France. This mask is suitable for all skin types, but the witch hazel and lemon can be harsh on dry skin. If you indulge, be sure to use your regular moisturiser afterwards.
Ingredients
1 egg
Juice of one lemon
4 tbsp cup non-fat dry milk powder
1 tbsp witch hazel
How to make
Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well. Alternatively, you can blend them together by using a fork or a wire whisk. Apply the mixture to your face, neck and chest and allow it to dry for around 15 minutes. Use the remaining cream as a cleanser to remove the mask. Then, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.
Butter face mask
Ingredients
1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large strawberry, mashed
Or 1 2.5-cm (1 inch) slice of cucumber, chopped and rubbed through a sieve (for normal to dry skin)
Or 1 tbsp lemon juice (for oily skin)
Or 1 egg yolk (for dry skin)
How to make
Beat the butter in a bowl, then beat in your chosen ingredient. Apply mask immediately and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove with a wet, warm washcloth. Butter is a good source of vitamin A, so it makes a perfect mask for sensitive, sunburned or damaged skin.