We’ve had enough of the cloth and disposable variety, let’s turn to fun face masks – the types that we slather onto our faces while indulging in self-pampering me-time at the end of a long day or week.
Now, before you denounce the efficacy of anything that doesn’t come in fancy packaging, have tongue-twisting chemical ingredients and cost half the notes in your wallet, get this: many kitchen staples, used regularly, can have glow-tastic results. And many of them do double-duty. Try to resist licking the DIY concoction off the corners of your mouth though. Let’s get mixing!
FOR ENLARGED PORES
So you don’t have to build up the foundation
One egg white
One tablespoon of honey
A squeeze of lemon juice
Contrary to popular proclamation, you can’t really ‘close’ your pores, but you could minimise their look, even in close-up selfies. Egg white and lemon act as astringents, tightening the skin to shrink their appearance. Honey plays the balancing act, providing moisture and suppleness to skin.
DRY AND DULL SKIN
Because a moisturiser can only do so much
Half a mashed avocado
A tablespoon of raw honey
Two tablespoons crushed oats
Everyone knows the rich hydration that avocados can lend us, but quality honey is not only a humectant that retains moisture in the skin, but also helps fade scars and boost tissue generation. Many beauty brands include oats in their products for the humble grain’s nourishing and skin-calming properties.
LACKLUSTRE SKIN
Bring the glow back
A tablespoon of cacao powder
Three tablespoons of mashed papaya
A teaspoon of aloe vera (fresh or in gel form)
The reason aloe leaves skin radiant is that it’s chockful of vitamins A, C, E, and the range of B vitamins. Its hydrating properties team up with papaya’s exfoliating enzymes that dissolve dead skin cells for a brighter appearance, while cacao works its magic by boosting blood circulation and leaving skin with a plump, more youthful feel.
OILY / COMBINATION AND ACNE-PRONE SKIN
The bane of a girl’s life
Two tablespoons of chickpea flour
A pinch of turmeric
A tablespoon of yogurt
A squeeze of lemon juice
Chickpea flour’s zinc content has long been harnessed to fight pimple-raising infection and turmeric is a superfood with robust anti-bacterial properties. The lactic acid in yogurt gently sloughs off dead skin cells, preventing new breakouts and vitamin C from lemon juice fades acne scars and pigmentation. On the whole, this mixture draws out excess sebum without over-drying the skin for a clearer complexion.
Remember to apply your homemade facemask on clean skin, keeping it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.
