Facial Masks

A facial mask is generally defined as a substance that is applied to the face, much like smearing on cream. It's thick and often resembles clay. Many masks make use of clay or gel as a base, as these will stay in place when applied, and they are generally harmless to most skin types (although gel is used most for sensitive skin, as heavy clay irritate it). Masks are meant to cover the entire face and remain in place for a few minutes before washing off. The materials in most masks are safe to be washed down the sink.

Most facial masks include both deep cleaning and moisturizing agents in the mask. This allows the cores in the face to be cleansed deeply, getting rid of oily build up and trapped dirt. This can help reduce or even prevent acne. Additionally, many masks help slough off dead skin. The dead top skin is dull and lusterless. When it's gently removed, the mask brings the top layer of dead skin cells off with it. This leaves younger, healthier cells exposed as the face's surface. This means tighter skin and a more brilliant complexion. It can also reduce the look of fine lines and small wrinkles to carry out a regular facial mask.

Another reason that facial masks are so popular involves the soothing and relaxing motions associated with applying a facial mask. If you decide to have one applied in for relaxation as well as the benefits it has for the skin on the face, then you can have a very enjoyable experience. In spas, these masks are applied with special techniques and often include a massage. You can give your own face a gentle massage just prior to applying the mask, and if you are systematic about it, you can apply the mask in a way that is singularly soothing. All masks should be applied to a freshly cleaned face, rinsed with warm water. This opens the pores and allows the mask to do its thing. Warm water is very calming and soothing, and many people find this part of the application to be one of the more enjoyable stages.

Apply the mask in a circular motion until it covers the face. This is calming and stimulating at the same time. Let the mask sit on your face for 15 to 20 minutes (although some are meant to be worn all night). Many women like to lie down and relax. The effect can be enhanced by the addition of candles or incense and some soothing music. Finally, when it is time to rinse the mask, do so in cold water. This will help close the pores, protecting them against dirt and oil, and also energize your face.

Many people enjoy making their own facial masks from common household products like bananas (for wrinkles), avocados, and honey (antibacterial). Butter can also be used as a remedy for dry skin. Other masks can be created using different types of clays, and different essential oils can be used for different skin types. Fruit purees also have different effects (for instance, strawberry can act as an alpha hydroxy), and yogurt and milk can soften the skin. Oatmeal is extremely soothing, and most sensitive skin types can use masks of this sort. Adding rose petal powder can enhance your fragrance without the need for perfume, while citrus fruit peel powder acts as an astringent.

When you decide to make use of facial masks, you are certain to feel the good effects of it later down the road. And if you apply them once a week, you can help keep your face healthy-looking and your complexion brilliant with a healthy glow.

Beauty Treatments Right in your own Kitchen

Masks to Make Yourself

Nature has given us great bounty. In many cases it's not necessary to purchase expensive products, often made from chemicals, from stores in order to enhance the quality of the skin. There are plenty of products right in your own kitchen that can help you enhance the quality of your skin and can even help you feel great. These products are a testament to the great qualities that are inherent in the most ordinary things that can make us beautiful, cleansing the skin and brightening the complexion.

Creating facial masks from common kitchen products has been done for years. Even the most common and ordinary products make great facial masks. While essential oils and special clays can be very effective, there's no need to use them if you do not wish to. Simply head to your kitchen cupboards and refrigerators and create any one of the following face masks, and feel the good effects almost immediately. For best results, it is recommended that you apply a facial mask once a week, rinsing your face first with warm water and then rinsing with cold (to close the pores) after you finish removing the mask.

Egg mask - It seems a little strange to create a face mask using eggs, but it is a tried and true method for toning the skin. The egg actually helps tighten the skin, giving you a firmer face that is less wrinkled and less prone to sagging. Simply beat one egg white until it is stiff. Then you just smooth it over your entire face. After 20 minutes, remove the mask. You can adjust the mask to your skin type by adding lemon juice to the egg white (just a drop) for oily skin or putting in a bit of honey for dry skin. The skin on the inside of the shell can actually work as an acne treatment. Just place the skin over the breakout and leave on for 30 minute or even overnight to help reduce the appearance of the acne.

Honey mask - This is a very easy mask. It is cleansing, and the honey acts in the same way as an antibacterial. You need warm, runny honey. You can run your honey container under warm water or soften it in the microwave to get it to the desired consistency. Be careful with the microwave, however, as you may get the honey too hot. You just want it warm and runny, not scalding. Smear the honey all over your face. Even those with sensitive skin can usually use this treatment. After about two minutes, it will start to feel as though it is pulling. This is when you rinse the mask off with warm water (follow with cold as soon as all of the honey is off of your face).

Acne mask from kitchen items - If you want to help control your acne, a simple mask made from what you keep in your kitchen can assist you in your fight against acne. For a major breakout, form a paste using one half cup strained tomato pulp and powdered milk. When there is enough to make a paste, blend until the mixture is no longer pasty, but is smooth. Then apply and leave for 20 minutes. You should wash this off with warm water. Because Vitamin C and Potassium are found in tomatoes, this will also help your skin heal from the acne.

You can create a variety of nourishing masks if instead of tomato you use carrots, bananas, or cucumbers. Simply mash whatever you are using (you will have to steam the carrots first) and substitute it for the tomato pulp.

Strawberry alpha hydroxy mask - Take four or five large strawberries and mash them up until they become a thick pulp. Then cover the face thickly with the pulp. Lie down quietly for about 20 minutes before washing with warm water followed by cold. It is important to note that this treatment is not a good idea for extra sensitive skin.

These easy to make facial masks are fun and inexpensive to create from items found in the kitchen. They are also quite effective. One more treatment that can help with rough facial skin is to use mayonnaise. This also works on your elbows. Make sure you use only a light layer, and make sure that you only leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off.

Home Remedies for Dry Skin

For many centuries people around the world have been taking it upon themselves to cure their own ailments. Home remedies for ailments have been some of the most popular treatments throughout history. Centuries ago it was because there was little or no professional medical care available. Nowadays it seems as if the tradition of finding a home remedy to cure yourself has been passed on through the years. Oftentimes, home remedies that people swear by have been passed down from generation to generation. One ailment that has been commonly treated with a variety of home remedies in dry skin. Since dry skin is often not an extremely dangerous condition, it makes it more practical for some people to treat minor dry skin complaints with home remedies rather than spending money and time to see a medical professional.

Dry skin typically appears in most people during the winter months. Dryness typically occurs because your skin lacks moisture. This means that there is a lack of water in your skin. In the past some magazines have suggested that drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will cure this ailment. However, medical professionals have proven this home remedy false, this will simply keep your body hydrated, not your skin. Instead, medical professionals suggest that the best way to re-hydrate the skin is to soak it in water, rather than take water in by mouth. Soaking for a short period of something like fifteen minutes in lukewarm water should put water back into the skin and help to ease the dryness. Doctors also remind patients with dry skin that bathing everyday can be negative for their condition. In fact, patients with excessively dry skin should only bathe every other day in cooler water than normal.

Perhaps the most helpful thing a person can do at home for dry skin is to moisturize. Moisturizing skin with a moisturizing lotion will help immensely. The lubrication of the lotion will almost immediately be sucked into dry skin. Moisturizing lotion put on the skin after a bath or shower will also help contain the moisture from the bath or shower in the skin. The moisturizing lotion will also work to moisturize by itself which gives your skin twice the hydration.

A famous home remedy for dry skin is using oatmeal. Believe it or not, this home remedy was discovered over 4,000 years ago and is still being used today. Colloidal oatmeal, which has been ground into a fine powder for easy use, can be poured into bath water to provide relief for dry skin. Oatmeal has been used to relieve itching and other discomfort related to skin throughout the years. Colloidal oatmeal can be found at almost all pharmacies and is extremely easy to use.

Since some soaps contain deodorants which can be harmful to dry skin, oatmeal can also be substituted and used as soap. However, there are also soaps made that should not harm dry skin. Lye is a common ingredient in much soap that can harm and irritate people with sensitive and dry skin. But there are certain brands of soap that have been made without lye in order to provide a safe alternative for those with dry skin problems.

Well-known companies such as Neutrogena and Dove have manufactured soaps that are considerably less strong than deodorized soaps. These soaps contain natural ingredients instead, such as cream, cocoa butter and coconut oil. But no matter what soap you are using, if you have excessively dry skin you should try to use as little soap as possible. People with dry skin should only use soap when they are dirty. Many medical professionals have admitted that in American society today, we often over wash when are not dirty. Using soap only when the body really needs it should provide some relief to dry skin.

There are a number of home remedies available for people with dry skin. For people who have tried conventional medical methods and have found that they did not work, home remedies may be worth trying out. There are a number of home remedy books available at most book stores that will likely hold even more home remedy ideas for dry skin.