Even though it serves as our main barrier and protection from the often-harsh world we navigate through daily, our skin takes its own fair share of routine beatings. Whether it's the changes in weather (from season to season or day to day), or the quality of water and products we use to cleanse it, or our stress levels and diet, the skin is easily thrown out of balance. And the signs can become visible pretty quickly. From those not-so-fine lines to breakouts and dry patches, it's virtually impossible to ignore the signs of stressed skin when it's literally all over your face.
While frequent or severe skin disorders can also be indicators of more serious internal health problems, many of the superficial issues can be eradicated with simple changes, including proper hydration, getting enough rest and exercise, and a well-balanced diet that's rich in foods that provide good sources of fiber, antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals—nutrients that are vital to glowing skin.
And, of course, tending to our skin—especially the face—with restorative, hydrating, and nurturing products is essential to maintaining a healthy daily glow. But those products don't have to cost you a fortune (yes, even despite the expensive magazine ads that tell you otherwise!). In fact, the most nurturing and beneficial treatments can be made at home, with food (like the kind you eat), a little love, and little else.
Long before brands like Oil of Olay or Neutrogena, women (and men!) were caring for their skin with botanicals, fruits, honey, and little else. Those well-meaning skin care products that sit on store shelves with the help of preservatives, artificial fragrances, and chemicals actually do our skin few favors. Our skin is an organ, and it absorbs more than 70 percent of what we put onto it! So making sure that we feed ourselves with nature's purest, freshest foods is just as important in products we use in caring for our skin.
These mask recipes can be made in just a few minutes with a few ingredients. Whenever possible, use organic!
Oatmeal Honey Smoothing Moisture Lush Mask
- ¼ cup oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- ¼ - ½ cup warm rooibos tea
- 4-6 drops of essential oils of rose, frankincense, lavender, or geranium (or any combination)
Grind oatmeal in a coffee or spice grinder until it's the consistency of coarse flour. Slowly stir in the honey, adding the tea until you get the consistency of a smooth paste. Add essential oils and blend well. Use a cotton ball or clean fingers to swab the mixture onto your face. Leave on for 20-30 minutes until dry. Gently rinse off with warm water.
Green Tea Purifying Radiant Glow Mask
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh aloe vera gel (scoop it right out of the leaves. If you do not have access to fresh gel, store bought liquid is ok, too).
- ¼ cup green tea steeped ten minutes
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay or ground oatmeal
- 4-6 drops of essential oils of rosemary, thyme, lavender, and lemon (or any combination)
Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth. Use a cotton ball or clean fingers to swab the mixture onto your face. Skin should feel tight as it dries, and the apple cider vinegar may make your eyes sting a little. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. Gently rinse off with warm water.
Say Goodbye to Dry, Superfood Skin Mash Mask
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- ½ small cucumber peeled
- 1 tablespoon goji berries soaked 1-2 hours in ¼ cup water
Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor (including goji soak water) and blend until smooth. Apply with fingers or cotton. This mask will not get dry. Leave on 20-30 minutes. Gently rinse off with warm water.
Learn more about Jill Ettinger
(originally published April 9, 2012)
