Why You Need TWO Face Masks and Not Just ONE

Imagine that you have just prepared a delectable cake. Now, you have a beautiful cake stand that has been lying in the cupboard for the longest time. Though, you’d want to display your cake on the cake stand, you’ll need to clean it first before you display your cake on it. If you don’t, the dusty old cake stand will ruin the presentation and the taste of your scrumptious creation!

(Whew! I am finally done with the example so I hope you see where I am going with this.)

Basically, there are two kinds of face masks. One that unclogs the pores by removing the built-up goop and when your skin is squeaky clean, finally, the second one. This second face mask is what will put in the good stuff into your skin, replenish and rejuvenate it.

For the first mask, I would suggest using a clay-based face mask that can draw out all the impurities and detoxify. Follow this with a moisturizing mask like an aloe-egg mask to make your skin feel soft and glowing.

So here are two aromatherapy face masks that work in synergy to give you healthy skin.

First, the “taking out” mask. This recipe will deep clean your pores and pull out all that extra grease:

•1 ounce clay

•3 tablespoons rose water

•1 drop geranium essential oil

•2 drops grapefruit essential oil

•1 drop chamomile essential oil

This recipe is for the nourishing mask that will “put in”. It will soothe and tone your skin.

•2 teaspoons finely ground oatmeal

•3 tablespoons rose water

•1 tablespoon aloe gel

•1 drop frankincense essential oil

•1 drop neroli essential oil

•1 drop rose essential oil

For each of these masks, mix all the ingredients in a bowl to form a smooth paste. Spread the mixture over a clean, damp face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Relax for 15 minutes and rinse off well with warm water before applying a toner and moisturizer.

Make sure to use these two face masks one after another, in the same day to get the best results.

Vitamin C Skin Surge

It’s not a secret that one of the best natural whitening products is lemon. Lemon contains fruit acids that act as antioxidants to fight the signs of ageing and damage due to pollution and sun. Enlarged pores? Use a clay mask combined with lemon to shrink pores and brighten your skin. Though, you might have always heard of lemon as one of the best sources for Vitamin C, it also contains folate, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B6 which are super skin stuff!

Kiwis, apart from being a pure delight for the taste buds are loaded with nutrients, especially Vitamins C and E – both of which are good for your skin, smoothen wrinkles and plump up your skin. Kiwis also contain loads of antioxidants and lycopene to help you turn back the clock and prevent further signs of aging.

So what does Vitamin C do for skin? Vitamin C is useful for the production of collagen. Collagen is a natural protein that makes skin firm and gives it an elastic quality. Lack of collagen means dull skin that shows fine lines and wrinkling. Vitamin C also strengthens the skin’s barrier response by reconstructing the skin’s cell structure while lessening UV-damage and hyperpigmentation.

Here’s a very effective mask that you can use for sun-damaged skin to give it a healthy dose of Vitamin C.

• Extract the pulp of one kiwi fruit.
• Add the juice of half a lemon to the pulp.
• Mix in 3 heaping spoons of gram flour to make a thick paste.
• Apply this to a clean face and wash off with lukewarm water.
• Follow up with rose water as a toner and finally, a moisturizer.

CAUTION:Vitamin C makes your skin photosensitive so do not apply this mask before going out in the sun.

Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hernandez Zurdo