Beautiful skin doesn't have to break the bank. In many cases, your pantry holds all the ingredients you need to achieve spa-like results at a fraction of the cost. The key is finding the recipe that works best with your skin type.
Here are recipes for the three main skin types and one for any skin type that can easily fit into just about any budget.
If you suffer from oily skin or are prone to acne breakouts, take advantage of the natural benefits of strawberries.
Strawberries contain large doses of salicylic acid, a common ingredient in most acne fighting products. However, accessing this compound directly means that you'll avoid many of the added chemicals your body may not need.
To make a facial mask with strawberries, combine one part fresh strawberries with one part natural yogurt in a blender. Mix them well.
Then, apply this mix to your face and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Rinse with a warm washcloth to remove the mask.
To exfoliate dry or flaky skin, use brown sugar, which acts as a natural scrub.
Mix two parts brown sugar with one part olive oil to create a paste. You may use more or less olive oil, depending on the consistency desired.
Once you have your paste, apply it to your skin with your fingers. Then, rinse off with warm water and apply a moisturizer.
Some women suffer from sensitive skin and have difficulty tolerating harsh chemicals on their face.
If this condition sounds familiar, mix two parts natural Greek yogurt with one part oatmeal.
You can also substitute an egg for the yogurt.
Apply this mix to your face and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
After the time is up, clean your face with a damp washcloth. If you used an egg instead of yogurt, use a warm cloth to steam the mask off after the 15 minute time period.
The oatmeal helps soothe sensitive and irritated skin, while the natural enzymes in the yogurt or egg cleanse and smooth your skin's appearance.
This mask will work well for a variety of skin types and cleansing conditions. Mix two egg whites together with 30 mL of natural, non-flavoured Greek yogurt.
Next, apply the mask and remove after 15 minutes with a warm cloth.
Then, to finish the treatment, immediately apply a thin layer of moisturizer to your skin.
Remember, when you're creating your own masks and scrubs at home, use natural fresh products. Avoid any processed or frozen foods unless the recipe specifically calls for them.
Also, white and brown sugar works more effectively as a scrub than sea salt because the sugars are less likely to damage your skin.
Nonetheless, as these four budget facial mask recipes show, your pantry holds a wonderland of spa quality ingredients if you know which ones to use.
