Cleansing Washes and Masks
Turmeric Cleansing Wash
Ingredients-
1½ tsps of turmeric powder
1½ tsps of lemon juice
Method-
Combine both to make a paste. Apply over face. Wash off after ten to fifteen minutes.
Oatmeal and Cucumber Wash
Ingredients-
1 table spoon of oatmeal
1 table spoon of cucumber juice
Method-
Mix together and make a smooth paste. Apply over face and allow to dry for 15 minutes.
Rinse off with cold water.
Fuller's Earth Mask
Ingredients-
2 table spoons crushed Fuller's earth
3 table spoons milk
Method-
Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply over the face and neck. Leave on for
10-15 minutes before rinsing it off.
Yogurt and Egg mask
Ingredients-
I egg white
4-5 tablespoons of yoghurt
Method-
Beat egg white until stiff. Add in yogurt and mix well. Apply all over face and
neck. Wipe clean using a muslin cloth dipped in hot water, followed by the muslin
cloth saturated in cold water.
For oily skin-Add one teaspoon of lemon juice.
For dry skin-Add one teaspoon of honey to the paste.
For combination skin- Make two portions of the paste, one with lemon juice for the
T panel ( chin, nose and forehead) and the other with honey for the rest of the
face. Cleansing Masks to suit your Skin
Cleansing mask for Oily skin
Ingredients-
¼ cup oatmeal (finely powdered)
½ cup yogurt
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
Method-
Stir the oatmeal into the yogurt. Chill it. Apply to face and neck. Leave on for
half an hour. Rinse off with tepid water into which the lemon juice has been added.
Cleansing mask for dry skin
Ingredients-
½ tsp Brewer's yeast
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp vinegar
2 tbsp yoghurt (sour)
2 egg yolks
milk
Method-
Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Spread a thin film of olive oil or sesame
oil over face and then apply this mask on it. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse
off with milk and water.
Vegetable and fruit based cleansing masks
Extract the juice of potato and add Fuller's Earth to make a thick paste. Apply
on face and rinse off.
Cucumber juice combined with Fuller's Earth also helps to cleanse deep down dirt
and grime from your skin. Mashed strawberries have excellent cleansing properties.
Ripe, mashed papaya, leaves skin clean, smooth and shining.
Boiled and mashed turnips combined with a little yogurt also cleanses the skin.
Other natural cleansers include aloe, lemon and ginseng.
Face Masks
Masks are excellent beauty revivers and they provide the skin with instant rejuvenation.
They nourish, rejuvenate and stimulate, refine, cleanse and peel off the outer skin
layer, soothe and calm inflammation, clear acne, loosen blackheads, act as an anti-wrinkle
treatment and natural facelift. While selecting a mask carefully select the mask
best suited for your skin type. Masks must always be used on a clean skin and should
be evenly applied. Mask application must be avoided around the eyes and mouth. Once
you know your skin type and its limitations, you can decide on a face mask made
from a variety of fruits,
Cucumber Mask - (for sluggish and tired face)
Ingredients -
2 cup mashed cucumber
1 white of egg
2 teaspoon skimmed milk powder
Method -
Mix well to a smooth paste. Apply all over the face and leave for 20 minutes before
rinsing with warm water. Use chilled water for the final rinse. Blot dry.
Honey Mask
Ingredients -
1 tablespoon Fuller's earth
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon rose water
10 drops orange juice
Method -
Mix all the ingredients together. Application Apply on face and wash off after 15
minutes.
Fuller's Earth Mask
Ingredients-
2 table spoons crushed Fuller's earth
3 table spoons milk
Method-
Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply over the face and neck. Leave on for
10-15 minutes before rinsing it off.
Yogurt and Egg Mask
Ingredients-
I egg white
4-5 tablespoons of yoghurt
Method-
Beat egg white until stiff. Add in yogurt and mix well. Apply all over face and
neck. Wipe clean using a muslin cloth dipped in hot water, followed by the muslin
cloth saturated in cold water.
For oily skin-Add one teaspoon of lemon juice.
For dry skin-Add one teaspoon of honey to the paste.
For combination skin- Make two portions of the paste, one with lemon juice for the
T panel ( chin, nose and forehead) and the other with honey for the rest of the
face.
Masks For Problem Skin
Oily skin has the disadvantage of a perpetually shiny nose, a skin that hates make
up and of course a tendency to large pores. Large pore skin does not look appealing
at close quarters and provides a base for blackheads and pimples. Here are some
of the methods of shrinking open pores:
- Apricots combined with the pulp of tomato is an excellent pore shrinker.
- Extract juice of lettuce leaves, add 2 or 3 drops of lemon juice and use over the
face; wash off with cold water.
- Saturate cotton wool with butter milk. Pat over the face and allow it to dry before
rinsing off.
- A combination of equal quantities of tomato juice and butter milk is also an excellent
pore tightener.
- Apple is a natural skin toner and helps to shrink pores and tighten and tone the
skin.
- Potato is rich in vitamin C, helps cure pigmentation, uneven skin tones and tighten
skin pores.
- Starch mask – this mask helps to make enlarged pores less evident and restore healthy
glow to the cheeks. Ingredients are:
a. 1 tablespoon corn starch
b. warm water q.s
massage your face gently with little olive oil, then apply starch mask on the face
and neck; leave the mask on for 20 minutes and rinse off thoroughly with warm water.
Masks For Blemishes
Olive Oil Mask
This is a good mask for removing blemishes.
Ingredients-
½ teaspoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon lemon juice
Method-
Mix the ingredients together. Allow the application to remain for 15 minutes before
washing off.
Mint Mask
This is also a good mask for blemishes
Ingredients-
1 sprig mint leaves
1 teaspoon rose water
Method- Wash and grind the mint leaves to a smooth paste using rose water. It should
be applied preferably overnight or leave on for a couple of hours before washing
off.
Raw Papaya Mask
Ingredients-
A small piece of raw papaya
Method-
Grate the papaya finely and extract juice. Saturate cotton wool into the juice and
apply over the blemished skin. Wash off after 15 minutes.
Veg and Fruit Based Masks
These are excellent to lend a healthy glow to the skin
To reduce blemishes apply carrot juice and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash the face.
Cleansing Creams and Scrubs
Herbal cleansing creams are light creams that remove embedded grime and stale make-up
without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Here are some easy to make
cleansing potions.
Herbal Cleansing Cream
Ingredients -
5teaspoon olive oil
5teaspoon fresh coconut oil
5tablespoon cucumber juice
2teaspoon glycerin
4teaspoon beeswax
A pinch of borax
Method -
Melt the oil and wax by the double boiling method. Warm cucumber juices, glycerin
and borax in a separate bowl until borax is dissolved. Add the cucumber, borax and
glycerin mixture to the oil and whisk the mixture till it thickens. Cool. Excess
may be stored in the fridge.
Almond Cleansing Cream
Ingredients -
5 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon white wax
2 tablespoon lanolin
1 tablespoon rose water
Method -
Melt wax and lanolin by the double boiling method. Stir continuously. Slowly add
rose water and almond oil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. May be stored in
a glass bottle.
Note--- For all cleansing creams, you may add a few drops of perfume of your choice
once the mixture has cooled down.
Complexion Scrubs
A complexion scrub works wonders and leaves your skin with a healthy , shining glow.
Complexion scrub is an effective means of removing the dead cells from the surface
of the skin. The slightly, abrasive tiny grains present in a scrub , stimulates
and gently sloughs away dead and flaky skin . A fresh, smooth look is left behind.
A complexion scrub must be used once a week to loosen ingrained impurities from
the pores. For dry skin types a scrub once a month, will suffice. Scrubs are an
excellent product for oily skin.
Home Made Scrubs
Orange Peel Scrub
Ingredients -
4tablespoon orange peel powder
2tablespoon oatmeal powder
2tablespoon wheat germ powder
Method -
Mix all the three ingredients and store in an airtight container. Use as and when
required. For an oily skin, add a few drops of lemon juice or cucumber juice to
the water in which you dip the muslin bag containing the scrub. Gently rub the wet
muslin bag on to the face and neck for at least fifteen minutes. Use circular movements
and wash off with tepid water.
Green Gram Scrub
Ingredients -
4 Tablespoon green gram powder
2 tablespoon besan
2 teaspoon sandalwood powder
Method -
Combine all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.
Wheat Germ Scrub
Ingredients -
1tablespoon oatmeal powder
1tablespoon wheat germ (powder)
1tablespoon skim milk powder
1teaspoon sandal wood powder
Method -
Mix the ingredients together and fill in a small muslin bag. Dip the muslin bag
in lukewarm water and gently rub on face and neck in circular motion for at least
15 minutes. Finally wash off with tepid water.
Cleansing Creams
Herbal cleansing creams are light creams that remove embedded grime and stale make-up
without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Here are some easy to make
cleansing potions.
Herbal Cleansing Cream
Ingredients -
5 teaspoon olive oil
5 teaspoon fresh coconut oil
5 tablespoon cucumber juice
2 teaspoon glycerine
4 teaspoon beeswax A pinch of borax
Method -
Melt the oil and wax by the double boiling method. Warm cucumber juices, glycerine
and borax in a separate bowl until borax is dissolved. Add the cucumber, borax and
glycerine mixture to the oil and whisk the mixture till it thickens. Cool. Excess
may be stored in the fridge.
Almond Cleansing Cream
Ingredients -
5 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon white wax
2 tablespoon lanolin
1 tablespoon rose water
Method -
Melt wax and lanolin by the double boiling method. Stir continuously. Slowly add
rose water and almond oil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. May be stored in
a glass bottle.
Note--- For all cleansing creams, you may add a few drops of perfume of your choice
once the mixture has cooled down. flowers, vegetables and dairy products.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are one of the greatest untapped resources of the world. The extra
ordinary versatility of nature’s essential oils is made possible by the fact that
they come in a most convenient form. They can be applied through the skin – in massage
oils or by osmosis in the bath or by inhalation in a variety of methods. Essential
oils work cosmetically and as anti ageing agents in several ways. Skin which has
been treated with essential oils thus become more dynamic and stronger. Essential
oils can prevent the congestion of toxins and expedite the elimination of toxic
debris by improving the lymphatic flow and general condition of the lymph glands.
They improve circulation which aides oxygenation and energizes the dermis (top layer
of the skin) by the rate nutrients are fed to it.
Ingredients
- 3 Ozs lavender water
- 1 Drop lavender
- 1 Drop juniper
Put all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well. Leave for 24 hours, then pass
through a paper coffee filter. Cotton wool balls can be soaked in this prepared
tonic and put in a tightly sealed box with another teaspoon of tonic passed over
them. This makes your own cleansing pad ready for use.
Oil Based Cleansers
The nice thing about making your own cleansers is that you can adjust them to suit
your own skin type, and change them as your skin changes with the seasons. When
we cleanse our face according to its seasonal requirements we have a skin that always
looks good and ages more slowly. All vegetable and nut oils can be used for cleansing
as well as for nourishing the skin. The ancient Romans massage oils into the skin
and then scrape them off along with the dirt. Use any heavy oil for dry skin such
as avocado or wheat germ and light oils such as almond or sunflower for oily skins.
The essential oils of clary sage, lemon, lime, sage or thyme are cleansing and suitable
for all skin types. Other good options will be rosemary, chamomile lavender or geranium.
Here is a good oil based cleansing paste, which can be used for all skin types.
Ingredients-
Almond oil -- 3 ounces
Ground almonds –- 4 ounces
Cider vinegar –- 2 ounces
Spring water -- 2 ounces
Essential oil of your choice –- 6 drops
Method -
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix for a good two minutes until a smooth
paste is obtained. Store in a jar.
Multipurpose Cleansing Oil
Ingredients -
Grape seed oil --- 2 ounces
Sunflower oil --- 4 teaspoons
Sesame oil --- 4 teaspoons
Wheat germ oil --- 1 teaspoon
Method -
Blend these oils together and then add 5 drops of the essential oil of your choice
and blend again. This can be used as a make-up remover and cleanser.
Almond Face Rinse
This is suitable for all skin types
Ingredients -
Ground almonds --- 3 ounces
Corn flower --- 3 ounces
Grated pure vegetable soap --- 3 ounces
Mix these ingredients in a blender and then add the following and blend again.
Geranium --- 2 drops
Lemon --- 2 drops
Hyssop --- 1 drop
Store dry and use a small amount mixed with water in your hand to wash your face.
Rinse well.
Facial Massage
At least once a week, a deep cleansing routine is a must for a clear complexion.
We have seen various types of cleansers which can be used depending on the skin
type.
The next step to cleansing is a good facial massage which can be done with the help
of a good cold cream or massage oil. Facial massage revives and conditions your
skin. It improves blood circulation and erases every tension present in the facial
muscles.
A massage is necessary for all skin types. Massage done with the right technique,
helps to tone and firm up the sagging muscles. When applying cream use both your
hands and stroke gently working your way from throat to chin, to ears, brows to
temples and eye area. Start from the outer corner of the eye, move towards the tear
duct and move on to upper eyelids. Remove cream using the same technique.
There are oil based as well as moisturizing nourishing creams. Creams, lotions,
skin foods, vitaminized creams and anti-wrinkle creams are all nourishing preparations
used for various skin types.
Olive Oil Nourishing Cream
Ingredients -
3 Tbspn olive oil
2 Tbspn coconut oil
½ Tbspn bees wax
½ Tspn borax
3 Tbspn water
Method -
Heat the oil slightly. Heat and dissolve completely the borax in the water. Slowly
add the heated borax water to the oil until the mixture becomes thick. Cool and
store in a jar.
Vitaminized Nourishing Cream
Ingredients -
1 Tbspn Bees wax
1 Tbspn Emulsifying wax
3 Vitamin E capsules
3 Vitamin A capsules
½ Tspn Almond oil
½ Tspn borax
1 to 2 drops of tincture of benzoin
Method -
Melt waxes by the double boiling method; simultaneously dissolve borax in warm water.
Add the water to the wax; beat until it cools slightly. Squeeze out oil from the
capsules and add to the mixture. Add a drop of benzoin and whisk until it thickens.
Orange Nourishing Cream
Ingredients -
2 Tspn witch hazel
2 Tspn fresh orange juice
2 Tspn glycerin
2 Tspn olive oil
8 Tspn grated Pears soap
4 Tbspn cold water
Method -
Add water to the soap and heat over a low fire until the soap dissolves. Remove
from heat, add olive oil, glycerin, orange juice and witch hazel stirring continuously.
Place back on low flame and stir until it begins to thicken. Transfer to a glass
jar and allow it to settle for at least 10 days before using it.
Effective Substitute For Cold Cream
Equal parts of lemon juice and glycerin is an excellent cold cream substitute that
may be used at bed time.
Steam Facial
After a deep cleansing routine and a good facial massage, the next step to skin
care is steaming. Steaming dilates the pores and deep cleans by bringing to the
surface all the hidden grease and dirt. It also brings a glow on your face but should
be avoided in the case of a sensitive skin. Steaming can be done with the use of
an electric steamer or, alternatively, a basin filled with steaming hot water. You
may add herbs/flowers to the hot water. Cover your head with a towel to trap the
steam and breathe in the vapours. The aroma of the herbs will stimulate a soothing
and relaxed feeling. Once the pores are dilated, wipe the face with a tissue or
damp towel. Remove blackheads using a blackhead remover and sterilized cotton wool.
Thereafter, apply a face towel dipped and rinsed in ice cold water. Leave on the
face for 5 to 10 minutes and apply a good face pack.
Face Packs
Face Packs for Dry Skin
1) Ingredients -
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Lemon
1 Egg yolk
Method -
Extract the juice of the lemon, add olive oil and egg yolk. Mix well. Apply and
leave for 15 minutes and then wash off.
2) Ingredients :
1 Egg yolk
1 Tablespoon milk powder
1 Teaspoon honey & rose water
Method -
Mix the ingredients together. Use rose water to achieve a paste form. Apply all
over the face and neck. Wash off after 15 minutes using warm water.
Pack for Oily, Large Pored Skin
1) Ingredients :
2 Teaspoon honey
12 Tablespoons lemon juice
12 Tablespoons fullers earth
Method -
Mix all the ingredients to form a paste. After application, wash after 15 minutes
with luke warm water.
2) Ingredients :
2 Banana
2 Tablespoon honey
Method -
Mash banana well; add in honey and mix well. Apply well all over face and rinse
off after 10 – 15 minutes.
Note: Do not use this pack if you have a sensitive skin.
Pack for Wrinkled Skin
Ingredients -
1 Egg white
2 Tablespoons honey
Method -
Mix all the ingredients and make a thick paste. Apply the pack and relax on a bed
till dry. Wash off.
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