Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Face Masks Part 2

The most basic mask:

Cleanse your face using your favorite method.

In a small cup or bowl, pour approximately one tablespoon (1/2 ounce) of your chosen clay. Gradually stir in (1/2 teaspoonful, or 2 mls at a time) your chosen Hydrosol. Stir well, continue to add liquid until a smooth fairly liquid "mud" is formed.

Apply in a smooth layer to face and neck, avoiding eyes and lips.

Relax for 10 to 20 minutes until the clay has totally dried. Rinse well with warm water. If desired, follow with your favorite moisturizing facial oil.

Additions:
For any skin type:
Use 1 teaspoon of barely warmed honey as part of the liquid. (Warming the honey makes it more liquid.)

For Acnied Skin:
To the warmed honey, described above, stir in one drop of Tea Tree, German Chamomile, or Manuka essential oil. The tea tree and manuka are powerful antibacterials, while the german chamomile is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Especially for oily skin or acne it helps to remove the mask with steaming washclothes. Add a drop or two of one of the above essential oils to a bowl of hot water, wet the washcloth and gently wring out excess moisture.

For Oily Skin:
You might add a pinch or two (up to a teaspoon) of very finely powdered oatmeal to the clay. Stir in well before adding hydrosols.

A large fresh strawberry, very finely pureed is a wonderful addition to an oily skin mask.

For Dry Skin:
Instead of, or in addition to the hydrosol, and perhaps honey, add 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of your favorite facial oil to the clay. My personal choice is either Squalane or Argan oil, but Avocado oil is a wonderful addition as well. Please note, the addition of a fixed oil will prevent the clay from drying as hard as in a mask composed of just hydrosols and/or honey. Leave the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes and remove with tepid water. You skin will be moist and glowing.

A bit of finely mashed avocado is a traditional ingredient for a mask for dry skin.

Adding 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to part of the liquid portion of the mask will help draw moisture to dry skin.

For Sensitive or Inflamed Skin:
Consider using Aloe Vera Gel as part of the liquid in your mask.

Please note, these are not hard and fast rules. Have fun with them!

Coming next: Which Hydrosols for your skin?

3 comments:

Andy said...

I am male and I use Grapeseed oil as a moisturizer, as I would rather not mess with complexion methods such as a face mask.

Do you have any simple and fast methods or suggestions as an additive for this moisturizer, that may help with complexion and which would appropriately nourish the skin?

Thanks!

Marge said...

It will depend on your skin type, and what you want to accomplish. For example, if you want to address breakouts and acne, the 'additives' will be very different than if the main concern is anti-aging.

Share a bit about what you would like to accomplish or improve and we'll chime in.

Andy said...

I have moderate dry skin and minor scaring due to a car accident several years ago. I also have minor acne, which for the most part I control with a Sandalwood & Tree Tree solution once a week.

Would there be an appropriate mix of ingredients I could use on a daily basis for the dry skin, scaring, and the acne?