Natural Face Masks to Make At Home

If you need to clear up your complexion or help your teen get over acne or blackheads here are some simple natural homemade masks that can be applied that do not contain the harmful chemicals that commercial cosmetics do.

Rose, honey and oatmeal face mask: There are many different ways that you can make superbly effective face masks using entirely natural materials. These face masks help you to cleanse your skin far more effectively than you could ever do with just soap and water and of course, every one of them is 100% natural.

In this case, take one third of a cup of well ground oatmeal and combine it with 1/8 of a cup of rose petals. The fresher the petals are, they better it is so they should ideally be fresh off the plant. Crush them before adding to the mix.

Add to four tablespoons of runny honey (if you are using more solid honey, warm it so that it becomes liquefied) before applying the mixture to your face. Leave it on for half an hour or so (why not relax in a nice hot bath infused with rose petals as well?) before washing the mixture off with warm water.

Apple crush facial mask: As the name probably suggests, you need an apple for this face mask recipe. You also need one tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of dried herbs of your choice (for example, lavender, spinning, chamomile, sage or anything else you have available).

Drop the apple in how water and cook it until it can be mashed easily. Mash the apple and add the lemon juice and herbs, getting rid of the pulpy apple remains. Once the temperature of the mixture is cool enough to do so comfortably, apply the mix to your face as a mask.

Leave for five minutes before washing off with warm water and a washcloth or mitt…

Lemon and egg surprise: Lemon juice is another substance that you find in many natural skincare recipes. In this case, whip up an egg white until it peaks and then pop it in the freezer for 15 minutes or so.

After this, add the juice of a lemon and one puréed or grated tomato. Apply to the skin, leave for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off with water. Do this every day for months and you will notice a marked improvement in skin quality.

Banana, cream and honey: Take one tablespoon of honey and mix it together with half a mashed banana plus 2 tablespoons of sour cream. Apply as a face mask for 10 minutes and then wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth.

Apple and tomato mask: For this one, you need two tablespoons of plain yoghurt, ½ a tomato, 1 egg white, 2 or 3 tablespoons of whole wheat flour and 2 slices of chopped apple.

Mix all of the ingredients together, spread on dry skin and allow the mixture to dry as well, which should take around 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

More Skin Ingredients to Avoid

As promised in my last entry, here are some more skin care ingredients that you must avoid if you are going to keep you and your kids cancer free.

Stearalkonium Chloride: This is asubstance that is included in many skin and hair care products that studies have indicated is safe in the concentrations used in products of this nature.

However, additional studies have indicated that in higher concentrations, it is a known skin and eye irritant and it is also known to cause allergic reactions, particularly in those with sensitive skin. If your baby's eyes are watering, make sure this chemical is not in anything you are putting on her hair or in her skin.

Triclosan: Triclosan is regarded by the EPA as a pesticide, one that is believed to be carcinogenic for humans. It is so toxic and powerful that it is usually measured in parts per trillion, to the extent that one drop in 300 swimming pools could be sufficient to cause hormonal difficulties.

However, because it is a powerful antibacterial agent, it is used in many common household products like toothpaste, antibacterial lotions and soap. It is definitely not something that you should be washing yourself or cleaning your teeth with. Keep this mind the next time you buy that antibacterial soap.

DMDM hydantoin: DMDM hydantoin is a chemical preservative that releases formaldehyde which limits the development of microorganisms. Unfortunately, it also causes allergic reactions range from mild to severe, joint pain, rashes, depression, headache, chest pains, chronic fatigue and a loss of sleep.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Sodium lauryl sulfate is an ingredient that is found in almost all household products that foam such as shampoo. It has been used in products like baby shampoo even though it is known to cause allergic reactions and damage to young eyes. This is another substance that is often included in toothpaste as well, but one that is to be avoided.

Diethanolamine (DEA): Diethanolamine is another chemical to be found in foaming products that is known to be a skin irritant.

In fact, because they are known to cause hormonal problems and to be carcinogenic, diethanolamine (and the ‘mono' and ‘tri' versions of the chemical) are already restricted or banned in many European countries as a result of the known risks associated with them.

These risks were highlighted on the CBS TV program ‘This morning' as long ago as 1998 when it was reported that a Federal government study had shown that DEA and detergents that contained it posed significantly increased cancer risks, particularly of kidney and liver cancer.

Mineral oil: Mineral oil is a byproduct of the processing of oil into petroleum products. When applied to the skin, mineral oil literally coats your skin with a ‘saran wrap-like' cover that completely prevents your skin from breathing.

It will clog your pores to the extent that blocked pores, spots and pimples become almost inevitable, preventing your skin from sloughing off the dead cells and getting rid of toxins.

And note that far from being as gentle and kind as you might imagine it would be, ‘Baby Oil' is almost always pure mineral oil. Be careful and read the labels!