2 D.I.Y., All-Natural Face Mask Recipes
Indigo Elixirs' Deanna Rose lays her au natural knowledge on thick.
Face it, there are some things you just can’t fight. Sometimes, no matter how tough-skinned you think you are against the world, you’ve gotta learn to how to turn the other cheek and take the abuse… right?
Not when it comes to combatting bad skin. Finding products that aren't packed with chemicals and preservatives can be a real pain in the neck, so our solution is to D.I.Y. with a little all-natural, homemade creation. We tapped the apothecarial knowledge of handmade beauty brand Indigo Elixirs' Deanna Rose for a couple of mask recipes that’ll put your best face forward, using whole ingredients available at your local grocery store or garden. (Bonus points: Most of these ingredients can be found locally!) That means fewer mystery materials slathered on you and more healthy, harmless goodness. Why does that matter so much to us?
You could say we’ve got some skin in the game.
Rejuvenating Mash Mask
One half of a ripe avocado
One small (apple-banana size) ripe banana
One or two inches of fresh aloe vera leaf
Lemon slice
Mash the avocado and banana in a bowl. Slice open the aloe leaf and scrape its gel into the mix. Add a squeeze of lemon and blend well. Apply a thick layer to face and neck and let sit for 20 minutes. This mask is a wonderful pick-me-up when your skin is especially tired or dehydrated (think days when you're hungover or recovering from finals!). This mask also perishes quickly, so it‘s best to use it all at once.
A few of the benefits:
Avocados are packed with antioxidants and ultra moisturizing, plus rich in vitamins B and E, beta carotene and potassium.
Bananas are great for dry, sensitive and fatigued skin. They remove impurities and are nourishing and soothing.
Aloe is famously antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and is also used as an astringent. It is also moisturizing and rejuvenative.
Lemon has cooling, alkaline, antiseptic and astringent properties. It has also been used as an exfoliant and encourages growth of healthy cells.
Morning Brew Scrub
One half cup finely ground coffee beans
One half cup sugar
One cup coconut oil
One teaspoon honey
Mix the coffee and sugar well, then add coconut oil and honey. This scrub should last at least a couple of months stored in a clean glass jar, and keeping water out will extend the shelf life. Use one to two times per week in the shower from the shoulders down to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Pro tip: It’s also great to use right before shaving!
Benefits:
Coffee is wonderfully exfoliating and anti-inflammatory. It is also known to reduce cellulite by pulling water out of the skin.
Sugar is a gentle exfoliator.
Coconut oil is a popular and effective moisturizer, plus is soothing for sensitive and dry skin. It’s also antifungal.
Honey has antiseptic, emollient and moisturizing properties and also draws out impurities. It nourishes and soothes, is good for lackluster skin, and helps target enlarged pores and blackheads.
