Firming Face Mask -- Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.


Moisture Mask -- Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.



Three Choices
Depending on your skin type, here are some great masks to try. For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

For Normal/combination skin mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 min then rinse.

For dry skin, and my favorite, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 min. , rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry. If your skin is a bit dry you can put a dab or two of either olive oil, or any other light oil, or plain crisco if you want something heavier, on your moist skin after washing or a mask and your face is set without the $$ some people spend for the same look.
-- Jamie L.

Instead of Soap
This is for the lady who wanted a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only... NEVER SOAP! You can open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth). For a facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a "goo", use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water. You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry. Remove with cool water.

You may also beat an egg white, put it on your face and let it dry, rinse with cool water. Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.

To make your hair shine, rub in some regular mayonnaise, shampoo out after 15 minutes.
-- Sonja in Goose Creek

Honey
The best facial mask that i have found is Honey. Use warm cloth to open pores, smear on honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week sometimes I mix a little ground oatmeal with the honey... great mask...
-- M.

Feels Good
One my daughter and I had fun with and found to have a cleansing and softening effect was to mix regular clean kitty litter, the clay kind, with water and strain out the grit. It really felt good.
-- Carol

Exfoliating Mask
For an easy exfoliating mask take three tablespoons olive oil or any good oil and one tablespoon kosher salt mix together and gently rub into dry skin do not use around eye area work really good on elbows and feet but can be used on cheeks and forehead.
-- Donna R.

Egg Whites
I use egg whites. Just beat one egg white until it is frothy. Spread it all over your face. Wait until it dries . Rinse it off. My face feels very clean and "tight" after this application. And then I use the yolk for cooking. -- DS

Egg Yolk
The best homemade facial mask that I have used is a raw egg yolk. just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.
-- Leona

Your Skin Type
for trouble-prone skin: mix oatmeal with water to form a paste for normal to oily skin: use an egg white.
for dry skin: use an egg yolk
In all cases, spread mixture on face; allow to dry. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
For oily skin, witch hazel makes an inexpensive toner.
For dry skin, you may want to add moisturizer while skin is still damp.
-- Susan

Oatmeal
The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender and either skim milk or if you are trying to fade spots lemon juice. Really works well for me and I have dry skin.
-- Jan

More Choices
The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.
For dry skin, try:
- an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey;
- sour cream;
- plain olive oil;
- avocado.

For oily skin:
- dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub);
- puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;
- cucumber (it will whiten your skin);
- beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);
- carrots (but don't use this one more than about every other week because it can overdry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.

General refreshing masks:
- grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly);
- strawberries (test behind your ear first, many people are allergic to strawberries used this way even though they can eat them just fine);
- honey and ricotta cheese;

Many fruits and vegetables can also be used to good effect. Anything acidic (lemon, strawberries, etc) will tend to whiten and refresh your skin, but you need to be careful if your skin is dry.

In general, don't apply masks more often than about twice a week, and try to vary the ingredients.

It is a good idea to test the mask first. Apply a small amount behind your ear, wait 20 minutes, then wash off. Then wait 24 hours. If the skin behind your ear is normal, then go ahead and use the mask. -- Marzena



Oatmeal Mask and More
1 Tbls. oatmeal powder
egg white
2-3 drops of lemon oil
Mix and spread on face. leave on till dry or 20 min.
Another one is Brewers yeast and water or milk and I have heard of powdering red beans and adding water to that. Brewers yeast is really hard to wash off so probably it is best to use with an essential oil and/or milk and it can stain washcloths. It really makes your skin look great though.
Tracy Combs 11/18/98


Peel-Off Mask
1 packet Un-flavored Gelatin
1/2 Cup Fruit Juice or Herb Infusion
Heat together gently to dissolve the gelatin. Let cool until almost set.
Apply to face, let dry completely, peel off.
Cat 5/7/98


Yogurt/Buttermilk/Betonite Clay Face/Body Mask
I used:
1 tsp *hot* Water
1/2 tsp Dead Sea Salts, dissolved in the hot water.
2 tsp Buttermilk
2 Tbls Plain Yogurt
5 drops Chamomile EO
15 drops Lavender EO
3 drops Tea Tree EO
2 slightly heaped Tbls of Betonite Clay (Powdered, bought at health food store)

Mixed these up and went to take a nice soaking steamy shower. Put on face, arms, torso, and legs. Was tingly, cooling, and felt kinda nice. Let sit for 15.. 20ish minutes, then rinsed off. It left a slight oily residue on my skin, which I can only assume was the buttermilk since the yogurt I used was supposedly non-fat. I've never had the oil residue left from my usual face mask recipe. Finished shower. Skin still felt tingly for a few hours afterwards, but it was a nice sort of tingle. I have somewhat sensitive skin, but not terribly. So far, no pimples or red spots have appeared from this little experiment, and it's 2 days later. I think it was a success. Anyone who wants, feel free to use. I include yogurt and buttermilk because they're two natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids. If anyone recalls the stories of southern women using buttermilk to keep their skin soft and pale. Well I'm trying it for nixing freckles. We'll see. Store bought AHA lotions have worked so far, but they tend to be a little harsh. :)
Suzanne McCarty


ROLL-OUT SCRUB (for acne)
WARNING: Very harsh! Use only every third day.
1/2 C. oatmeal powder
1/8 C. salt
1/8 C. farina
1/8 C. yogurt
Combine all ingredients except yogurt. Store the dry ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. To use, wet your face with plenty of hot water. Combine a tablespoon of the scrub mixture with a tablespoon of the yogurt. Apply to face, rubbing gently with your fingers for about 1 minute. Rinse face with 20 splashes of hot water. Follow with Lemon Rinse.


ROSE PETAL STEAM FACIAL
1 pot fresh water
1 handful rose petals
Boil the water, then remove from heat and toss in the rose petals. Steep 5 minutes, so rose oils diffuse into water. Lean over pot at least 10 inches from surface and drape towel over head. Close eyes; steam 5 minutes with breaks as needed. Rinse with cool water, then pat dry.


SCRUB AND GLOW FACIAL CLEANSER
1 C. oatmeal, uncooked 1 T. salt
1/4 C. farina
Grind oatmeal in a blender until soft but still flaky. DO NOT powder it. Combine oatmeal with farina and salt. Splash face with hot water to wet it thoroughly. Pick up mixture with moist fingers. Rub face with the powder. Be gentle, but rub all of your facial skin. Rinse with hot water (15 splashes will suffice). Apply Vinegar Rinse. Use for 5 to 8 days, then return to a milder cleanser.


SOFT SOAP
Several bits, pieces, and slivers of used soap - enough to make 1 cup driedout or 1 cup soap flakes; 1 C. boiling water.
Pour boiling water over the soap and stir until soap is completely dissolved. Cool. Store in a pump-type dispenser or a squeeze-top plastic container.


SOFTENING MASQUE (emollient)
1 egg yolk
1/3 C. avocado, peeled and mashed
1/3 C. milk
Beat the egg yolk until fluffy. Add milk and avocado, mixing thoroughly with the yolk. Apply to face and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with hot water.


STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM ASTRINGENT (for oily or blemished skin)
1 handful strawberries
1 heaping T. heavy cream
Mash strawberries by hand or in a blender. Add heavy cream and mix well. Spread thickly on face and neck (a shaving brush is handy for this) and let your skin benefit for 10 minutes. Tissue off, then splash face and neck with cool water.


STRAWBERRY DRAWING MASK
1/2 C. very ripe strawberries
1/4 C. cornstarch
Mix strawberries and cornstarch together to make a paste and apply it to your face, avoiding the delicate area around your eyes. Leave on for 30 minutes, then rinse off with cool water.


STRAWBERRY TONER (oily skin astringent)
1/2 C. mashed strawberries
1/2 C. sour cream or plain yogurt
Purée ingredients in a blender at low speed until sell mixed and fluffy. Apply to face and neck; rinse with tepid water after 30 minutes. If mask is too runny after blending, refrigerate for one hour. Make mask the day you plan to use it.


TOMATO TONIC (astringent for oily skin)
1 ripe, red tomato
1/4 C. cornmeal
Peel and seed the tomato. Mash the pulp with the cornmeal. Massage skin thoroughly with the mixture. Leave on for a few minutes. Rinse with cool water.


VEGETABLE MASK (for troubled skin)
1 T. cucumber
1 T. parsley
1 T. yogurt
Whirl in the blender until fluffy. Apply to clean skin.


VINEGAR RINSE
1/4 C. apple cider vinegar
1 basin warm water
This restores the natural pH balance or acid mantle to your skin. Pour vinegar into warm water. Splash your face thoroughly. Let dry without using a towel. Acne sufferers should try this also, but be sure to start with a perfectly clean face.


WITCH HAZEL SKIN CLARIFIER
3/4 C. witch hazel
1/4 C. rubbing alcohol
Mix the ingredients and store in a tightly capped, sterilized glass bottle. To use, moisten a clean cotton ball and clean your face with this solution after washing and before applying moisturizer. Your skin should feel tingly while using this clarifier.

YOGURT MUD PACK
3 T. fuller's earth
3 T. plain yogurt
Mix to make a paste and pat onto the face with gentle, upward strokes. Let dry on the skin for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.


YOGURT-ALMOND SLOUGHER (for blemished skin)
3 T. pulverized almonds (or almond meal)
1/2 C. yogurt
Mix together and massage into face. Rinse with cool water.


YOGURT-CITRUS MASQUE (for normal or oily skin)
1 C. plain yogurt (not low-fat)
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp. freshly-squeezed orange juice
1 tsp. carrot juice
Mix well. Apply to face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes; rinse with tepid water.


Honey Protein Face Mask
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon lemon juice or cider vinegar
1 tablespoon bee pollen
½ teaspoon wheat germ oil or glycerin
1 egg white, at room temperature (1 small whole egg may be substituted).
Combine the honey, pollen, and lemon juice. Mix well until the honey softens. Add the remaining ingredients. Makes enough for 1 application.


Honey Face Scrub
2 tablespoons bee pollen
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon liquid lecithin
¼ cup each of almonds, walnuts, oatmeal, whole wheat flour, corn meal
1 tablespoon rose water
¼ cup water
Combine all the dry ingredients. Add the honey, rose water, and liquid lecithin. Stir until smooth, and add in enough of the water to make a smooth paste. Makes about 2 cups.


Soapless Hand Cleanser
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon oatmeal or ground almonds
1 tablespoon glycerin
2 tablespoons witch hazel
Combine the ingredients and mix until smooth. This may be used to remove dirt from the hands and fingernails, and is less drying on the skin than soap and water. Makes enough for 1 application.


Dry Skin Mask

You will need:
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. finely ground fennel seed
1 tsp. oil
1 egg yolk

Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Cover your face and throat with the mask for 30 minutes. Remove the mask with warm water, then splash your face with cold water when it's removed.

Courtesy of Brenda Hyde




Homemade Toning Mask
Ingredients:
1 tsp. plain low fat yogurt
1/2 egg white
1/4 tsp. oil
1 tsp. mashed fresh parsley
Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse with water.