Spring has sprung, and the new season may require some changes to your beauty routine. But that doesn't have to mean spending a ton on new products. Chances are that your fridge and pantry are already stocked with ingredients for homemade face masks that can nourish your skin, and all you need is a blender to whip up the concoction. Here are six powerful superfoods to use as the base for your next homemade face mask.
1. Hydrate with Avocado
Surprise—it's not just for your toast. Avocado's beneficial fatty acids nourish parched skin and help seal cracks caused by dryness to lock in moisture. Pair it with olive oil for even more hydration, plus yogurt and honey to slough away dry, dead skin.
2. Control Oil with Lemon Juice
The acids in lemon juice work like a toner to sop up excess oil and get rid of dead skin cells. Blend it with cooked, cooled oatmeal—oats contain calming compounds that balance out the acidity of the lemon juice, helping to fight redness. Lemon juice's acids also help slough away dead skin cells that can leave your skin looking dull and tired. Combine it with sugar for even more exfoliating action, and add a drizzle of olive oil for a hit of healthy hydration.
3. Boost Your Natural Glow with Papaya
Has the harsh winter weather left your skin looking a little dull? Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that gently exfoliates to leave your skin looking dewy and fresh. Blend it with egg white and honey—the sticky texture will help firm and tighten your skin.
4. Improve Texture with Brown Sugar
The sandy crystals are softer than white sugar, making them a gentle but effective way to buff away dead skin cells and smooth your skin's texture. To balance out brown sugar's exfoliating properties and stave off redness or irritation, blend it with cucumber and milk.
5. Ease Redness with Yogurt
Yogurt's probiotics aren't just good for your belly; they can also help soothe red, inflamed skin. For the biggest benefits, combine yogurt with unsweetened cocoa powder. It's rich in flavanols, a group of antioxidants thought to fight inflammation and ease irritation.
6. Keep Acne at Bay with Sweet Potato
When pores get clogged with dead skin cells and bacteria, blemishes can form. But the vitamin A in sweet potatoes encourages healthy skin cell turnover, which helps keep pores clear. Try mixing cooked sweet potato (or canned pumpkin, which is also rich in vitamin A) with a pinch of baking soda, which sops up excess oil, and turmeric, which infuses your skin with a dose of acne-fighting antioxidants.
Using these ingredients for homemade face masks is simple. Blend up the right mixture for your skin and it will soon be looking as fresh and pretty as those spring flowers.
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