Turmeric Face Mask

This is a skin brightening mask which will leave you skin with glow. Turmeric is a bright yellow spice widely used in Indian, South east Asian and Middle Eastern dishes, but many Westerners  are unaware that when it is mixed with yogurt, milk or olive oil, its works as an excellent face mask.

Indian women use turmeric to bring glow to their skin and as a skin brightener. It is a very common practice for Indian Brides and Grooms to apply turmeric paste made with turmeric powder and sunflower oil on their skin before their wedding to brighten their skin.

Actress Thandie Newton, who has a dark complexion, add turmeric powder to her moisturizer to give her the perfect glow.

You can make the mask by adding lemon juice and yogurt if you have oily skin and you can add almond or olive oil if you tend to have dry skin.

Warning: Turmeric powder will stain, so if you have dark complexion, you might not notice the stains but fair skinned people will notice the stain. But those stains will fade away after few hours.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp flour (chick pea flour for best results)

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 cup yogurt (for oily skin)

3-4 drops of lemon juice (for oily skin)

2 tbsp olive/coconut/almond oil (for dry skin)

3-4 drops of honey

How to prepare:

• Mix the turmeric and the flour together.
• Mix in all the ingredients one by one.
• Prepare a smooth and thick paste by mixing everything properly.
• Apply the prepared mask to the face and the neck.
• Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.
• Press the wet warm cloth on the face to loosen the mask.
• Rinse the mask with few splashes of warm water.
• Don't worry if there are any turmeric stains, it will wear off after few hours.
• Apply moisturizer.

Rejuvenating Pumpkin Mask

I have got this recipe from one of the vogue magazine, created by the facial expert Chanel Jenae of Santa Monica. According to Jenae, the pumpkin pulp is full of antioxidants and it is fully loaded with exfoliating acids as well.

She uses pumpkin pulp in her facial peels at her saloon. She uses this to brighten the skin, to calm breakouts and to soften the appearance of fine lines and to lower the damage caused by the sun.

Making Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh pumpkin pulp

2 eggs

2 tbsp almond milk (for combination or dry skin)

1 tsp honey (for dry skin)

2 tsp apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice (use this only if you have oily skin)

How to Prepare:

• Prepare a thick paste of pumpkin paste by making a puree.
• As a binder, we are using egg here, so add egg to the puree and mix well.
• For dry skin, add omega rich almond milk and honey to the mixture.
• For oily skin, add apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice.
• Prepare smooth mixture by stirring.
• Apply the mask on the face and the neck.
• Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes. (depending on your skin sensitivity)
• Rinse the mask with cool water.
• Apply moisturizer after cleaning the face.

Clay Mask

Day by day, the clay is becoming very popular and useful in medicinal and cosmetic treatment. The mask is useful for different purposes like anti-ageing, cleaning the skin etc.The mask will make you skin extra soft and supple. 

It will take 5-10 minutes to prepare the mask.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp green clay
1/2 tsp kaolin clay
1 1/2 tbsp aloe-vera gel
1 tbsp rose water
2 drops rose essential oil

How to Prepare:

• Mix the green and kaolin clay properly.
• Add in aloe-vera gel, rose water and rose oil.
• Mix the mixture properly to make a smooth paste.
• Apply the mask over the face and the neck.
• Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes.
• Cleanse the mask with few splashes of warm water and a warm wet cloth.
• At last apply light layer of moisturizer.

Yogurt Face Mask

This is a very refreshing mask which is prepared by only two ingredients. This mask gives the best result for all the skin types. This is a very soothing and cooling mask for the sun burnt skin. It only take 5 minutes to prepare this soothing mask.

If you have a dry skin, add an extra tea spoon of honey in the mixture. If you have an oily skin, add 3-4 drops of lemon juice in the mixture.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp thick yogurt
1 tsp warm honey

How to Prepare:

• Mix the ingredients properly.
• Prepare a smooth paste.
• Apply the mask on the face.
• Leave it on the face for 10-15 minutes.
• Wash the face with few splashes of warm water.
• Followed by a warm steaming cloth.
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Coffee-Cocoa Mask

This is one of the best recipe for dry, oily and dehydrated skin. You can tailor the recipe according to your own skin type. Coffee and cocoa powder are used to brighten up the dull complexion of your skin and to decrease the puffiness of the face.

The combination have been the most favorite since long by the beauty experts. When used as a combination, it is very much helpful in decreasing the puffiness on the face and the eyes area. It even helps to brighten the skin and to get out of the dull complexion.

The best part of the mask is that, the ingredients are very easily available in your kitchen. According to your skin type, you can make changes to the mask. If you have dry skin, you can add yogurt, honey or oil depending on the availability. If you have oily skin, you can use lemon juice. If you have very dehydrated skin, adding oil to the mixture is the best solution.

Ingredients: 

4 tbsp finely ground coffee powder
4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
8 tbsp whole milk / heavy cream / yogurt / almond or coconut milk 
2 tbsp honey (for dry skin)
2 tbsp lemon juice (for oily skin)

How to Prepare:

• If using whole coffee beans, grind it to a fine powder.
• In a bowl, mix coffee and cocoa powder.
• Add milk or cream and stir to make a smooth paste.
• Add in honey or lemon juice and mix properly.
• Apply the prepared mask on the clean face and neck.
• Allow the mask to dry completely.
• Loosen the mask by applying the warm wet cloth on the face by pressing it lightly on the face.
• Clean the face with few splashes of warm water.
• Apply moisturizer.