Being safe at home means one can be more experimental and creative with one’s skin care. I find myself reaching for a face mask even in the morning as I go about my day, and I think my skin is thankful for it. As a result of the quarantine, my new daily routine sans makeup and exposure to daily pollutants is giving my face quite a break.
How can one get resourceful with masks? Now is the time to delve into one’s bookmarks’ menu and invade the pantry. It’s also a fun activity with housemates.
Looking up recipes further online, I found that the classic oatmeal mask is effective against breakouts and for hydration. The ingredients are found often in different beauty products: honey, oatmeal, milk and water. One may combine half a cup each of the oatmeal, water and lukewarm milk with one tablespoon of sugar, and leave the mixture on a cleansed face for 10 to 15 minutes.
Honey acts as an anti-inflammatory while milk tempers redness. Oatmeal gently exfoliates the skin, promoting a healthy turnover of skin cells.
Antibacterial properties
One may have a jar of bentonite clay on the shelf. As often advised, it can be used as a body mask or wrap. It is usually combined with apple cider vinegar, which carries antibacterial properties, and a bentonite clay mask helps oily skin. One could now try it on the face, too. If one is not a fan of the apple cider vinegar, water will do just fine.
Warning: The longer it stays on, the tighter it feels. One may even feel a little bit of heat so it should not be left on too long. It must be washed off with lukewarm water to avoid rubbing the face too much.
Another mask recipe that gets marks from dermatologists is one made from matcha powder, coconut oil and water.
Matcha or green tea powder acts as an anti-inflammatory and fights redness in the skin. It also adds an earthy scent to your mask.
Coconut oil helps to moisturize skin but could clog your pores a bit. I read that one is advised to do a patch test first before going ahead with it as a mask. Otherwise, matcha and water could do with some tea tree oil if you have any.
On top of this, now is also the time to make a small pot of homemade lip scrub. Brown sugar and some olive oil should do the trick.
Don’t forget to post a mask #selfie!