The Healing Kitchen Cosmetology: Facial Masks

We all want radiant, vital looking skin, but not all of us can afford expensive spa treatments. So create your own natural spa products in your own healing kitchen.

Facial masks are an wonderful treat you can give yourself weekly for beautification and purification.  They have many uses and according to Stephanie Tourles, in her book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", facial masks:

• Deep-clean, increase circulation, remove toxins, hydrate and moisturize, calm inflammation, and soften the skin.

They're easy to make and many use ingredients easily found around the house.  As your skin readily absorbs substances it comes into contact with, adding nutrient rich ingredients to your mask recipe supplies your body with extra nourishment.  That's a good thing, especially for maturing skin.

Here are some simple recipes for making your own mask.

1. Decide what skin type you are: Normal, Dry or Oily.
2. Start your mask recipe with a base of 1 tablespoon oatmeal powder.  Just put large rolled oats in a coffee grinder and blend until powdery.
3. Add the ingredients of choice, one from each category

For moisturizing:

Dry skin-1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
Normal Skin-1 tablespoon buttermilk
Oily Skin-1 tablespoon aloe vera juice

For  cleansing:

Add 1 teaspoon green clay powder

For nourishing:

Add 1 teaspoon kelp powder

 Add enough warm water to make a paste, however you may find that if you added the aloe or buttermilk you don’t need the additional water.

You can also make masks from egg whites, bananas, blending cucumber or certain fruit.  All found in your Healing Kitchen!