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• It’s great fun (and
can be shared with children).
• It’s a way of using
up what’s in the fridge before you head for the supermarket.
• It’s the only way to
be absolutely certain about what you’re putting on your
face
or body.
The easiest and quickest face-treats to make yourself are
masks. These are perfect for enjoying as part of our At Home
Spa.
• Oily skins respond to whipped
white of egg (dries, tightens), yoghurt (cleanses, nourishes),
mashed strawberry (counteracts oiliness) and clay (absorbs
oil).
• Yoghurt is used as a natural
face mask in many eastern countries. It contains a form of
lactic acid, which is a natural exfoliant, similar to the
AHAs used in some commercial products.
•If your skin is blemished,
experiment with a plum mask: boil six plums (enough for one
application), strain and leave to cool. Mash with a teaspoonful
of sweet almond oil.
• Dry and sensitive skins love
egg yolk, crushed grapes, honey or glycerine (attract moisture),
sunflower or sesame oil (soothe). In South Africa, mashed
avocado pulp is rubbed onto the face to counteract the drying
effect of the sun. Any good home-made mayonnaise, straight
from the jar, also works.
•On combination skins, slather
an oily skin mask on your T-zone, and a dry skin mask elsewhere.
Mix and match ingredients to find out what is best for you.
•A winter salad face mask perks
up skin: take fresh vegetables in any combination (e.g. cabbage,
carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, spinach, beansprouts).
Whizz in a food blender or mash with a pestle and mortar,
and add a few drops of jojoba oil if your skin is very dry.
Apply to a cleansed face, then lay two tissues over the top
(to absorb excess liquid). Leave for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.
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TIPS FROM THE TOP
Barbara Carrera’s stay-young secret? Forget expensive
lotions and potions: ‘I think you can find whatever you
need in your own kitchen. Instead of throwing away watermelon
rinds, banana peels, papaya skins, lie down and put them on
your face for half an hour. It’s incredibly reviving
and feels yummy.’
Liz Earle whisks up her own face mask with one beaten egg
white sprinkled with a teaspoon of vitamin C powder.
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