PREPARE YOUR SKIN FOR SPRING - ALL NATURAL

PREP YOUR SKIN FOR SPRING (WOMEN) – NATURAL WAYS FOR A CLEAN AND GLOWING SKIN.

            Today I would like to touch up on a subject of preparing your face for Spring and Summer and getting rid of most common skin problems for a natural, glowing complexion using remedies that can be found in your cabinet or refrigerator. These are just a few ways of keeping your skin clean and prepared for lighter make-up without spending lots of money on expensive creams, lotions and solutions.

This is not a fix all method but hopefully most of you will be able to get some content out of presented ways and treatments.

First a personal story though. I feel quite intimidated talking about it, but I would just like you to know I’ve been through my fair share of struggle when it comes to skin problems and finding possible solutions. Growing up in the early 90’s there was not as many “fancy” solutions available and a lot of the time I had to base on extensive research and imagination trying to find that one good way of taking care of my face, as well as getting rid of different types of problems. When I was a teenager I really struggled, I had very oily skin with a fairly large amount of acne. As I reached University my face was no longer covered with as many but they were still very visible, and I remember being very angry and ashamed that no matter how much make up I put on my face it just didn’t cover all the spots (and scars), and that (in my mind) I was not as attractive as my friends not suffering from that type of problems. Long story short, over the years I went from oily to combination skin, to dry and in the end – as a result of using too many “wonderful” products to sensitive skin. At the end I decided to just stick with a few products that I use regularly and some natural remedies I would like to present to you in this article. Today, thankfully, I no longer struggle with any skin problems and I even managed to get rid of scars and blackheads that were haunting me, as a result of my young adulthood. My skin also changed after giving birth to my son, being more careful with my diet and using far less make-up then before.

Just to be clear here, they work wonders but there is a list of reasons why your skin may not be “magazine-like” perfect. For us women, there are multiple factors to what we can see like different skin structure due to our age, hormonal imbalance, using wrong products for our skin type and others. If you are concerned though, that your skin problems may be a result of deeper health issues, you should always seek medical treatment alongside using any of the remedies as they may not bring you desired results.

SKIN BRIGHTENING overnight mask -  mix 2tbsp of coconut milk with 1tbsp of raw tomato juice. Tomato contains fruit acid while coconut milk is known to be beneficial for clear and even looking skin tone.

Apply evenly on to your face 1-2 layers of the mixture, letting each layer dry up before putting another one. Leave it overnight and rinse with cold water in the morning. Result:  It will shrink and close open pores, hydrate your skin, reduce dark spots and add radiance to your face. It is recommended that you use this mask once or twice a week.

CLEAR BLACKHEADS face mask – mix 1tbsp lemon juice with 1tbsp egg white; have a clean tissue to hand. Works well on all skin types, but highly recommended for acne-prone skin. It helps even out blemishes, clear blackheads and tighten pores naturally.

Beat the egg white mixture while adding 1tbsp of lemon juice. Mix until it is well-blended. Use a face brush to apply the mask all over the face – avoiding eyes and mouth area. Take a thin tissue and cut out holes for your eyes, mouth and nose. Pat it gently onto your face. Next apply another layer of the mixture onto the tissue on your face then leave to dry (about 15-20 minutes). Gently peel of the tissue in an upward direction. After you remove the whole tissue of your face, rinse it with warm water.

GET RID OF OILY SKIN – mix 1/2tsp turmeric with 1tbsp honey or aloe vera gel. Mask rich in anti-oxidants that help to deep clean pores, remove dead skin, treat acne and wrinkles, and leaving your skin smooth with a healthy glow.

Mix well to form a smooth paste. Apply and gently massage onto your face. Leave for approximately 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

HEALTHY SKIN face mask – mix 1/4tsp turmeric with 1tbsp coconut oil. This mask works great if you want to lighten up your skin tone, leaving it hydrated and soft. It also helps to reduce acne and blemishes, and fights fine lines and wrinkles. It’s a great mask to even any discoloration.

After preparing the mixture apply onto clean skin for 15 minutes. Rinse your face with cold water and pat your face dry.

FIRMING face mask/scrub – mix 2tbsp of coffee grounds and 2tbsp honey. Perfect solution to instantly refresh and brighten your skin. Helps cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise your skin. Anti-oxidants in coffee help to tighten your skin and improve blood circulation, while honey moisturises it and leaves it perfectly rejuvenated.

Combine equal amounts of coffee and warm honey. Put the mix onto your face for 10-15 minutes. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to loosen the mask and rinse off with warm water.

HEALTHY GLOW face mask -  mix 2tsp lemon juice with 2tbsp natural yoghurt. Yoghurt is not only healthy to eat but is also rich in multi-vitamins, Zinc and lactic acid which promotes healthy skin and shiny hair. It helps to remove dead cells, tighten pores, reduces fine lines, and leaves your face with naturally glowing skin.

Mix your ingredients together and apply to your face for about 30 minutes. After the designated time wash with cold water. Use regularly for best effect.

CLEAR ACNE – mix 1/4tsp ground cinnamon with 2tbsp honey. Both of those ingredients are jam packed with anti-oxidants and are sources of anti-bacterial properties perfect for cleaning that acne-prone skin.

In a clean container mix together 2 or 3 tablespoons of raw honey. Add ½ or 1 teaspoon of organic cinnamon powder and blend the two together. Apply generously onto your face (please mind your eyes as cinnamon may cause an intense burning sensation). Do not worry about the burning effect on your face though, this is a sign that your mask is working and detoxifying your skin. It may also cause a little bit of redness after using it, but this is also nothing to worry about and will dissolve after a few minutes. Leave the mask on your face for no longer than 5 minutes at a time.

*Do NOT use this mask If you have sensitive skin or are allergic to cinnamon.

ANTI-AGING face mask – mix 2tbsp aloe vera gel with 1tbsp egg white. Aloe vera is classed as a simple, yet magical skincare ingredient. It is known for hydrating, moisturizing, healing and anti-aging properties. It is one of the safest herbs to include in your day to day beauty routine, irrespective of your skin type. In presented anti-aging mask aloe hydrates the skin and retains its elasticity. Egg white, on the other hand, gives your skin a dose of protein, essential for collagen synthesis.

Mix egg whites with aloe vera gel until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy. Apply the mixture onto a previously cleaned face with your fingertips in upward strokes. Wash off with cold water after 15 minutes or when the mask turns dry.

DEEP CLEAN PORES face mask – mix 1tbsp oatmeal with 2tbsp yoghurt. Problem of large pores is cause by over-secretion of oil by oil glands. It is important to follow guidelines and certain skin regime to keep this problem at bay. Pores enlarge when they become clogged with dirt or bacteria, which causes them to become inflamed. Washing your face thoroughly twice a day will keep it clean and prevent pores from opening up. Another quick solution to tighten your pores is to “wash” them with ice cubes for 15 to 30 seconds.

Mix 1 tablespoon of processed oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of yoghurt and leave to rest in refrigerator for a few hours. Apply the ready-made paste onto your face and leave for 30 minutes. Wash your face with lukewarm water.

            There are many more masks, which you can prepare using ingredients available at your own home, but I just highlighted my personal favourites. Please feel free to comment on our social media platforms if you have your own mixtures you would like to share with others, or comment if you tried the ones proposed by me – very curious about your insights. I hope you found this article useful, and that it will possibly help you in getting that perfect Spring look that you were after.