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The Best Way to Get Clear Skin and a Fresh Complexion

Updated on February 13, 2018
GALAXY 59 profile image

Galaxy has been vegetarian for twenty years and a vegan 'dabbler' for six months. She loves exploring all aspects of alternative lifestyles.

Your first stop for natural homemade beauty products, the fruit and veg shop!

Fruit and veg, good for you inside and out.
Fruit and veg, good for you inside and out.

Everybody gets spots from time to time, learn how to prevent them and how to get rid of them if they do appear.

We all want beautiful, clear skin but let's face it, no pun intended, shop bought beauty treatments such as face masks can be very expensive but they don’t need to be, you can easily make your own all natural homemade masks in your own home. You probably have most of the ingredients for the following face masks in your store cupboard right now.


The real beauty of making your own face masks and scrubs is that you know exactly what has gone into them.

And you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they have not been tested on animals. If, like me, you happen to be a vegetarian you can also be sure that your masks don't contain any hidden meat products, it might sound strange but you would be surprised just what does go into some shop bought beauty treatments!


You can also adjust and fine tune home made face masks to suit your own skin type.

For example, a mature skin needs a different type of product than a teenage skin but not all mature skins or teenage skins will be the same. What suits one sixteen year old might be the thing that causes a skin breakout in another. It can take a lot of trial and error to get just the right treatment, trial and error that can cost a lot of money, but not so much if you make your own products.


Homemade, natural remedies.

I am a firm believer in homemade natural products and remedies, not only are they all natural but they are cheap too. Most can be made from things that you already have in your kitchen, which makes them not only cheap but free!.


Preparation is key in any skincare routine.

Before applying any homemade face mask wash your face in warm water to open up the pores and increase the efficiency of the masks. For maximum effect you can also steam your face for a short while over a bowl filled with hot water. After you have removed the homemade face masks always finish off with a final rinse of cold water to close the pores again. A good idea is to have a warm washcloth handy to wrap around the face before you start your treatments and a cold one for when you have finished.

Four face masks suitable for dry skin.


1) Cucumber mask.

Mash together one small, very ripe cucumber and a handful of oatmeal, add a little plain, natural yogurt to make a good spreading consistency, chill in the fridge for an hour or so and then apply freely to the whole face avoiding the delicate eye area. Leave on for fifteen or twenty minutes and then rinse off with warm water, followed by a final rinse in cold water. This is a very good face mask for dry skin and for reviving tired looking skin. It's also a good one to use if you are going out in the evening, it really does freshen up the skin and give your face a healthy looking glow.


2) Honey mask.

This one is the simplest of the lot, just spread some runny honey on your face, lie back and relax for thirty minutes then rinse off with warm water. This mask leaves the skin feeling silky smooth and very, very soft. This is a very messy mask, so be sure to protect your clothes and bedding with an old towel or two. If you don't have any runny honey, just the set kind, then simply warm a small amount up in a microwave. Be very careful that you don't make it too hot, always test the warmed honey on the back of your hand first.You only need to warm it for a few seconds, just long enough to make it spreadable.


3) Banana mask.

Take one very ripe banana and a teaspoon of good quality runny honey, cream these together in a bowl with a fork until you have a very smooth paste. Apply to the face and neck area for ten minutes and then rinse off with warm water and pat dry, you can remove the excess with a soft tissue first. Don't be tempted to leave this beauty treatment on too long, it sets like concrete and is the devil to remove. It can also stain clothes so be careful.


4) Avocado mask.

Mash up the flesh of a ripe avocado and mix it with a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply and leave for ten minutes before removing. This mask is really good for more mature skin as it adds a great hit of moisture. This is also a very good mask to use on the hands, spread it on and then pull on a pair of soft cotton gloves, or simply wrap your hands in a clean towel. Leave on for thirty minutes then rinse off, you will be amazed how soft your hands feel. It can also be used to repair cracked heels, wash the feet first then apply the mask and a pair of soft socks. Leave on for as long as possible before showering and follow with a light buff using a pumice stone or something similar, you will have sandal ready feet in no time at all.

Three face masks that are perfect for skins prone to acne.


1) Strawberry and aspirin mask.

Mash up a handful of ripe strawberries with a little natural yogurt. Add half of a crushed and powdered aspirin, you can easily crush the aspirin between two spoons. Spread over the face, paying particular attention to any inflamed spots, leave on for at least thirty minutes before removing.

This is a good one for teenagers, it isn't greasy at all so doesn't add to what can be an already quite oily skin. If the acne has spread to the back and chest area, as it so often does, then make up a larger batch and get someone to help you spread it all over the affected areas.

Leave on for a while and then shower the mixture off. For maximum effect use this mask daily for a week and then twice a week to maintain a healthy skin.


2) Oatmeal scrub.

Mix together a handful of oatmeal, porridge oats are fine, 1 teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda and enough warm water to make a soft paste. Apply to the face and massage gently using a circular motion for about five minutes, leave on for a further five minutes as you sit back and relax and then rinse off with warm water. You will be amazed at how fresh your complexion looks after you have used this mask. Your skin will also feel super soft and fine lines will seem smoothed out.


3) Brown sugar scrub.

Mix a handful of soft brown sugar, not the granular kind, with a little warm olive oil, massage over the face for a few minutes then rinse off. This is a very good scrub for taking away the last traces of spots and blemishes. Don't be tempted to scrub too hard as this mask can be quite abrasive.



Two masks for mature oily skin.

These two masks are really good for oily skin and they work well on more mature skin too for the T -zone area. As an added bonus they help to tighten the skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines. Use sparingly as these are powerful stuff.


1) Egg and strawberry mask.

Take two egg whites, (don't throw the yolks away save them for making an omelette or something),a handful of ripe strawberries, a splash of lemon juice and a little runny honey. Mix together well until you have a nice smooth creamy paste, apply to the skin for ten minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry.


2) Milk of Magnesia face pack.

Take two teaspoons of Milk of magnesia and mix it with an egg white, slather this mixture on your face and leave it for fifteen minutes before washing off with cool water, don't use warm water with this one as it tends to start cooking the egg! This is the mask I use the most, I get my Milk of Magnesia from the internet as it works out cheaper for me.

Diet is important too.

Prevention is always going to be better than cure, so trying to improve your skin health before problems arise is a very good idea. Try to drink at least five large glasses of water a day, you can always add a little something to improve the flavour, a few drops of lemon juice is a good way to liven up plain water.

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, a good idea is to keep a few ready prepared carrot or cucumber sticks in the fridge for snacking, much better for you than reaching for the cookies or something similar. You might find that you lose a little weight as well as improving your skin.

Get plenty of fresh air, but remember to always use a high factor sun screen and never expose your bare skin to the hot midday sun. Sun damage ages the skin worse than anything.

Try to set aside at least one day a week to remain make up up free, this gives your face a rest and will really help to improve the health of your skin. On the subject of make up, never go to bed at night without removing it, not only will it ruin your skin but your bedclothes too.



In conclusion.

Take care of your skin and it will look good and stay healthy for a lifetime. Follow these simple rules to get clean, clear, beautiful skin now.

# Eat well.

# Sleep well.

# Cleanse well.

# Moisturise well.


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