Written by Heather Riggleman
Love the spa, love my stylist…but some evenings I’d rather sit in the comfort of my favorite plaid P.J.’s and pamper myself. My daughter Cheyenne and I have spa night once a month, although she is a tomboy so the evening usually involves some sort of ruckus like eating her mask or a cucumber war.
So if you’re feeling like pampering yourself, here are a few homemade, organic recipes. They’re good for your skin and soul. Here’s a few you can do at home that I’ve picked up from various style and beauty magazines over the years.
Try these!
The Lemon Bomb (Brightens and tightens)
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (for sensitive skin, 1/2 tablespoon).
Whisk ingredients in a bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Apply the Lemon Bomb to your face, building up layers, leaving on your face for about 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water. I use this when my skin is looking a little too oily and it smooths out dry patches too.
Coffee & Coca Mask
Caffeine is great to wake up with and it does wonders for our skin too. What I love about this Coffee and Coca facial is the ingredients are always in my kitchen (and I bet they’re staples in your kitchen too).
You will need the following:
- 4 Tbsp. finely ground espresso or coffee beans (I use my own grinder but already ground coffee works too).
- 4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (any brand)
- 6 Tbsp. dairy product. Choose whole milk, heavy cream, yogurt (must be unflavored!), almond milk or coconut milk.
- 2 Tbsp. honey (if you have dry skin) or lemon juice (if you have oily skin)
Preparation:
Mix coffee and cocoa powder in a bowl.
Add your dairy product and stir until a smooth paste forms. You can use less dairy if you like a thicker paste.
Stir in the honey. (warm in the microwave for a few seconds to help the honey pour faster plus I like the warmth on my skin).
Apply the paste to your clean face and neck.
Let the mask dry.
Wet a washcloth and press it to your face to loosen the mask, then rinse with warm water. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid rubbing your face because the coffee grounds could potentially scratch your skin. It’s really up to you, you’ll get a feel for what your skin can take and how finely ground the coffee is.
You can store the leftover paste in the refrigerator for several days.
Puffy Eye Pack
Between allergies and sleepless nights, I get puffy eyes often. Grab a chilled cucumber and slice it up. Rest the slices on your eyes until the coolness is gone. For extra coolness and puffy eye reducing action, chill the slices in a bowl before resting them on your pretty eyes. : -)
Pumpkin Power Pack
Because I LOVE fall and know that you will have several pumpkins sitting on your front porch and your counter for that matter, here is a mask that rejuvenates your face. This recipe is adapted from one I got from Vogue. It is created by facialist Chanel Jenae of Santa Monica. Jenae says the pumpkin is packed with a power punch of natural exfoliation acids and antioxidants. She uses pumpkin pulp in her facial peels at her salon “to brighten, calm breakouts, and soften the appearance of fine lines and sun damage.”
It takes about 10 minutes to prep but the results are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
You will need:
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup fresh pumpkin pulp
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons almond milk (for dry or combo skin)
- 1 teaspoons honey (for dry skin)
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice (if you have oily skin)
Purée the fresh pumpkin pulp into a thick paste and add the eggs. If your skin is dry, stir in a splash of almond milk and the honey. For oilier complexions, instead stir in apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice. Mix well. Apply the mask, leaving it on for about 20 minutes, depending on your skin sensitivity. Rinse with cool water and moisturize as usual.
Let me know if you have used these recipes or have tried some in the past. What were the results? Did you enjoy it and feel pampered, refreshed?