Egg Mask Facials

The classic facial, egg masks have been used by women all across the world for centuries. It consists simply of a raw egg spread on the face and left to dry, then rinsed off with cool water to complete the total facial experience. My grandmother used this simple mask once a week to keep her skin youthful and glowing. Here are a few variations, depending on your skin type, of this at-home, natural and organic beauty recipe. If you're looking for an instant skin tightening recipe, be sure to check out the Egg Mask Skin Tightener recipe (it was also featured on the Rachel Ray show!)

Eggs Mask (for dry skin)
Mix together 1 raw egg and 1 tablespoon of honey. Spread on your face and beck, let sit for 15-20 minutes and finally rinse off with tepid water.

Egg Mask (for oily skin)
Mix together 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal. Spread on face and neck, let sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse well with tepid water. This mask is especially good for removing blackheads.

Egg Mask (for normal skin)

Mix together 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of fresh sour cream. Sour cream is rich in lactic acid and helps soften and remove surface impurities and dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Spread on face and neck, let sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse well with tepid water.

Once again, this recipe and several of the ones featured in my blog are from my favourite natural beauty book, that I always refer to when I need a pick me upper. I'd recommend that everyone buy a copy and keep this as a tool in your beauty toolbox!

Sugar and Spice Bath Mix

This bath mix is great to use when you want to relax after a long day to relieve stress and tension. Make this bath mix in your next bathtub session, use candles, soft jazz music to fully enjoy your stress-free time. Not only will this help with relaxation but also with boosting your circulation and will help to cleanse your skin and act as an antioxidant. Fill an sugar bowl or shaker (I find this works best) with this spicy mixture and place it next to your tub so you have it available whenever you need a relaxation bath session. Definitely give this mixture and let me know what you think of it!

Sugar and Spice Bath Mix
1/2 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix together all the ingredients until well blended. To use: Add 2 tablespoons of the bath mix to a warm tub of water. Store the mixture in a clean, dry container (as mentioned, I like using a shaker since it's easy to use and store). This amount will be enough for about 2 to 3 baths.

New Zealand Kiwi Skin Toner

Did you know that "Kiwi" is slang for someone that comes from New Zealand? It's of course also a delicious fruit that is available in any grocery store. The kiwi fruit, like any other sweet citrus fruit, is a natural astringent. Astringments or toners as they're commonly referred to, are useful to use after you have cleansed your skin to remove excess oil and tighten the skin. Avoid any store-bought toners that are alcohol-based as they strip the skin of their essential oils causing excessive drying. Instead of buying your toner, why not make it yourself using natural fruits? Not to mention that it's whole lot cheaper than any of the toners out in the marketplace.

New Zealand Kiwi Skin Toner
1 cup boiling water
1 ripe kiwi fruit, peeled and mashed
1 tablespoon vodka

Pour the boiling water over the mashed kiri fruit in a ceramic bowl and let sit until cool (about 20-30 minutes). Strain the mixture well to remove all fruit solids and seeds. I usually strain twice, once with a fine metal strained and then with a paper coffee filter. Add the vodka to the liquid and stir. Apply to the skin with a clean cotton pad (you can pick up a pack for cheap at your local dollarstore). You may rinse your face with cool water if you have sensitive skin.

You can find this recipe along with several others, in one of my favourite natural beauty books, which I highly recommend for all natural beauties. It has natural beauty recipes, divided by the four seasons, to make sure that your skin, hair, nails and body are beautiful and healthy all year long!

Peach Tightening Mask

My previous beauty secret revealed how egg whites are a fantastic way to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles temporarily. Here's another skin tightening beauty recipe that smells just "peachy" and will help to leave skin soft and youthful.

Peach Tightening Mask
1 ripe peach, peeled and pitted
1 egg white

Blend the peach and egg white in a blender until they are blended well. Once again, I like to use a barbeque sauce brush because it makes the face mask easy to apply. Apply over your face and leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes. This is typically longer than most facial masks that I have included so make sure that you do this during a time that you can truly relax, maybe before you head off to bed or the night before an important event. After the mask has dried, rinse off with cool water.

Cucumber Oily Skin Facial Mask

Summertime is great...but the weather is not helpful for my oily skin. Try this beauty recipe to combat oily skin. It will definitely leave you refreshed and energized! I would have to put this down as my second favourite recipe, my first being the Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant The cucumbers are vital to this recipe, not only because of their cleansing attributes but also because of the wonderful refreshing smell they give to make this beauty recipe one that helps also with stress and relaxation. Cucumbers are popular when it comes to beauty, whether it's the age-old technique of putting them on your eyes to reduce puffyness or utilized as a staple in luxury spas where they place them along with lemons, to drinking water for their clients, to add a refreshing zestful taste. It's amazing how little things can make such a big difference!

Cucumber Oily Skin Facial Mask
1/2 cucumber
1 egg white
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon mint

Puree all ingredients. Once again, I like using a blender just to make my life easier. After the ingredients have been blended, place them into the fridge so that mixture can be chilled. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Relax. Remove the facial mask with warm water and then end off with cool water. This is especially refreshing during the summer time after a hot and humid day.

Tomato Blemish Remover Facial Mask

Here's a great beauty recipe to remove blemishes and marks from your skin. The secret lies in the main ingredient--tomatoes! Use these mask twice a week and concentrate to apply the mask to blemish prone areas, such as the cheeks, chin and forehead. I had my sister try out this facial mask as her skin is prone to blemishes and breakouts and she really enjoyed it. Give it a try!

Tomato Blemish Remover Facial Mask
1 ripe tomato
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of instant oatmeal or old-fashioned rolled oats

Blend all the ingredients until they are combined well. I like using a blender since it makes my life a lot more easier but you can always mix it by hand too. Make sure that the mixture is not too thin or else you will have a hard time applying it to your skin as a facial mask. If the mask does end up becoming too thin, add more oatmeal to thicken the mask until it becomes thick enough for your liking. Remember to apply more generously on your blemish-prone areas which tend to be your chin, cheeks, and forehead. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water. I like using a washcloth dipped in lukewarm water as I find this makes removing the facial mask much easier and keeps my sink area cleaner as well.

Egg Mask Skin Tightener

This is about as simple as homemade beauty recipes can get--I used this recipe for a skin tightening effect and felt great! Eggs are another common ingredient in homemade beauty recipes, especially for homemade facials, and are also a popular ingredient when it comes to hair. I'll try to include another hair recipe soon as well but until then try this recipe for an egg mask, which has been known to help reduce wrinkles temporarily. I try to use this mask once a week just to refresh my skin and feel energized.

Egg Mask Skin Tightener
1 egg

Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Put the egg white on your face (I used one of those barbeque sauce brushes that can be found at any kitchen store, I've included a picture to your left, of course your bowl and brush will be clear instead of a barbeque sauce shade lol). I found it easier to use the brush to apply the mask but just make sure it has been cleaned thoroughly before you use it. Let the mask dry for about 10-15 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water.