Quarantine Face Mask

As social distancing, shelter at home, and fears of spreading COVID-19 continues, I’m finding reminders in daily tasks of how different our world is right now. I am excited to share an at home face mask with you, but as I was researching my search results kept leading me to patterns for fabric face masks for infection protection. I’ve done the same search numerous times and never had these results. These little things just emphasize how unusual our lives are currently. Now more than ever we need to remind ourselves the importance of self care. I have created a very simple recipe for a face mask that will benefit all skin types and uses food that you probably already have in your kitchen. Easy to make, simple to use, and glowing skin. 

First, let’s talk about how and why face masks work. I believe that the reason that face masks feel like the ultimate self care is that they provide immediate gratification for numerous skin concerns. Masks help with dryness, inflammation, redness, and even acne, therefore instantly boosting your skin’s appearance. The effectiveness is from the mask covering the skin and penetrating the effective ingredients deeper. Masks also contain a higher concentration of active ingredients and target specific skin problems. 

Now the ingredients. I started with avocado, which is known for being a healthy fat and contains natural oils that nourish and hydrate. This fruit is packed with antioxidants and vitamins that help with redness and inflammation. It makes a great base as it is extremely effective for correcting many skin issues and is safe for all skin types. 

The next ingredient is honey. Locally sourced, raw, or manuka honey is the most powerful and preferred. Honey is naturally antibacterial and helps with many skin care concerns, including acne treatment and prevention. It is also full of antioxidants (see a pattern?) that help slow down aging, moisturize, soothe, and create a beautiful glow. 

The final ingredient is greek yogurt. Yogurt is full of protein, calcium, vitamin D, probiotics, and lactic acid. This combination is a powerhouse to moisturize, fight acne, prevent premature aging, relieve sunburn, and reduce redness. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates by dissolving dead skin cells. 

Now, the recipe:

½ organic avocado

1 tablespoon locally sourced, raw, or manuka honey

1 tablespoon organic greek yogurt

Mash the avocado. Add the honey and yogurt and blend well. You may need to heat the honey a bit to mix easier. I like to use a whisk attachment on my hand blender to ensure all products and blended evenly and thoroughly. Wash face and apply a thick layer of mask to face (if heated honey make sure that it’s not too hot). Let sit for 15 minutes or longer and remove with a warm washcloth. After the mask is removed, tone and moisturize the skin. Due to the exfoliation, your toner and moisturizer will be more effective. You can use this mask once a week. 

If you want to give your mask a boost or combat a specific skin concern, you can add 1-2 drops of essential oils.

Lavender is amazing for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It helps balance the moisture in your skin and can repair dry skin without making it too oily. It is anti-inflammatory, reduces redness, and contains anti-aging properties. 

Tea tree is ideal for acne and blemishes. It is a known antiseptic, this helps fight bacteria and inflammation, both of which contribute to breakouts.  

Frankincense helps even out skin tone and helps repair acne scars and decrease the appearance of age spots. It is safe for sensitive skin. It helps alleviate oily and acne prone skin while providing lipids to help slow down the aging process. 

Hopefully during this stressful time of uncertainty, you can take a moment for yourself and indulge in the organic, luxurious, yet easy face mask!

Not into DIY? Try my favorite mask.