Mask for Normal Skin
2 Tablespoons of Green or Rose Clay
1 teaspoon of Honey
2 drops of Geranium Oil
Use aloe vera juice or water to make a paste.
From "The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose
Mask for Dry Skin
1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay
1 Tablespoon of Instant Oatmeal or finely ground Regular Oatmeal
1 teaspoon of Honey
1 teaspoon of Almond Oil
1 drop of Rose Oil
1 drop of Lavender Oil
Use enough water to make a paste.
From "The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose
Mask for Oily Skin
2 Tablespoons of Green Clay
1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera Juice
1/2 teaspoon of Vegetable Oil or Jojoba Oil
1 drop of Bergamot Oil
1 drop of Lavender Oil
Use enough water to make a paste.
From "The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose
Mask for Sensitive Skin
1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay
1-2 teaspoons of Avocado Oil
1 drop of Rose Oil
1 drop of Roman Chamomile Oil
Use water, if necessary, to make a paste. Use a little more clay if too runny.
From "The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose
Mask for Mature or Aging Skin
1 Tablespoon of Rose Clay
1 Tablespoon of Instant Oatmeal or finely ground Regular Oatmeal
1 teaspoon of Honey
1 teaspoon of Avocado or Almond Oil
1 drop of Frankincense Oil
1 drop of Neroli or Lavender Oil
1 drop of Rose Oil
Use water to make a paste.
From "The Aromatherapy Book" by Jeanne Rose
Oatmeal Mask
1 Cup Pink Clay
2 Tablespoons of Oat Flour (ground oatmeal)
1 Tablespoon Chamomile Flowers, ground
1 teaspoon finely ground Rose Hip Seeds
Mix all this together and store in an airtight container.
To use take about 1-2 Tbsp of the mask, and add enough distilled water
to get a paste consistency. I actually did a pure lemon juice (to whiten
skin and to restore skin's natural acid mantle) diluted in water, 1 tsp
honey (moisturizing), then added a couple drops of Tea Tree oil
(antibacterial). It was nice and tingly.
Lisa
*****
Natural Beauty
by Mary Lee Reynolds LPN, CHT, HHP
Energy Medicine Counselor & Teacher of the Way
A Journey Into Natural Beauty ~ ~ ~Facial Masks
The skin is by far the largest organ of the human body. It is extremely
sensitive to external factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, dirt and
cold weather, as well as emotional influences like the big bug-a-boo
stress. All these conditions have adverse effects on the skin. The good
news is that most problems can be prevented by proper maintenance and
care. The skin produces millions of new cells a day, regenerating itself
completely within 30-40 days, depending on the person's age. Around the
age of 35, however, the skin's natural rejuvenating processes begin to
slow considerably. However, I personally do not like to give anything a
time frame because to me it sets a limit and the mind does exactly what
you limit yourself to do. Each person will be completely different and
that of course is what makes us so unique. Moving on, at this time
(what ever that might be), the skin can greatly benefit from a facial
mask.
There are two basic types of masks: relaxing and stimulating. Relaxing
masks moisturize the skin and refresh the complexion; stimulating masks
promote blood flow and smooth and firm the skin. Before applying a mask,
cleanse the skin with a facial toner that contains lemon balm or witch
hazel.
The Proper Application
Begin by covering the chin area with the mask then move up to the cheeks
and forehead. Apply it to the nose next, moving outward toward the
cheeks. Always leave space around the mouth, eyes and eyebrows. Lastly,
spread it on the throat, moving from bottom to top. Remember always work
against the force of gravity.
F A C I A L M A S K S
Treat yourself to a facial mask once or twice a week. Alternate between
a relaxing and stimulating mask. Apply a stimulating mask before going
out or a relaxing mask at bedtime, and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
Always use fresh ingredients. You can prepare the mask on demand or in
advance and keep it refrigerated.
I am an advocate of as natural as can be so if you are tempted to use a
purchased mask please read its list of ingredients. If you have some
trouble understanding some of the names of the ingredients, here is a
site that will help you know the ingredient and what it does
Strawberries stimulate the skin ~ ~ ~
Strawberries are an invaluable addition to a stimulating facial mask.
They are rich in vitamin C, which perks up tired skin, giving it a
fresh, healthy look. They also contain sulfur, which has cleansing and
anti-inflammatory properties that help to remove impurities from the
skins surface AND reduce redness and swelling. Strawberries gently
refresh and exfoliate the skin via natural fruit acids and enzymes,
producing a radiant complexion.
Honey relaxes the skin ~ ~ ~
Because of its antibacterial action, honey is often used in cosmetics,
helping to disinfect and heal minor blemishes. Rich in natural sugars,
enzymes and acids, honey is effective against inflamed and swollen skin,
renewing it and promoting healing. It can also freshen dry, stressed and
sensitive skin.
Whole-wheat flour protects and renews skin ~ ~ ~
Fresh whole-wheat flour contains vitamin E, and antioxidant that binds
environmental toxins, promotes cell respiration, stimulates the
production of anti-inflammatory compounds and slows the aging process of
the skin. It has also been suggested that the vitamin may help to lower
the risk of skin cancer. It is not surprising, then, that many suntan
lotions and after-sun products contain vitamin E. Facial masks
containing flour, which contains extra fiber, may provide additional
exfoliating benefits, sloughing off dead skin cells.
E X T R A T I P
Use soft or distilled water when preparing facial masks. Hard water
contains high concentrations of minerals and other substances that may
provoke allergic reaction. If you use tap water, boiling or filtering it
is also a good idea. When you boil tap water you also oxygenate it with
the boiling process.
~ ~Strawberry Mask~ ~
4-5 very ripe, medium-sized strawberries
2 tsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. honey
Carefully rinse strawberries in lukewarm water, and dry with a clean
towel. In a small bowel, mash the fruit with a fork. Add the cream and
honey, and mix well. Apply the paste generously to the face and throat,
keeping it away from the eyes. Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes.
Contraindications: People with sensitive or sunburn skin could have an
adverse reaction to strawberries. Test on a small area first to assess
your skin's reaction.
~ ~Whole-wheat-flour Mask~ ~
1 qt. water
4 tsp. dried or 8 tsp. fresh rose petals
Peels from 1-2 organic oranges
6 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp. rose water
2 tsp. honey
4 tbsp. whole-wheat-flour
Boil the water and remove from the heat. Add the rose petals and orange
peels, cover, and allow to steep until lukewarm or cool. In a separate
pan, heat the milk, floral water and honey; remove from the heat. Add
the flour and whisk into a thick paste. Apply the warm paste uniformly
to the face and neck. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Carefully wash off
the dried mask with the fragrant rose-orange water. Pat dry. Apply your
favorite moisturizing cream to the skin.
********
http://www.lemelange.com/facial_clay_recipes.htm
Clays (or natural silicates), are the single most perfect base materials
for facial masks. They stimulate circulation by generating heat as they
dry, and promote toxin elimination (impurities are drawn out of the
skin's tissues like a magnet, binding to the clay minerals). Clays are
excellent for inflamed skin, because they restore it to its proper
equilibrium. Clays are perfectly safe, but can tend to dry skin if used
too often. We suggest no more than once a week. Please always use
high-quality clays...superfine grade is best - like ours, and do NOT use
pottery clay (!) it is not the same.
The Basic Facial Mask:
Easy to prepare, effective, and wonderfully relaxing! For preparation,
you'll need:
a non-metallic bowl (glass is best)
a non-metallic spoon (wood is fine)
distilled water, spring water, or floral water (this is best)
desired clay - superfine (like ours) is best
essential oils, fruit juice, etc. (optional)
Directions:
Sprinkle equal amounts of clay and distilled water (or other liquid)
into bowl. Mix until a soft paste is obtained. Let stand for several
minutes so that the clay absorbs all the water. Add any other desired
ingredients (depending on your skin type) like, essential oils, etc. If
the preparation is too liquid, add more clay - if too solid, add more
water. Apply to the skin, covering the whole face except for the eyes
and mouth area. Soak a cotton pad in water with 1 - 2 drops of German
(blue) chamomile, or place a thick cucumber slice over each eyelid. Lie
back and relax with feet elevated on a soft pillow (or place the pillow
under your knees). Allow 15-20 minutes for the clay to completely dry
(as long as the clay is wet, it is still working). Rinse with warm water
and pat dry. Follow with a spray of floral water.
Variations of "The Basic Facial Mask" for Specific Skin Types:
Normal Skin:
Use either our Moroccan red or our own rose clay mixture (a combination
of Moroccan red and French white clay). Try adding pureed cucumber, or a
little pureed avocado to the mix. Instead of water, try lavender, rose,
rose geranium, or chamomile floral water (these are appropriate for all
skin types). For a particularly effective liquid, combine 2 parts
mineral (try effervescent) or distilled water, 2 parts floral water, and
1 part aloe vera liquid. To the prepared paste, you might also add a few
drops of hazelnut, jojoba, avocado, or sweet almond oil and a few drops
of lavender, rose geranium, or chamomile essential oil.
Sensitive Skin:
Calendula herbal oil, natural honey, and our aloe vera golden gel can be
added to the paste. Rose, neroli, German (blue) or Roman (domestic)
chamomile are excellent essential oils for sensitive skin, too.
Dry Skin:
Use our French white clay and try adding pureed avocado, cucumber,
natural honey, plain yogurt, or even an egg yolk. For the liquid part,
we recommended rose, chamomile, or neroli floral water. Rose, German
(blue) chamomile, or neroli essential oils (our 7% solutions are just
fine for this). Sandalwood is also recommended for dry and sensitive
skin. A few drops of evening primrose oil can also be added. Try adding
a freshly pureed peach or apricot to the blend.
Oily Skin:
Sea clay is the best for oily skin due to its high mineral content. Oily
skin can tolerate mask treatments a little more often than dry or normal
skin, so twice a week is recommended to deep clean, remove toxins, and
stimulate circulation. An egg white or a little sea kelp (about 1/8
teaspoon) make nice additives. Again, floral waters are recommended -
lavender, rose geranium, rosemary, and chamomile are all well suited for
this mask. A few drops of rose geranium, ylang- ylang, niaouli (not to
be confused with neroli), lemon, lavender, or rosemary essential oils
can be added to the paste.
Acne/Problem Skin:
To your chosen paste, add the essential oils of ylang-ylang, rose geranium, lemon, niaouli, thyme (red or white), rosemary, or lavender. The masks can be applied every other day, then gradually decrease the frequency to once a week. If skin tends to become too dry, a moisturizer may be used after the mask.
Prematurely Aged/Wrinkled/Sun Damaged Skin:
To your basic paste, add one or a combination of - avocado, yogurt, kelp, evening primrose oil, or a few drops of carrot seed essential oil.
Body Clays:
Follow any of the same recipes above, except you'll need "lots" more clay! The clay should be applied about 1" (one inch) thick all over the body (avoiding sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, and "private areas"). This will take no less than 1 hour to fully dry, so plan on some quality time alone with soothing music, meditation and/or prayer.
An aromatherapy diffuser with a calming essential oil like lavender, sandalwood, or sweet orange would make it perfect. When the clay has fully dried, just shower it off (will not harm drains) and follow with a fully body spray of any type floral water.
Orange Geranium French Clay Body Mask
This is a fantastically fragrant blend of delicious ingredients that will bring a smile to your face while removing excess dirt and build-up from the surface of your skin.
Ingredients:
5 ounces white clay (kaolin)
5 ounces French green clay
1/2 ounce honey
6 ounces distilled water
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
5 drops geranium essential oil
Blending Procedure:
Combine the white and green clays in a bowl and stir to mix fully.
Set aside.
In a heat proof bowl, warm the distilled water in the microwave. Do not boil the water; make it warm to the touch.
Add the honey to the water and stir well to combine. Add the honey water to the clay a little at a time, mixing between each addition until a smooth and spreadable paste is formed. If the mixture is too dry after adding all of the honey water, add more water and stir to ncorporate. If the mixture is too wet and runny after adding all of the honey water, add more clay and stir to incorporate.
Add the essential oils and stir well to combine. To use, place an old sheet or plastic bags together on a carpeted floor. Sit down and apply the mask to clean, damp skin. Relax for 15-20 minutes so the clay can exercise its drawing powers. Rinse well in the shower and follow with the moisturizer of your choice. Enjoy!!