Caring For Your Skin: Masks

What's a Facial Mask? 

It's those things that people either buy or make and then plaster on to their face, making them look like all kinds of strange and weird. The good ones are really good for you and help in improving the general health and look of your skin. 

They come in all kinds of forms. Exfoliating, soothing, lotion types, colorful types, clay, natural, packaged with ingredient lists two miles long, and so on. I highly recommend making your own. It's easy, cheap, and most of all, you control the ingredients so it can be healthy.

Why You Should Give it a Try

Chances are if you're female above the age of 12 you've already tried some kind of facial mask. Masks are great for many reasons: they can moisturize, even out pH balance, fight acne, clean, help with dry or over oily spots, exfoliate and get rid of dead skin cells, and give your skin a healthy, bright glow. 

They can also be very relaxing after a long day. Once you've got it on you have to leave it on for at least 10 minutes anyway, so sit somewhere and read, watch a film, or do something else calm and relaxing that you enjoy (that won't interfere with the stuff on your face). 

Do It Yourself 

I always recommend making your own facials. I still see no point in buying them, as the cheap ones are horrific as far as content and the good ones will cost you your house, car and dog before you know it. Plus, there are literally thousands of fantastic homemade facials out there. Do your research, know your skin type and the problem you want to treat, and find a recipe to try. Here are some of my favorites: 

Egg Facial

Wait. Don't run just yet (sissies)! This facial is great for all skin types, but especially oily. It's moisturizing, brightening, soothing, repairing, tightening, and very healthy for your skin. Be sure to use fresh, organic, high quality eggs.

Yogurt & Honey

Also good for all skin types, but especially dry (yogurt is super moisturizing) this one is soothing, moisturizing and good for acne prone skin. Use only real honey; preferably raw.

1 tablespoons plain yogurt

1 teaspoon honey

Mix together and leave on face for 10-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Coffee & Cocoa

via

There are lots of different versions of the coffee mask out there. This one is exfoliating, firming and moisturizing. I never measure when it make it; make just enough to use. Don't be wasteful. Did you know that coffee is commonly used in anti-aging products? 

Oh, and try not to use this at night if you're sensitive to caffeine. Skin absorbs whatever you put on it, so yes, you'll be getting a dose of caffeine.

2 tablespoons coffee grounds (used or fresh)

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon olive or melted coconut oil

2 teaspoons milk, yogurt or cream, as needed

Mix all ingredients together except dairy. Add dairy until a thick, but spreadable consistency is reached.  Spread onto face and leave on for 10-30 minutes. Wash off in warm water using gentle circular motions to exfoliate. 

Whenever you do a mask treatment, use a moisturizer afterwards if you see the need for it, as well as common sense and avoid your eyes. 

And that concludes my 3 part series on basic skin care! (Go to the Tasty Bites & DIYs page to see the others). But I haven't even given you my favorite mask recipe yet. You'll have to watch and wait for that one.

Will you be trying any of these recipes? Which one and why?

Thoughts on Depression

Psalm 38 was written by David. It's a petition, a cry for help, and forgiveness. His situation at the time this was written must’ve been pretty dark and hopeless looking, but what one should take note of is what he did. He didn’t just sit around wallowing in self pity and brood over his troubles, he ran right back to God. He knew he couldn’t beat it on his own, but remembered someone who could, and always can.

David went through a lot in his lifetime. He was betrayed by his father in law and son, lost his best friend and first wife, so many of his loved ones died violent deaths, he was wrongly accused of many things and had to run for his life, had an affair, the list goes on. If anyone ever had any reason to drop into a depression funk, he’d definitely be one of them.

But it doesn’t have to stop there. No one should ever believe that extreme sadness - depression, is some disease that you can never get rid of. Your troubles shouldn’t weigh you down and put a damper on your life and send you into a corner to think about how miserable your life is and how it’s just 

way 

too 

hard.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Oh it can definitely be hard, and you most certainly can’t always do it on your own, but you shouldn’t have to either. If you know the God who holds your very life in his hand, you should do what David did over and over: take it all and hand it over to him, because he’ll always know what to do regardless of our own cluelessness. And if you don’t know him, I understand the bleak, hopeless pain you face, because it really is hopeless without him. It’d be great if you would take the chance to get to know him. The invitation is open to all. Always has been.

Take care people, 

Pixie

Blood Rubies and Cream Snow

Sometimes all I want for breakfast is something quick, light, and easy. This is all that plus healthy. You should try it. Always get organic when you can, and be sure to drink plenty of water.

Here's what you do:

Fill a bowl with Greek yogurt. As much as you want.

Get a blood orange. Peel the blood orange.

Cut the blood orange up.

Place the chunks on the yogurt.

Get a handful of almonds.

Chop those up too.

Top the oranges and yogurt off. Eat.

And that is how you make a bowl of Blood Rubies and Cream Snow. Or Blood Orange & Almond Greek Yogurt. Whatever you want to call it. 

Blood Orange & Almond Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla

1 blood orange, peeled and chopped

almonds, to taste

Layer yogurt in a bowl and top with blood orange chunks. Roughly chop almonds and add to bowl.

Savor.

Caring For Your Skin: Toning

For part 1 in this series, go here.

What is a Toner?

There are basically two different types of toners out there: moisturizing and refreshing and cleansing and balancing. The moisturizer types are usually liquid sprays in bottles, and are often used to add a light spritz of moisture to your face or to freshen makeup. The cleansing and balancing types are often a cream formula and are used to remove extra makeup or dirt that washing may have missed and to fix your skin’s pH balance. Sometimes toners are a combination of those things; it all depends on the ingredients.

A word about pH balance - this refers to how acidic or alkaline your skin is. If it’s off balance you may experience things like dryness, over oily, acne, and the like.

Why You Should Use a Toner

A toner is extremely beneficial to your skin, but it is optional. If you think your skin’s pH is off, need extra moisture during the day or just want a little extra insurance that all that heavy foundation is off your face, give it a try.

How To Use and Make Your Own

Use a toner right after you wash your face, before your moisturizer. I have a recipe of the balancing and cleansing type for you today.

Once you’ve mixed your toner up, take a cotton ball, dip it in, and just wipe your entire face down with it. Wait for a minute or two for it to soak in then apply moisturizer as usual. That’s it! Yes, it will smell like vinegar. No, it will not kill you. Do it at night, the scent will fade (trust me). This will send acne and over-oiliness on a hike and really get your skin clean. There are also rumors that it will fade scars, and this I know to be true with lemon juice but am unsure about vinegar.

The measurements I’ve provided are just approximant, play around with it to see what’s best for you. Oilier skin – more vinegar. Normal to dry – less. I only recommend lemon juice for fair skinned people as it does lighten skin – I’ve had it fade a couple scars quite well. So darker skin tones: unless you'd like to attempt to lighten your overall skin tone, stick with vinegar.

Homemade Toner

1-3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, coconut water vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 cup water

Mix together and store in a glass container.