Homemade Face Masks

It is much better if you can use the home-made face-pack instead of ready-made. Whereas Indian women are attracted towards make-up, the European women are getting more and more inclined towards using the herbal and natural therapy. These beautifying things do not affect the skin adversely. Though the costly make-up bought from the market increases your beauty temporarily, it cannot be overlooked that the repeated use of these artificial means leaves scar in the shape of early ageing. Homemade face­pack helps in providing natural oil and moisture to the skin. If you just look carefully you will find many of the ingredients of face-pack in your kitchen. Some of the important ways to prepare face-pack at home are as below:

Egg Face Mask : Take the yolk of one egg, mix in it two spoonfuls of rose water and one spoonful of honey and preserve. Use it once a week. It is useful in winters. If you have wrinkles, take the white of an egg, beat it, mix in it three spoonfuls of oat-powder; one spoonful of honey and apply on the face. For still more dry skin another method is thus: Yolk of one egg, two spoonfuls of orange juice, half a spoon of lemon juice and a few drops of sweet almond oil. Mix it well, beat it and apply it. Keep it for half an hour before washing it off.

Soyabeans or Masoor Dal (Lentil) Pack: Take fifty grams soyabeans (or masoor dal), soak it in water over-night. Grind it well next morning into a paste after removing the shells. Mix unboiled milk and almond oil in the paste and apply.

Besan (Gram Flour) Pack: Take one spoonful of besan, a pinch of turmenc (haldi), half a spoon of honey and half a spoon of olive oil. Mix it well and apply.

Multani Mud Face Mask : Take a spoonful of finely ground multani mud, a spoonful of rose water or cleansing-milk and prepare a thick paste. Apply a thick coat on the oily part of your face and a light coat on the dry part. Let it remain for ten minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.

Urd Dal Pack: Grind urd dal into a fine powder, mix rose water, glycerine and almond oil, make a paste and apply.

Sandalwood Pack: Make sandalwood paste, add rosewater and apply it on your face. It has cooling effect. If the skin is oily, add a small quantity of sulphur to it.

Mint Pack: Grind fresh green mint and apply the paste on your face for twenty to twenty-five minutes. It absorbs internal heat of the skin.

Curd Facial Mask : Take 1 spoonful of besan, 2 spoonfuls of curd. Mix well, apply it for half an hour. It is soothing for the skin affected by heat-wave. Butter coating: If the face is dry due to heat, beat a spoonful of butter in water and apply.

Cucumber Pack: Peel a cucumber and grind it fine. Put unboiled milk in it and apply. It is softening.

How many times should one do the facial? It depends upon your age and the nature of skin. For those who are in the age-group of fourteen to twenty-five and who have normal skin or at least do not have a very dry skin, facial once a month is sufficient but for those who have dry or dull skin facial twice a month is necessary. For those who are older, facial once a week is a must so that age does not show on the face.

Given below is the method to do a half-hour facial:

• Tie your hair tightly towards back side.
• Clean the face with a cleanser so that the make-up and the dust particles, if any, are removed. Use tissue-paper or soap and water to clean your face. It is necessary to clean your neck also along with face.
• Use cotton wool to apply freshner on the face and neck so that the last traces of cleanser are removed.
• Put moisturizer in dots on your temples, cheeks and chin and then let the skin absorb it.
• Now wash the face with clean tepid water.
• Make face-pack according to the nature of your skin, and apply it on your face and throat, leaving the area around the eyes. Soak the cotton wool in rose water and place it on your eyes. You can use unboiled milk or alcohol free freshner also, instead of rose water.
• Now lie down and allow the face-pack to dry for about twenty minutes.
• Remove all the remains of face-pack. Dry your face and neck by patting with a soft towel and apply a good moisturizer.