Natural Facial Masks for All Skin Types

Using a facial mask once a week is an essential part of having and maintaining beautiful skin at any age. There are masks galore to choose from at your local retailers and salons, but some of the most effective, inexpensive and health conscious are ones that can be easily whipped up at home with ingredients found in your kitchen.

No matter what type of skin you have, there is a completely earth friendly and organic facial mask for you. More and more men and women are turning to making their own masks, scrubs and astringents, not only to save money in today's economy, but also because we are hearing so much about the negative side effects of using products made with parabens and other harmful additives. By making your own facial masks, you know exactly what is going into them and can rest assured that you are using something completely natural and, if you choose to use only organic ingredients, completely chemical free.

If you suffer from oily skin, one of the best facial masks you can use is made of brewer's yeast and plain yogurt. Simply add 1 teaspoon of brewer's yeast to 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt and mix thoroughly. Massage the mixture onto your face and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off with cool water. The yeast and yogurt work to nourish your skin while clearing out your pores of excess oils, leaving your face feeling clean and fresh.

For dry skin sufferers, nothing works best then a mask made of avocados and honey. To make this mask, mash the meat of an entire avocado into a creamy paste, add a quarter cup of honey and mix. Leave the mask on your face for 20 minutes and then rinse. Avocados are full of beneficial oils that will soften your skin and honey had antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties to soothe skin that is chapped, red and dried out. The perfect mask to use after a day out in the sun!

If you have combination skin and are not sure what mask to use, try making one out of egg whites, olive oil and oatmeal. This mask works wonders to nourish the dry spots while absorbing excess oils from your oily spots. This mask is easily made by adding half a cup of cooked oatmeal to one egg white, mixing and then stirring in a teaspoon of olive oil. The end result is radiant, even toned skin.

For those of us who intend to fight the signs of aging at every step, a wonderful mask made of eggs and sugar is just the trick. Although it sounds like the beginnings of a sugary dessert, this concoction will visibly lift your skin and diminish fine lines. Simply whip two egg yolks until they become thick, add a teaspoon of sugar and apply generously over your face or use as a spot treatment for problem areas. Leave this mask on for 25 minutes, then rinse off. Voila...younger looking skin without plastic surgery!

Everyone is plagued at least once in a while by acne, even when we are well past adolescence. For the treatment of acne, one of the best natural facial masks you can use consists of honey and papaya. To make this anti inflammatory and therapeutic mask add 1 tablespoon of mashed papaya to 2 tablespoons of honey and mix. Once the papaya and honey have become a thick paste, add in 2-4 drops of tea tree oil. Apply this mask over your face paying particular attention to the areas that are most broken out and leave on for half an hour. Rinse this mask off with warm water followed by a splash of cool water to minimize your pores. This mask can be used daily until the breakouts subside and can also be used on other acne prone parts of your body such as your back, chest and shoulders.

Natural facial masks that you can make at home are a wonderful alternative to store bought masks. When you make your own facial treatments, not only do you save money, but you also know exactly what ingredients you are putting on your skin and how fresh they are. Since our skin is porous, it is important to make sure you are using products that are as natural as possible, since everything you put on your skin ends up being absorbed into your skin as well. Let Mother Nature be your esthetician....you'll be in the best of hands and end up with glowing, healthy, enviable skin!