FACE IT: NATURAL FACIAL RECIPES

What's there not to love about by DIY face masks and facials? They are all natural, affordable, and super easy to whip up in your kitchen! I prefer a home facial to a store bought one because I know what I am getting. Do you ever read the shampoo bottle labels while sitting in the tub, or your food label while you are waiting for your microwave dinner to finish? I do- and half the time I was baffled by the ingredients, and I hate that. On a quest to discover new beauty techniques and homemade recipes I have stumbled upon these gems. Great recipes whose main ingredients gently nourish and heal skin. And I came across one similarity, of all the homemade masks out there, almost all of them include the essential components yogurt and honey. Here's why:

Yogurt contains high amounts of Lactic Acid, successful in refining pores, exfoliating the skin and stimulating collagen production. Unlike most other exfoliants that are harsh (like salylic acid), it gently cleans the skin and is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. Plus, its thick and creamy texture lends a paste-like consistency that's great for a mask.

Honey is an all natural humectant, that means it holds in water to help keep the skin soft and moisturized. It also functions as an antimicrobial agent and can even be used to treat minor burns and cuts. An anti-irritant, it's also gentle enough for sensitive skin too. On top of it all, it makes a great binder for all the other ingredients in the mask, and it doesn't taste too bad either.

It doesn't matter what type of skin you have—there's a DIY recipe out there for you that incorporates both of these miracle foods.

DRY SKIN: Moisturizing Mask

- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (the fattier the better)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1-2 tablespoons cooked & cooled oatmeal

Mix everything together until it forms a smooth paste. Spread over the face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with a warm washcloth.

IRRITATED SKIN: Calming Mask

- ½ cup of plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel or juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ peeled cucumber
- A few drops of chamomile oil

Mix everything in a blender. Leave on face for 10-15 minutes.

BLEMISHES/ACNE: Aspirin Mask

- 5 uncoated aspirins
- 2-3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 dollop honey

In a bowl, mix the honey into the yogurt. Drop the aspirins into the yogurt, and wait for them to dissolve (if you'd like you can also add water to help the tablets dissolve faster). Mix into a paste, and leave on the face for 10-20 minutes.

DULL SKIN: Cleansing Scrub

- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice

Mix everything together. Rub gently onto face for 1-2 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Note: Do not use if you have an allergy to one of the ingredients listed in the recipe.