Many stay away from anything homemade and organic when it comes to beauty, usually because of the exhaustive list of ingredients and the many steps involved in making them. So why don’t we take the pain out of beauty from the gardens, and leave you with just the joys of good skin and pure ingredients? Here are 10 very easy face masks with just one (or two, we promise!) ingredients that help you achieve your skin goals the organic way.
Puree Some Greens Face Mask
So greens are bursting with iron, calcium, and plenty of other good things that our bodies need to stay healthy. And we all know their detoxifying benefits as well. But when you pluck those greens (like spinach, mustard, kale, chard, or more) to blanch and puree, you can steal some for your skin as well. So all you need to do is take some of that green puree (just blanch and whiz) and apply it all over your face and neck. Keep on for 5-10 minutes and wash off for skin that looks cleaner, seems to have less open pores, and glows with all the acidic goodness of greens.
Bashed Up Papaya Face Massage Mask
Papaya is full of the goodness of AHAs or alpha-hydroxy acids plus a host of digestive enzymes. Eating papaya does your system a whole lot of good—and anything healthy that is ingested will add its goodness to the skin as well. But papaya can also do your skin some good when applied due to its AHA content, which can aid in sloughing off that dead skin cell layer and banish dullness. To apply, all you have to do is mash it a bit with your hand and apply the goop to your skin. Keep on for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water for happier skin.
Bruised Strawberry Fresh Face Mask
Why strawberries? Same AHA principle with some brightening benefits added in (think malic acid). And for this face mask, reach into your garden (or refrigerator) for a strawberry and smoosh it with your hands. Sniff the gorgeous aroma while you massage this fruit on your face and keep on for 5-10 minutes. Wash off for some peaches and cream complexion—now how’s that for a fruity analogy?
Burst Open Some Aloe Face Mask
Aloe vera is great for the skin, we all know that. To get its benefits, pluck one leaf and wash it well, especially the undersides. Now break open the leaf by slitting it in the middle and scoop out the gel. Use this gel to massage your skin and leave it on till it dries—some 5-10 minutes. Wash off for naturally moisturized and softer skin.
Smell Like A Rose Face Mask
Roses are rich in antibacterial and antioxidant action, which is why rose water is so lauded for the skin. To get the best out of your garden’s blooms, pluck a few sweet-smelling roses and pound the rose petals (with a pestle) till you get a paste of sorts. Apply this to your face, neck and décolletage and wash off after 5 minutes for an amazingly tinted glow. Make sure the roses you use are red and sweet-smelling. (Hybrid roses minus the distinctive scent are not so great for the skin.)
Go Mellow Yellow Marigold Face Mask
And while the marigold is not the rose, it’s certainly no less good for the skin. To use, you can mash up the petals of 2-3 marigold flowers with a mortar and pestle, and add a teaspoon of yogurt to form a paste. Apply this on sensitive, sunburnt, or acne-prone skin and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Lemon It Up Face Mask
For people prone to skin problems, outbursts, and build-ups: slice a lemon into rings. Rub one ring onto the affected skin (keeping away from the eyes and lips) and keep on for five minutes. Wash off with warm water and apply your preferred skin moisturizer to keep away the dryness. Do this twice a week at most for lemon can dry the skin.
Takes A Mango To Tango Face Mask
Remember the AHAs in papaya? Well, they are there in mangoes, too. So scoop up a bit of that delicious and healthy flesh and rub it all over your skin. Keep on for 10-minutes and wash off for a glowing visage.
A Basic Basil Face Mask
Antibacterial, antifungal, and a great antioxidant, basil can fix skin woes rather quick. Pound some basil leaves into a paste and apply the green goop all over your face. Keep on for 5-10 minutes and wash off for a skin that looks far healthier than before.
Minty Fresh Skin Face Mask
A little too many blemishes? Well, mint can be your best friend since it is a decent source of salicylic acid. Mash mint leaves with a little yogurt to form a thick paste. Apply onto skin you need a little help for—the herbal action of mint will help take away those spots and also dry up any impending acne.
Caring for your skin doesn’t have to be a mishmash of synthetic chemicals. And remember, there is nothing inconvenient in homemade DIY skin care—it just takes a bit of improvising and your daily kitchen routine can aid in helping your daily CTM: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
