Turns out – the ingredients in my kitchen and grocery cart have a lot more to offer than I thought. Not only do they curb my cravings but they offer a host of amazing beauty benefits.
And seeing that they’re natural AND cheaper, you can kill two birds with one stone! Here are some unusual-yet-awesome face masks you need to know about this winter:
1. The Anti-Aging Wine Mask
While I’m totally comfortable with laugh lines on my face, I could do without wrinkles. The secret ingredient to this mask is the bottle of Merlot in your fridge. Turns out wine has ‘resveratol’ known to fight off UVA damage and helps prevent fine lines.
You need: 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, 3-4 tablespoons of red wine. Whisk all ingredients together till they blend. Since this face pack will be very thin on consistency, use a brush to apply it on your face and neck. Take it off with a washcloth when it goes dry.
2. The Adult Acne Fighting Mask
The changing weather or makeup brushes can make you feel like a teenager – and not in a good way. Adult acne is a real thing, and I’ve got the solution. Turns out, good bacteria for the gut, in this case, Lactobacillus, is really good for the face too!
You need: 3 tablespoons of Greek yoghurt and 1 probiotic capsule. Just pop the capsule, mix the goodness with the yoghurt and apply this rather thick mask on your face with cotton. Wait for 10-12 minutes and rinse off with cool water.
(You can buy probiotic capsules here.)
3. The Deep Cleanse Mud Mask
I know you love a tall cup of latte but the goodness of coffee for your skin has been spoken about in plenty. When combined with purifying ingredients like clay and apple cider vinegar, you’ve got yourself a sweet deal.
You need: 2 tablespoons clay (use White Kaolin Clay for mild exfoliation of impurities, which is suitable for sensitive skin. For a deeper cleanser, use Bentonite Clay which gets rid of bad bacteria, dead skin, blackheads and sebum), 1 tablespoon of coffee (well grounded) and 1 spoon of apple cider vinegar or rose water (if you have sensitive/irritated skin, it’s best to use rose water).
Use a wooden spoon to mix all ingredients till it forms a thick paste. Apply on face and neck with your fingers. Rinse with warm water.
(Both White Kaolin Clay and Bentonite Clay are available on online portals – such as eBay.)
4. The Pineapple Face Polisher
Nothing better than an exfoliating face mask to end a long night and wake up to fresh, dewy skin. Pineapples have a ton of fruit acids making it a gentle yet effective exfoliator!
You need: 1 tablespoon fresh pineapple juice (I like to keep some of the pulp too), 2 tablespoons avocado, 1 tablespoon raw honey, shredded coconut (optional).
Mash the avocado to make it into a paste and add the other ingredients, while constantly stirring. Apply with clean hands and keep it on for 10-15 minutes. Before washing, ensure you use your fingertips to slough off dead skin cells. Rinse with tepid water.
(Manavi Siddhanti is a beauty and lifestyle blogger and runs a blog, beforbeauty.com. You can contact her on manavi@beforbeauty.com.)
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