Home-made whitening facial mask

Whitening facial masks can have a high cost, on your finances as well as on your skin. They often contain harsh ingredients to rid the skin of age spots and visible signs of sun damage. While they might reduce oil, you could end up with dry, irritated skin instead. 

With a few readily available ingredients, you can make a facial mask that not only whitens and brightens your skin, but also clarifies and reduces oil. The simplicity of making home-made facial masks also means you will spend little time or effort for spa-like results.

cucumber

Step 1

Cut a cucumber in half, peel the skin on the half, and cut it into slices. Place it in a blender or food processor. Cucumber adds vitamins A and C and antioxidants. It has mild bleaching properties and will sooth irritated or inflamed skin.

Aloe Leaf

Step 2

Squeeze about 2 tbsp. juice from an aloe leaf and add to the blender. Purchased aloe juice also works. Aloe contains antibiotic properties, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes.

Step 3

lemon

Squeeze approximately half of a lemon. Pour the juice in with the other ingredients. The lemon juice whitens the skin, works as an anti-fungal  and provides vitamin C, which reduces scars, according to Julie Gabriel in "The Green Beauty Guide."

lemon

Step 4

Measure 1 to 2 tbsp. of honey to add with other ingredients. Honey is antibacterial and soothes the skin. The mild, low-level of natural hydrogen peroxide in honey also promotes whitening.

milk

Step 5

Pour about 1 tbsp. whole milk or yoghurt or an egg white into the mixture. Any of them will add protein and act as a mild ex-foliating peel to remove dead skin cells.

Step 6

Grind kaolinite or white clay  (“ayilor”, “kalaba”)  and add to the mixture while you blend until it becomes a paste. The clay draws oils from the skin, provides minerals and has antibacterial properties.

Step 7

Apply the mask in a semi-thick layer over the face. Avoid getting it too close to the eyes because the citric acid in the lemon juice will sting. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and rinse with cool to warm water.

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References

• "The Green Beauty Guide;" Julie Gabriel; 2008 Cleveland Clinic: Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products.The Daily Green: Homemade Skin Care RecipesCare2: DIY Fruit Acid Skin Care

• http://www.livestrong.com

8 Home Facial Remedies (do-it-yourself)

For All Skin Types

Brighten: 

Cut a slice of ripe papaya and remove the seeds and pulp (save the pulp for a snack later—it’s great for digestion). Rub the inside of the papaya peel on your cleansed face, focusing on lines around the mouth and eyes, crow’s feet, thinning temples, neck and hands.Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with tepid water. This mask can be done twice a week. The enzymes in papaya ex-foliate  repair sun damage, diminish age spots and smooth skin. Your skin will look brighter, with a more polished finish.

Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water Every Morning

10 Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water Every Morning

1) Aids Digestion. Lemon juice flushes out unwanted materials and toxins from the body. It’s atomic composition is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating. The American Cancer Society actually recommends offering warm lemon water to cancer sufferers to help stimulate bowel movements.

2) Cleanses Your System / is a Diuretic. Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials in part because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Therefore toxins are released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.

3) Boosts Your Immune System. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds.  They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms plus it enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Lemons also reduce the amount of phlegm produced by the body.

4) Balances pH Levels. Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Sure, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they’re alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood. Disease states only occur when the body pH is acidic. Drinking lemon water regularly can help to remove overall acidity in the body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary causes of pain and inflammation.

5) Clears Skin. The vitamin C component as well as other antioxidants helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. It can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon water purges toxins from your blood, it would also be helping to keep your skin clear of blemishes from the inside out. The vitamin C contained in the lemon rejuvenates the skin from within your body.

6) Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood. The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

7) Promotes Healing. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. As noted previously, vitamin C also displays anti-inflammatory properties. Combined, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

8) Freshens Breath. Besides fresher breath, lemons have  been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of this. No not brush your teeth just after drinking your lemon water. It is best to brush your teeth first, then drink your lemon water, or wait a significant amount of time after to brush your teeth. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with purified water after you finish your lemon water.

9) Hydrates Your Lymph System. Warm water and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can definitely feel the side effects, which include: feeling tired, sluggish, decreased immune function, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep, lack of mental clarity and feeling stressed, just to name a few.

10) Aids in Weight Loss. Lemons are high in pectin fibre, which helps fight hunger cravings. Studies have shown people who maintain a more alkaline diet, do in fact lose weight faster. I personally find myself making better choices throughout the day, if I start my day off right, by making a health conscious choice to drink warm lemon water first thing every morning.

 Source: tastyyummies

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