There’s nothing quite like taking the time to pamper yourself. These homemade facial recipes are so quick and easy to prepare, there’ll always be time to relax!
In the summer my skin can really suffer from the high temperatures and dry atmosphere, so it’s important to give it a treat every now and then. Out here it is difficult to get hold of nice shop bought beauty products so once again I find myself making alternatives. So here are my go to DIY facial recipes. I’ve been using these recipes for a while now. They are so easy, cheap and effective that I don’t think I’ll ever go back to expensive shop bought versions, even if I had the chance!
Milky pre-cleanser
A lovely way to start a facial and prepare your skin. Add one drop of rose or frankincense essential oil to a tablespoon of milk and mix well. Soak a cotton pad in the mixture and massage lightly over the face, then rinse with tepid water.
Strawberry skin cleanser
This is good for all skin types, but particularly for those with oily skin. Mash a handful of strawberries to a pulp then blend with half a pint of milk. Apply to face and leave to dry. Rinse off with tepid water.
Deep pore-cleansing steamer
Place 1 tablespoon each of chopped parsley and chopped mint into a large bowl. Add 1 litre of boiling water and 2 drops of lavender oil. Steam your face over the bowl for 10 minutes covering your head with a towel to maximise the steam. Make sure not to get too close to the water – you don’t want to burn yourself. Finally wipe your face dry with a cotton pad.
Smoothing rosewater toner
To finish off, a simple but effective toner is just what is needed. This is scented with lovely roses and makes a really nice end to the process. Put 12 floz of rosewater, 2 floz of cider vinegar and 2 drops of rose essential oil into a bottle of jar and shake until combined. Use a cotton pad to wipe over your skin.
Alongside these treatments I often like to do a face mask – then sit back and relax with my favourite book for a while.
I’m always on the look out for new beauty recipes and DIYs – I’d love to hear about your favourite ones!