Homemade Beauty Recipes for Great Skin

You already know that the health of your skin is a reflection of the foods you put in your body. But what about the foods you put on it? Basic ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry can have surprisingly potent effects on your skin. “As an added bonus, a DIY facial or scrub is so fresh and smells so great,” says New York City-based celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. “As a skin care professional, I think ingredients that are fresh, natural and organic make for better results.”

Here are a few of Vargas’ favorite beauty recipes. To prepare, simply mix all the ingredients together, slather onto a clean face, leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse off. And because you’re using fresh ingredients, these recipes are best used right away, but they can be kept in the fridge for a day or two.

Pore-Cleansing Mask
1/2 cup plain, whole-milk yogurt
1/2 cup mashed strawberries
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons almond powder

The combination of yogurt, strawberry and honey helps to tighten pores and soothe inflammation, while the almond powder gently exfoliates to remove blackheads. When you apply this mixture, spend an extra minute scrubbing it onto your T-zone, where pores are most likely to be congested.

Exfoliating Mask
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons olive oil

Sugar is the perfect consistency for creating a scrub that can effectively slough off dead skin cells but is still gentle enough even for sensitive types. And the lactic acid in milk is another natural exfoliant. Massage this mask onto skin in circular motions, then leave on for a few extra minutes to allow ingredients to penetrate skin.

Moisturizing Mask
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons avocado
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 mashed mango

This potent combination is hydrating and anti-inflammatory, thanks to the honey and olive oil. Plus, avocado nourishes skin with essential fatty acids that help restore the skin’s lipid layer, and mango is rich in skin-brightening vitamin C.

Get all-natural beauty tips from The Kitchen and learn how to make a matcha mask.
Sally Wadyka is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist who writes about nutrition, health and wellness.

from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/1IdVDc1