homemade masks

The skin is the only organ that is in constant contact with the outside world. In this sense, the hands and face are the most exposed to inclement weather, as well as to external agents that can damage them, such as pollution.

To have healthy skin we need a series of cares that help us both to heal and protect it. To do this, it is important to:

• Wash your face twice a day even if you don't wear makeup.
• Use creams with sun protection all year round.
• Do not use aggressive cosmetics that can destroy the skin's protective barrier.
• Use moisturizer every day.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use homemade face masks once a week. They help eliminate the stress of a horrible day at the office and unsightly dry skin, minimize pores and eliminate blemishes.

Facial masks work from the outside in to restore the skin's maximum luminosity, beauty and relaxation. They not only slow down the signs of ageing and fatigue, but also repair, nourish and hydrate the skin. By penetrating slowly and deeply, the nutrients are absorbed over hours.

Depending on their ingredients, their effects are to hydrate and nourish the skin, smoothing it; eliminate sebum and impurities; firm, relax and regenerate; eliminate dead cells and produce a cooling effect; or facilitate the absorption of active ingredients with specific actions (nutritive, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, soothing, biostimulant, etc.).

DRY SKIN

Dry skin needs, above all, hydration, as well as protection against external factors that dry it out.

This type of skin can be cared for with masks in the form of creams or ointments, with ingredients that reinforce the lipid barrier and the natural moisturizing factor.

Hydration is achieved through vegetable oils and moisturizers, capable of retaining water in the skin, thus avoiding dehydration caused by environmental factors (wind, cold, heat...) and its consequences (dryness, peeling and cracks).

The most commonly used are glycerin, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, betaine and urea; all of them are found naturally in our skin.

Vegetable oils and butters compensate for the lack of fat due to the low activity of the sebaceous glands and reduce water loss by forming a layer on the surface of the epidermis that slows it down.

The most moisturizing oils are those rich in oleic acid, such as olive, avocado, apricot and almond oils, as well as shea, cocoa, mango and avocado butters.

SKIN WITH SPOTS

In this case, the main objective is to protect yourself from solar radiation. Likewise, it is advisable to force the renewal of the epidermis by exfoliating with alpha hydroxy acids, crushed olive stones, sugar and other exfoliating powders.

Since dark spots can appear on any skin type, experts recommend choosing a foundation that suits your needs and adding some active ingredients that can help, such as hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid, vitamin C, licorice and blackberry extracts. Also niacinamide (vitamin B3)… All of them are aimed at inhibiting the action of the amino acid tyrosine, involved in hyperpigmentation.

OILY SKIN

The main objective of cosmetics for oily skin is to reduce the amount of sebum on the skin and keep at bay the microorganisms that can infect the pores and cause pimples. It is advisable to remove it with micellar water or a make-up remover oil.

The best mask is based on green clay to which an infusion of plants that help close the pores is added, such as geranium, rose or chestnut.

The action of the mask can be reinforced with astringent active ingredients that help close pores and reduce excess oil, such as allantoin, caffeine, brewer's yeast or ivy and sage extract.

SKIN WITH ACNE

Acne is an inflammation of the skin that usually appears during adolescence on the face, neck, upper chest and back. It develops at the base of the hair shaft due to the over-functioning of the sebaceous glands, which become infected and form pimples. The bacteria responsible for this infection is Propionibacterium acnes.

The first objective is to disinfect and heal the skin, while acting against seborrhea.

In this case, the mask base would be made of absorbent powders, such as clay or mud, to which is added an infusion of plants that reduce sebum production and close the pores, such as fucus, nettle, centella asiatica, arnica, ivy and brewer's yeast.

It can be reinforced with anti-acne active ingredients such as azelaic acid, alpha bisabolol, allantoin and vitamins A and B3.

MATURE SKIN

To slow down the aging process, it is essential to moisturize, nourish and protect the skin from aggressive environmental factors, at the same time providing it with the ingredients that should be naturally present to keep it healthy and detoxify it.

It also promotes periodic exfoliation, because it stimulates the regeneration process and eliminates dead cells.

To protect and regenerate mature skin, the most appropriate base mask is a cream with deeply penetrating oils such as rosehip, evening primrose, jojoba, argan, wheat germ and borage to which moisturizing and regenerating active ingredients such as hydrolyzed wheat proteins, hyaluronic acid, collagen and marine elastin will be added.

In addition, vitamins A, B3, C and E, which are antioxidants, help reduce wrinkles caused by sunlight.

SENSITIVE SKIN

The first thing a person with this type of skin should avoid are allergenic or irritating substances such as: benzoic acid, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acids and urea: ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or ingredients containing cinnamic acid (various essential oils).

Sensitive skin, on the other hand, will appreciate gentle ingredients such as sunflower oil, sesame oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, grape oil, etc.

The base of the mask has to be soft, in the form of a gel or cream to which you can add moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin that retain water in the skin and prevent dryness that causes itching and irritation.

In this case, you can also add infusions of anti-inflammatory and soothing plants such as chamomile, calendula, pansy, plantain, mallow and linden.

To reinforce the soothing effect of the mask, you can add some active ingredients such as alpha bisabolol, found in chamomile essential oil, and vitamin E.

Between eleven-step skincare routines, city pollution, and dust, our skin can get overwhelmed and irritation and redness are inevitable. Let a homemade face mask recipe soothe and calm your skin in an instant.

WHAT DO YOU NEED:

• 1 teaspoon of honey

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

• ¼ ripe avocado.

• 2 drops of lavender oil

HOW IT WORKS:

Like a great glow in a cup, this face mask delivers deep hydration from coconut oil, gives your skin a boost of antioxidants from honey, and soothes redness from lavender oil. Mix it together and spread it on with a face mask brush for the ultimate spa experience at home. 30 minutes will do the trick.

A flaky forehead is no fun, but if your current moisturizer isn't doing much to quench your dry skin, look no further than this homemade hydrating face mask.

WHAT DO YOU NEED:

• 1/2 Avocado

• 1 tablespoon of honey

• A handful of oats or oat bran

HOW IT WORKS:

Thanks to the ultra-nourishing oils and the addition of avocado puree that will eliminate any roughness, your skin will be silky smooth. If you don't have any at home, replace it with 3 tablespoons of milk. 15 minutes will be enough.

If a dull, lackluster complexion is your biggest problem, you need this mask in your life, and it doesn't contain any acids.

WHAT DO YOU NEED:

• 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

• 1/4 papaya

• A splash of aloe vera gel

HOW IT WORKS:

Aloe vera is packed with vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, meaning its radiance-boosting, skin-smoothing, and hydrating properties are unrivaled. Combined with papaya, which is packed with exfoliating enzymes that will dissolve dead skin cells, it will take your face mask (and your skin) to the next level.

Simply place the three ingredients in a bowl, mix, let it sit for ten minutes and remove with a tissue.

Despite what you may have heard, there's actually no real way to 'eliminate' pores, but there are clever ways to hide them.

WHAT DO YOU NEED:

• 1 egg white

• 1 tablespoon of honey

• A little lemon juice

HOW IT WORKS:

Both egg white and lemon juice have clever astringent properties that firm the skin and make enlarged pores much less noticeable. It is the perfect priming ritual. Including honey is important as it will increase the skin's moisture levels and provide suppleness.

We're only just beginning to understand the damaging effects that environmental aggressors like pollution have on our skin, but that's where this smart potion comes in.

WHAT DO YOU NEED:

• A handful of ground almonds

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

HOW IT WORKS:

It may not seem like much, but the fatty acid content in almonds is able to penetrate the skin, leaving it soft and supple, while the vitamin E in olive oil acts as a shield against free radicals that can cause dullness, dehydration and fine lines.

Leave it on for 10 minutes, but before rinsing it off, gently massage the paste into your skin to remove daily dirt, makeup, dead skin cells and oil.