LUX Wellness Week: DIY Summer Mask
By now you know, we are big fans of the DIY face mask for every season and every mood. Facial masks have been used in beauty regimes around the world for thousands of years. Even Cleopatra is reported to have been a big user of face masks as part of her regular routine. Give yourself the gift of a soothing treatment because let's face it... you're cool as a cucumber.
WHAT: LUX Summer Mask
HOW IT WORKS:
CUCUMBER – Used to hydrate and soften the skin whilst providing a cool, soothing sensation. Cucumbers also have the same PH balance as skin so are a great natural balancer. A couple of slices of cucumber over your eyes isn’t all for show either, as the natural properties in cucumber will help improve the appearance of tired, puffy eyes. You’ll notice that many soothing face/body lotions use cucumber.
OATMEAL – Not only calms the skin and reduces pore size but is also hypoallergenic and perfect for sensitive skin. When used with hydrating ingredients (like cucumber), oatmeal will help retain moisture for that ‘dewy’ appearance. It also makes a gentle exfoliate that won’t damage the skin. Oatmeal is often used in products targeted at sensitive skin or for eczema sufferers.
YOGURT – The lactic acid in yogurt helps to smooth rough, dry skin whilst dissolving dead skin and reducing enlarged pores. Yogurt also makes a fantastic skin mask when used by itself.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 RAW CUCUMBER
- 1 TBS NATURAL YOGURT
- 2-3 TBS OATS
DIRECTIONS:
Using a mini processor, blend the cucumber and yogurt in to a paste. Add the oats, one tablespoon at a time, and blend until you reach a consistency thick enough that the cucumber face mask won’t run off your face. The amount of oats will vary depending on the size/juiciest of your cucumber and the consistency of your yogurt. I used the entire 3 tablespoons of oats in my mask.
Apply the cucumber face mask in a thick paste to your face avoiding the eyes, mouth and hairline (I was washing my hair though so wasn’t too careful around the hair-line).
The mask needs 10-20 minutes to be most effective, so why not max out with a couple of slices of cucumber on your eyes?
To remove, simply add some warm water and massage the cucumber face mask using a circular motion (this will ensure you get the maximum benefits of the oatmeal exfoliator). Rinse the remainder off with warm water.
