Easy-to-Find Ingredients for At-Home Facials

While shopping for a new pair of killer eyeglasses, you flip the mirror and come in contact with a microscope. 

You can't believe your eyes.  A new colony has taken shelter on your nose.  Craters that would impress the Apollo team are surfacing on your cheek.  A subdermal pimple is seeking an alien invason and just when you go in for a quick squeeze...."Ma'am, do you like the frames?" I am too young to be called Ma'am, bitch.

You need a facial desperately but you don’t trust the crap-in-a-box at your neighborhood drugstore, which is perfectly capable of leaving you with more problems than you started with.

There are many ways to get your lovely face scrubbed and rubbed right in your kitchen. Your pantry, cabinet and fridge house all the ingredients you need to beautify in a cinch without the pocket pinch. (That’s right, Mrs. Childs. Don’t mess with Dr. Seuss)

EXFOLIATE

What you need: Fuji Apples OR Papaya and Pineapples

Why: Fuji apples have a rougher texture and contain malic acid - an alpha hydroxy acid that is great for exfoliation and hydration. Papaya and pineapple juice contain enzymes that give good face.

How: Take the Fuji apples and slice them. Remove all the seeds and gently rub in a circular motion. When you are finished, squeeze the juice out and apply like a toner or splash. You can also dip a cloth in the Fuji juice and dab on your face for a more intense treatment.

How: Just mix a little papaya with some pineapple juice and apply to your face.

DEFOLIATE AND BRIGHTEN

What you need: Rice Flour

Why: Rice flour is a wonderful defoliator and brightener all-in-one. It is great for reviving the skin after pulling an all-nighter.

How: Mix Rice flour with some water and use as a morning cleanse.

BREAKOUTS AND BLACKHEADS

What you need: Baking Soda

Why: Baking soda is great for disincrusting (great term, eh?) breakouts and softening blackheads. While you’re at it, give Charlotte back her mirror.  No one needs to get that personal with her pores.

How: Mix baking soda with water to create a runny consistency. Dip a piece of cloth in the solution and apply it to your face like a mummy. A hot mummy.

BONUS FRUITY TIP: Use a cotton ball to apply lemon or grapefruit juice for added cleansing, exfoliating and brightening.

ACNE/OILY SKIN TREATMENT

What you need: Tomatoes

Why: Tomatoes have antioxidant qualities that can prevent skin damage and help tighten pores, which helps reduce the likelihood of an acne breakout.

How: Slice tomatoes and lay them on your skin. If you tend to be a little inflamed, cold compresses are great to relieve the swelling of unsightly blemishes.

BONUS: AT-HOME SPA RECIPE

Light a soy candle, grab Susan Boyle’s newest CD and rub-a-dub-dub your woes away.  Here’s a quick at-home recipe using chamomile - a very calming and powerful anti-inflammatory agent.

Cucumber and Aloe Vera Face and Eye Mask

Ingredients:

* Aloe Vera from the plant

* Cold cucumbers

* Chamomile tea bags

* Rose petals or lavender

Preparation: Steep the chamomile tea. Gently wet your face with a steaming washcloth soaked in rose petals, lavender or chamomile water. Slice the cucumber. Place cucumbers or chamomile tea bags in the freezer for five minutes. Apply this mask to face while lying down. Place aloe vera around the face, neck and eye area. Place sliced cold cucumbers around the face and over eyes. Let sit for 15 minutes. Wash face off with same steaming washcloth soaked in rose petals and lavender. Then add juice from steeped chamomile with a cotton ball for a great refreshing splash.

Good night, my dear. Beauty sleep awaits.

-Sara