This weekend the kitchen worktop was scattered with a variety of ingredients: Avocado, banana, honey, oatmeal, lemon, cocao and yoghurt. Was this a Ready Steady Cook challenge when the chefs compete to cook a meal out of ‘a bag’ of goodies in just ten minutes? No. We were having a beauty evening and these were our face mask ingredients. Who doesn't want to be seen as a (domestic) goddess?
One of my favourite TV personalities is Nigella Lawson (note I say TV personality because she has no professional training as chef or cook). To me she is THE (Domestic) Goddess. I watch in awe as this gorgeous, charismatic woman prepare lavish dishes often overdressed for the occasion (not an apron in sight) hair flowing gracefully around her shoulders. Or she is under-dressed: I was amazed to watch a video of her preparing Christmas dinner in a beautiful satin (or silk?) dressing gown! If I followed her approach in the kitchen I would be a walking fire hazard, my dressing gown would be scorched, stained and ruined, and it would be horrific to watch someone remove a strand of hair from their plate/mouth... So be it…I resign myself to falling somewhat short of being a domestic goddess. Practical clothes, check. Hair tied back, check. I do however own 'a little black dress' apron, that's as glam as it gets.
Nigella has such a passion for food and more importantly a passion for eating, especially rich and indulgent food. Seemingly with little regard for her figure, which is fantastic. With her shapely curves she is seductive and flirtuous, also gaining the title queen of food porn. She is like Marmite, you either love her or hate her; she awakens something in all of us whether it is jealousy or admiration.
Has this glamorous, stunningly beautiful woman of 49 years old (in 2009, yes, it is amazing!) stumbled on the fountain of eternal youth? I wonder if she is sharing her recipes but keeping her beauty secrets close to her voluptuous bosom. Perhaps she has accidentally discovered the benefits of using certain food for nourishing her perfect flawless skin. It seems that the same things that are good for the inside are also good for the outside. It must be more advantageous to cover your skin with something containing no chemicals, additives, preservatives or colouring... Ancient beauties like Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey, which at the time was considered very extravagant.
Today the cost of ingredients for face masks is minimal, compared to the cost of most ready-made beauty products. I think we all have some concerns about parabens and microbeads. Furthermore they are quick and simple to make. Our little mixes looked quite delicious too... in fact almost good enough to eat!
We used ground oatmeal (ground in a pestle and mortar), which works as an exfoliant and absorbs impurities, mixed with yoghurt, which also cleanses and hydrates the skin together with honey which is effective as an antiseptic, and a healer of minor skin damages, allergies or skin rashes as well as being a skin brightener, revitalising its texture.
Oatmeal face mask:
1/2 cup/100gr Oatmeal, ground.
1/4 cup/50gr Yoghurt
2 tablesp. honey.
Another mask included banana, which is anti-age, good for wrinkles, or skin damaged by the elements (sun-burn/sore winter weathered skin) and helps to moisturise the skin, suitable for sensitive skin. With honey and oatmeal.
Banana face mask:
1 banana, mashed.
1-2 tablesp. honey
Add a little ground oatmeal to thicken but keep a good spreading consistency.
Another mask we used was avocado, highly hydrating, mixed with honey and yoghurt particularly suitable for dry skin types. I choose this particular mask and was left with soft, fresh and smooth skin, no tightness at all.
Avocado face mask:
1 avocado.
1-2 tablesp. yoghurt
1-2 tablesp. honey
Then we had a luxury looking chocolate mask, with cocoa, high in antioxidant (Note: not the chocolate-drink mix with sugar!), yoghurt and honey and a little ground oatmeal to get a good consistency. This is an anti-age mask; the antioxidants absorb 'free radicals' (by-products) which can cause cell and tissue damage.
Chocolate Face mask:
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp. yoghurt
1 tbsp. honey
1 tsp ground oatmeal
These were the basic mixes which we then personalised by adding 2-3 drops of (essential) oils:
Vitamin E oil for its healing (reduces scarring) and calming properties which helps to prevent skin eruptions and essential oil in this case Tea Tree Oil good against acne and helps heal cuts and burns.
DO NOT use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tea tree oil (and lavender) can simulate the effects of the female hormone oestrogen and cause an imbalance!
Other natural ingredients that I have done some research on, but have beneficial properties in homemade face masks, and perhaps will use next time include:
Tomatoes- for oily skin types.
Strawberries- cleanses and exfoliates the skin...but - I would sooner EAT mine with cream!
Kiwi-exfoliant & cleanser especially suited for oily skin.
Mint-acne.
Lemon juice- is helpful for greasy skin types as is a mixture of yoghurt and yeast. Lemon is a bleaching agent and can lighten the skin and reduce freckles.
Tumeric- helps to reduce skin blemishes and give a glowing skin.
Olive oil- helps to replenish dry skin types, normally combined with egg yolk (hydrates, suitable for dry skin type), honey and oatmeal. Egg white- is great for oily skins, tightening pores. As I have a raw egg phobia,I would pass. I try to limit the use of raw eggs.
Cucumber refreshes the skin, cools and relaxes tired skin.
Ground coffee- high in antioxidants.
Pumpkin- with properties for skin healing & antioxidant. Use on environmentally damaged or sensitive skin.
Apples- high in antioxidants.
Pre-application TIPS:
Examine your skin and determine your type of skin and decide what type of treatment you require i.e. a scrub/exfoliant, a hydrating, an anti-age/firming, a deep cleansing, or a calming/ soothing facial. Don't use ingredients on you face that you have an allergy for!
Blend the ingredients together. Cleanse your face first removing all traces of make-up and dirt; apply the mask, avoiding the area around the eyes. But you needn't forget your eyes altogether, use (moistened) teabags, slices of cucumber or failing that even water moistened cotton wool pads will effectively relieve and help to reduce puffiness. Sit down for 15-20 minutes and unwind. Remove with warm water (not too hot especially if you use egg otherwise you WILL end up with scrambled egg on your face!). Finish with a good splash of cold water and apply a moisturiser. Admire your glowing skin! You have become a goddess.
Most of these ingredients are basic ingredients so its not even necessary to rush off to the supermarket for special purchases. Instead rush into the kitchen and get mixing, not only your inner self but also your 'outside' needs nourishing.
It is time for pampering, in today’s busy lifestyle we often need to be reminded to stop and relax, say goodbye to the environmental stress affecting the areas that are exposed day after day.
Get together with a group of friends as we did, we combined it with an Italian home cooked meal, foot spas and foot massages. (and some other activities that I won't divulge)
It will give you a psychological boost; re-rejuvenate the skin and you'll have great fun too!
Guaranteed to lift your spirits- if you sit back with a nice glass of red wine and some Quality Street as we did! (It is however not recommended to eat or laugh as the mask is drying)
Go back to basics... do a bit of DIY and reap the benefits. Join the many beautiful women that have gone before you over the centuries...Within twenty minutes you too will be feeling like a goddess as nature works its wonderful magic.
I tried to make everyone in the photograph as unrecognisable as possible, I think I have achieved ;-)
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