Face Masks for Every Day of the Week
If you want an intensive treatment for a special occasion or a miracle mix that can address distress, it’s close at hand. We’ll give you the lowdown and show you seven nourishing masks that you can make at home using natural ingredients that will soften and tone your skin – whether you’re trying to look a bit less tired or you want a brighter look for the weekend. Here’s one for every day of the week!
Monday’s oats
Another manic Monday and you need a miracle. Well, we can’t necessarily promise that…but we can show you how to harness the power of porridge – without eating it – to energise and nourish your skin. All you have to do to whip up this face mask is to blend the porridge to a powder. Add a bit of warm water and leave it to cool for 10 minutes. Apply and let the mask rest on your skin for half an hour. Remove the mixture with cool water and you’ll feel supercharged – or, at least, a bit more capable of dealing with your commute.
Yo, Tuesday!
If Tuesday taunts you with ‘you want a piece of me?’, then meet it head on. Don’t let it remind you that you’re only on day two of your work week. Need reinforcements? Yoghurt’s on call for this special assignment. It luxuriously moisturises skin without leaving excess oil in its wake. What do you do? Simply apply plain yogurt (try soya, as dairy can be irritating to some) to your face and let it rest there for half an hour. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. That’s it? That’s it! Do it whilst you have your morning cuppa and you’ll be raring to go before you reach the bottom of the mug.
Wednesday’s clay day
Ah, hump day! Make it through and the end of the tunnel’s in view. You’ve had two gruelling days so far and your skin could use a nice, deep clean. Get a grip on that dirt and eradicate toxins and impurities without going down harsh road.
A mask that uses green clay will provide your skin with valuable minerals. You can purchase the base for this face mask at your local health food shop.
Gradually add warm water to the green clay powder until the texture is nice, smooth a free from lumps and clumps. Apply a fairly generous amount to your face, making sure to avoid the corners of your eyes, and leave it for between 20 and 30 minutes – at which point it should be dry. Gently rinse completely with warm water.
The beauty of this treatment is that it helps to eliminate excessive oil and shine. Skin on the dry side? Just replace the water with some non-dairy yogurt and follow the instructions above. Once you’ve removed the mask, moisturise well with your favourite cream, serum or oil.
If it’s Thursday, it must be citrus
The weekend’s so close you can feel it. You’re feeling a bit brighter now and your face should reflect that. How best to evict the filth from your skin? Look no further than only little, ole lemon! It’s a great sprucer-upper and a perfect purifier. With a dash of agave, it’ll also give you a glow and leave you more supple.
Mix the zest of one lemon with a tablespoon or two of agave. You’re going to get a bit sticky, but heat it up on a low setting to thin it. Once it’s room temperature, spread the blend over your face and leave it for 30 minutes. Rinse it off and behold your dazzling self.
Friday’s a bit cuke-y
After what seems an eternity, your friend Friday finally shows – and you’re ready to take her out on the town. The body’s willing but your face is telling a different story. Fatigued and looking a bit sad, you’ll wonder how you’re going to rescue this. Get fighting fit with the unlikeliest of heroes: cucumber. Mild-mannered cuke will reboot your skin, moisturising and firming it up to the reinvigorated max.
How do you benefit from this extraordinary plant? Just add a bit of rice milk to a grated cucumber. It will be quite runny, so use some cotton wool to absorb it. Run the saturated cotton across your face as if you were removing the last dregs of makeup. Before you assume a comfortable position, grab two slices of cucumber and make your way to the nearest bed or settee for a lie down. Cover your closed eyes with the cucumber and feel vitality being restored right then and there.
Rest for at least 20 minutes, then rinse your face and put on your dancing shoes. PS: This treatment is also a good one to end the day. It zaps the last vestiges of muck from your face and leaves it prepared for the beauty sleep ahead.
‘Ave a go avocado Saturday
Even if your wild Friday night consisted of two beers, a takeaway and falling asleep in front of Gogglebox, the week will have taken its toll and collected its spoils by Saturday. You still feel as if you could sleep for a thousand years, so you need a boost. Time to nourish your skin to an optimal glow. Avocado will do the job! Make this mask with half an avo. Use a fork to mash it until it’s smooth and creamy. There’s no fuss as avocado flies solo. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals and fabulous fatty acids – no assistance required! Put the mashed fruit directly on your face and leave it until it has dried, then wash it off with lukewarm water. Finish with a splash of cold.
Lazy lavender Sunday
They say that Sunday is a day of rest. The same goes for your face. Just relax! Prepare a strong lavender infusion by adding oil or fresh lavender to water and boiling. Let it steep for a few minutes, then remove and let cool to just above room temperature. Saturate a cotton pad with the tea and gently sweep it across your face. Breathe the soothing scent of the lavender and enjoy this simple treat for rest and repair.
