After living many years with inflamed skin, I have narrowed down my favorite three skin soothing face masks. I have tried a ton of things to decrease redness, scars and irritation and these 3 masks are my favorites. These keep my skin calm, soft and as smooth as it can be.
Aloe Vera – A number of years ago, a friend told me that her secret for smooth, incredible skin was to coat her face with fresh aloe before going to bed. She left fresh aloe gel on her face overnight and she woke with glowing skin. I have adapted this over the years. For one thing, dried aloe on your skin can feel a little itchy at first and it can mark your bed linens. So if you don’t mind these things, then go for it. If you do mind, you can still use this trick and apply it as a face mask when you have time. I keep aloe plants all around my house and when I am ready to apply, I make sure that my skin is clean and dry. Then I cut off an aloe leaf, slice it open and apply the inner gel right onto my skin. Sometimes this takes a few pieces of Aloe, depending on the size of the plant I use. I leave the gel on for as long as I can tolerate or for as long as I have time for, and then I wash and go. This trick has worked for my skin during breakouts and during times of clear skin as well. No matter when I do this, it leaves my skin hydrated and happy.
Honey – I apply raw organic honey on my face, about 20 minutes before I get in the shower. The shower works well to wash off my honey masks as honey can get in my hair, drip all over if I apply it too thickly and be a bit messier than other masks in general. The best two honey’s that I have used on my face are: 1. Manuka honey (grade of 10+UMF) Manuka honey has a higher concentration of minerals in it than other honey and it has additional anti-inflammatory properties. 2. Beekeeper’s Naturals B. Powered Honey which is a beautiful combination of honey, propolis and pollen in one. It is delicious to eat and it works wonders on my skin. This is a rockstar for your inside and your out!
Alitura Naturals Clay Mask – I love the clay mask made by Alitura Naturals and when I am looking for a deep cleaning and skin soothing mask, I reach for this one. It has been a game changer for my acne scars and skin discoloration resulting from years of acne. The founder of this company, Andy, healed his own skin using these combinations that he hand crafted. According to Andy, “Our skin is our largest organ and protects what lies within our bodies. The skin responds best to ingredients that come directly from the earth, rather than synthetic formulations or chemicals. Our mission at Alitura is to provide the highest quality products we can, and for that reason, we are anti-GMO and anti-chemicals.” One more tip here is if you are looking for a deeper, penetrating mask you can try mixing this with Apple Cider Vinegar and you might notice a difference.
I hope that you find these helpful if you are looking for a way to smooth, heal, and recover your skin.