We are all familiar with the gold medal of golden beverages: BEER. Many of us rather enjoy a crisp one here and there, some more, some less. I, for one, love the stuff! Not that I ever really want to give up even the slightest bit of my bevy, but there is a very tempting reason I do once … or twice … or every now and again. As it turns out, as we learned many moons ago in ancient Egypt, beer has great skincare benefits. Beer is said to have been used by wealthy women back then to cleanse and keep skin looking young and moisturized. They also used it to treat and prevent different skin conditions from arising. If it’s good enough for them, I say it’s good enough for me to try. We all might not have this in our pantries, but I bet there are a good amount of you that do or can easily find this in a family member or friend’s fridge.
So here we go with some knowledge on our friendly suds: Beer goes through a fermentation process where it uses water, starch, malted barley, brewer’s yeast, and hops. Brewer’s yeast is a big player in this skincare treatment. It contains loads of antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins such as B12, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and biotin. Hops contains protein, which we know the hair and skin both love as well. Beer also regulates the skin’s natural pH level and helps with the overproduction of oils to help fight acne. It also holds other bacteria killing properties, which is why it is often used to cleanse the skin as a means to ending acne breakouts. With its combination of nutrients and vitamins, beer rids the skin of dead cells, cleans the skin’s surface, and flushes deep into pores. This will, in turn, clean and brighten the skin as well. Most importantly, beer’s nourishing properties increase elasticity which reduces wrinkles and allows skin to look more youthful. Heck, why not give it a whirl? Go crack a cold one and let’s get started!
It is important to note that the hoppier beers like IPA’s and Pale Ales contain higher contents of the important-active ingredients. So try to use them, if possible. Here are some simple and effective masks for most skin types:
All Skin-Type Mask Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Beer
1 Egg White
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Add Almond Oil or Coconut for Dryer Skin (you can skip for acneic skin)
Acne Mask Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Beer
1 Tablespoon Plain Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Procedure: Grab your measuring tools, a bowl, and a fork or whisk. Combine all ingredients in the bowl after measuring. Whisk well (about 10-15 seconds), until the egg gets frothy and bubbly. Make sure you apply to a clean face; a steam beforehand can be extra beneficial for a deep cleaning. This concoction makes for a very soupy mask, so be sure to apply with care. To get an even application, spread all over face in layers. Leave for about 20 minutes. The egg will probably make the face feel tight, don’t worry it’s just doing its job. Rinse well with warm water, and splash with cold to close the pores. Follow with your skin care regimen and hydrating moisturizer.
You can save the leftovers for an additional application, so make sure to put in the refrigerator. It should last for a week, if properly stored. If treating acneic skin, you can apply twice a week, but avoid applying two days in a row. This may over-dry the skin.
Acne Wash Ingredients:
1 Beer
Water
Procedure: Simply replace your face wash with beer, wash all over in a circular motion. Rinse and follow with your skincare regimen. Repeat daily for best results.
Feel free to leave comments below, or ask questions.