Eggs are E(gg)xcellent

So I know eggs aren’t for everyone but, for those of you that have them in your kitchen, let me tell you why they’re one of my favorite skincare DIY ingredients. 

Eggs are packed full of nutrients and vitamins which make them greatly beneficial for all skin types. They contain high concentrations of protein, collagen, amino acids, and vitamins which hydrate, soften, tighten, and firm the skin's elasticity. It’s no wonder they’re a perfect-main ingredient for so many skin recipes. You will see the difference right away after using the egg white alone! Upon application, the face is immediately glowing with glee and looks almost like a mid-life facelift. Just be careful when applying to not let them run in your eyes or mouth. Here are a few of my go-to’s that I recommend to friends and clients. Enjoy!

Dry Skin Egg Mask: 

This mask is great for when your skin is feeling a bit dry or dehydrated, even oily skin can benefit. Use a full egg for extra dry skin.

Procedure: Take one egg and separate from yolk (unless you want to use the full egg), and put in a bowl. Add in a scoop of avocado, mash, and mix well. Use a very ripe avocado (or one that’s on its way out) for blending. Apply to the face and neck and leave on for 10-20 minutes. Rinse with water and follow with your regular skincare regimen. Store remaining ingredients in the refrigerator for up to one week. This mask can be applied 2-3 times a week. 

Ingredients/Tools:

• 1 Egg White (full egg for extra dry skin)

• 1 Tbsp. Avocado

• Bowl

• Fork

Oily or Acne Skin Egg Mask: Egg whites are great for tightening the pores and lemon works well for a deep cleanse.

Ingredients/Tools:

• 1 Egg White

• 1½ Tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice

• Bowl

• Fork

Procedure: Separate the egg white from the yolk (or keep depending on your skin). Add the measured fresh lemon juice and blend well. Apply to face or affected areas for 10-15 minutes. Rinse well and follow with a gentle skincare regimen. Store the remaining ingredients in the refrigerator for up to one week. This mask can be applied 1-2 times a week.

Glowing and Hydrating Egg Mask: Using these ingredients will help to cleanse, exfoliate, brighten, hydrate and increase circulation in the skin.

Ingredients/Tools:

1 Egg White (leave yolk for extra moisture)

1 Tbsp. Honey

Plain Yogurt

½ Tsp. Cinnamon*

-OR- 

Ingredients/Tools:

• 1 Egg White (leave yolk for extra moisture)

• 1 Tbsp. Honey

• ½ Tsp. Cinnamon*

Procedure:  Separate egg white from the yolk (or keep depending on your skin), placing the egg into a bowl. Add your chosen recipe of ingredients and mix well. Apply mask all over the face, leaving on skin for 10-20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water and splash with cold. Follow with your gentle skincare regimen. Store remaining ingredients in the refrigerator for up to one week. This mask can be applied 2-3 times a week.

*If too sensitive to cinnamon, replace with lemon or apple cider vinegar. 

Roses are Red...

Although most of us love roses because of their beauty, scent and symbolic value, some of us love them for entirely other reasons. You may or may not know this but, roses have many nourishing components for your skin. So, when all the joy is gone from receiving a dozen and two, why not repurpose those petals instead of trashing them? Well, I can, and so can you, it's really not all that complicated. I’ll get to the how-to's in just a moment, but first here are some facts about our flowered friends.

Roses contain a high concentration of Vitamins C & E which help calm and soothe the skin. These vitamins provide active anti-inflammatory properties and anti-bacterial components which deeply cleanse, moisturize, brighten, and protect the skin against environmental pollutants. That’s what makes them such a great cleanser, oil, mask, bath, or spray. That’s also what makes them the key ingredient in many skincare treatments and beauty products. It’s no coincidence that you find rosehip oil and rose water tonic at your local pharmacy. But why spend a fortune when their properties can be repurposed at home for free? It’s time to put those roses to good use: 

Rose Petal Hydrating Mask:

• 6-8 Rose Petals

• 3-4 Tbsp Distilled Water

• 2 Tsp Honey

• 1 Tsp Plain Yogurt (optional)

Procedure: Soak rose petals for 30 minutes to 60 minutes; the longer they soak, the more nutrients will be extracted. Mix and mash petals in a bowl. Add honey and yogurt to the soaked petals and water. Apply all over skin in a gentle circular motion. Allow to sit for 20 minutes.  

Rose Petal Hydrating/Moisturizing Scrub:

• 8-10 Rose Petals

• 3-4 Tbsp Distilled Water

• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil or Almond Oil Or Avocado Oil

• 1/2 Tbsp Sugar

Procedure: Soak rose petals for 30 minutes to 60 minutes; the longer they soak, the more nutrients will be extracted. Mix and mash petals in a bowl with water. Choose an oil and add the preferred amount to the water and petals. If using coconut oil, be sure to warm and liquefy for better blending results. Finally, add sugar for exfoliation. Mix all ingredients into a relatively even consistency. Apply all over skin in a gentle circular motion. Allow to sit for 20 minutes, rinse very well if using coconut oil. 

Rose Water Cleanser:

• 7-10 Rose Petals

• 3-4 Tbsp Distilled Water

• 2 Tbsp Honey

• 1-2 Tsp Milk (optional)

Procedure: Soak rose petals in distilled water for about 2 hours. Crush and mix petals in water, then stir in honey (and milk). Rub all over the skin in circular motion for 15-20 minutes and rinse with cool water. 

Brightening Rose Face Mask:

• 8-10 Rose Petals

• 3-4 Tbsp Distilled Water

• 1 Tbsp Honey

• ½ Tbsp Turmeric

Procedure: Soak rose petals for 30 minutes to 60 minutes; the longer they soak, the more nutrients will be extracted. Crush petals in a bowl of water, add honey and turmeric. Mix until you have a smooth paste. Apply all over the face. Allow to sit for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water, followed by cool. 

Give Me a Beer, Beer, Beer...

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.