Homemade Spa Essentials

Many of us would love to be able to make it to the spa every weekend, but few of us have the time or money to do so. Instead, we buy masks, scrubs, and peels designed to recreate the spa experience at home. My experience with these products, however, is that they tend to pile up in my bathroom cabinets, either because I forget I have them, or because I use them once and realize their claims of spa worthiness are full of purified hot air.

A simpler way to go about recreating spa essentials is to make your own from ingredients readily accessible in most kitchen cabinets. These easy, inexpensive, and natural concoctions can be made to order; the leftovers won’t linger—they’re edible (at least the raw ingredients are), and you’ll slough, scrub, and tone everything but your wallet.

Egg Yolk Acne Buster
Who says having egg on your face is a bad thing? Yolks are high in Vitamin A, which may help the skin cells rejuvenate. I used this back when I was acne prone (… okay, maybe I still am).

Ingredient:

One egg

Separate egg white from yolk. Spread yolk over face and allow to dry. Wash off with cool water and follow with a toner.

Toning Veggie Mask
Avocados are rich in Vitamin E, carrots high in Vitamin A, and cream feels like silk on the skin.

Ingredients:

One avocado, mashed
One cooked carrot, mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
One egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Spread over face and leave on ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse off with cool water.

Oatmeal Cream Facial Mask
A soothing mask that will help moisturize and calm skin.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plain instant oatmeal
1/8 cup honey
One egg white

2 tablespoons cream

Crush oats with back of spoon, or give them a give whirl in a blender until they are crushed into small pieces. Mix in honey, egg white, and cream. Massage into face and allow to dry. Rinse off with a mild cleanser.