Beauty treatments might seem a bit frivolous at a time like this but I’ve realised that for me, they provide some much needed self-care and motivation. Until recently I was spending each day in my pyjamas well past lunchtime. That might suit some people (and really, please be kind to yourself and do what works for you right now), but for me it seemed to gradually ebb away at my spirits.
Then I stumbled across my favourite lipstick while tidying up (I don’t wear a lot of makeup and I hadn’t worn any since being stuck at home). On a whim, decided to put it on. This tiny thing made me feel a lot better and I’ve been wearing it most days since. And since I can’t pull off lipstick AND (christmas) PJs – the PJs had to go!
This small change has helped me move into a better headspace, and I thought I’d expand on my self-care routine by coming up with a few DIY face masks to share! I’ve posted about DIY face masks before but these are the recipes that work for me. Feel free to refer to both/either post/s to create your own favourites though.
They’re all made with simple ingredients that you probably have at least a few of, and are very flexible for those ingredients you might not. You can swap in different oil, different milk, rose for rice water, rice flour for ground oats and avocado for mashed banana – the possibilities are only limited by the contents of your cupboards.
Gentle Exfoliating Mask for Oily/Combination Skin
- 1½ Tbsp rice flour
- 1½ Tbsp rose water
- 1 tsp aloe vera gel
Nourishing Mask for Dull, Tired Skin
- ¼ avocado, mashed
- 1 Tbsp soy milk
- A few drops of rosehip oil
Soothing Mask for Sensitive Skin
- 2 Tbsp ground oats (whizz in a food processor)
- 1 Tbsp rice water*
- 1 tsp sweet almond oil
Directions:
Mix together the ingredients. Apply to face for 10 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and close pores with splash of cold. Follow up with your favourite moisturiser.
*Save the cloudy water you soak washed rice in before cooking.
NB: Stay allergy-aware and listen to your skin. None of these masks should feel uncomfortable or stingy. If you feel yourself starting to react, rinse off straight away and follow your usual skincare routine to soothe. If you prefer, you can always test the mask on your arm first.
