Lemons, detox, and facemasks, oh my!

A couple of months ago I had the misfortune of going WAY off my "diet." That is to say, the whole-foods eating style my family adopted several years ago. Hey, don't judge. I was a sleep-deprived, costume-constructing mess (6 weeks of working on a highschool production of Beauty and the Beast. I'm a musical theater nerd, so as you can imagine, working backstage was the experience of a lifetime!) Trust me. Sugar works wonderfully as a moral boaster. ;) Long story short, once I got home, I began (kinda hard to miss,) noticing swollen patches of acne on my neck and lower cheeks. Not 100% blaming the sugar (though my body was screaming for a detox,) since I'm pretty sure it was also an allergic reaction to makeup. Literally a week after returning from B&B, I was an extra for pickups in an Independent Christian film. I have somewhat sensitive skin to being with, so the bronzer/lotion mix they used all over my face, neck, lips, and ears, left me itchy, blotchy, and yeah, miserable.

4 household ingredients no girl should live without: 

• Lemons
• Raw honey
• Greek yogurt
• Coconut oil

#yogurtfacemask #bathroomselfies #duckfacefail

I've never been acne-prone, so as you can imagine, I was frustrated and feeling ugly. Trying to cover up with foundation just helped the patches to spread. This, my friends, is when I began researching face-masks, and learning all about the benefits of a very common, bright yellow, sour, and oh-so-good-for-you fruit: the lemon.

Lemon's are not only delicious (at least in my humble opinion,) but excellent for many health-related/beauty-related problems. It's bleaching proprieties make them perfect for those nasty, swollen zits and acne spots, and also works great as a detox. Since putting lemon directly on the skin may cause burns or sensitivity to sunlight, I recommend mixing with some skin-friendly products, and voila! You have a safe, yummy facemask that will leave you with soft, succulent skin and zit-free. :) Oh yeah, and try drinking a cup or two of lemon tea every morning/evening. It will clean all the toxins from your body and work from the inside out for a beautiful complexion. I love my electric teapot. Though I'm a coffee girl, when I'm on a detoxing kick I have a pot of water boiling almost constantly. Puts my favorite-clunky mug to good use. 

"Ancient Egyptians believed that eating lemons and drinking lemon juice was an effective protection against a variety of poisons, and recent research has confirmed this belief.

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries. The two biggest are lemons’ strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain many substances--notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene--that promote immunity and fight infection." (via)

Lemon tea

A large, earthen mug, preferably squat and perfect for warming ones hands (not optional ;) ) 

2 cups fresh, filtered water

1 whole lemon, seeds removed

Raw honey to taste

Bring water to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, pour lemon juice (with pulp,) and honey into mug. Add water. Enjoy. :) 

While sipping your lemony tea, let your skin soak up one of my favorite facemasks (recipes below.) Like I already mentioned, I'm still exploring the world of natural skin-care, but I'm really excited about my discoveries so far! I don't think most of us realize how makeup, sweat, dirt, etc, clogs our pores, and how dirty or skin actually is. Water, even warm water, isn't enough to get deep down under the grime, especially for people with oilier skin. For ie, going to bed with foundation or even mascara on is a guaranteed breeding ground for pimples. (I apologize for sounding gross, but admit it, we all struggle with skin deformities now and again.) Again, water doesn't cut it, soap is even worse, and  chemically-based makeup wipes/removers are harmful to skin and bodies. 

Quick cure: Coconut oil.

After spotting skin with a warm rag or cotton ball and patting dry, use a circular rubbing motion and as many cotton balls as needed to gently remove makeup/dirt from skin and eyes. Leftover mascara no more. :) 

I keep a jar of organic unrefined coconut oil handy at all times, and have found that my skin is softer and less prone to acne break-outs. Also great for capped lips and hands during those dry winter months.

*Please note that all skin-types are different, and none of these remedies are recommended for sever cases of acne. 

Egg-white facemask

1 egg white
t raw honey
t lemon juice
ground oats or flour (enough to make paste)

Mix all ingredients together. Oats can be ground in a food processor or blender until a fine, flour-like texture. Or, cook in boiling water until soft and let coal. Leave on for 20 minutes or until dry and remove with warm cloth. {Looking in the mirror guaranteed to scar for life or leave one helplessly rolling on the floor. :P } 

You know that nightmarish moment, right before a big event, when ohmygoodnessWHYNOW!? An offending, BRIGHT RED blemish takes residence on ones face? It's happened more than I'd like to remember. >mental groan< Well, for moments like those, we'll take the radical route. Not very natural, but good for quick termination: white toothpaste. I know, I know, sounds terrible, and please, use with caution. This is NOT the best-for-you remedy, but it works. It can also dry your skin too much if over-applied. But sometimes desperate times calls for desperate measures. If you have more than a few hours and want a safer route, baking soda mixed with a little water (to form a paste,) works just as well. Leave on for about 10 minutes or until dry.

Lastly but certainly not least, my very favorite, feels-oh-so-good facemask. Plain, Greek yogurt. Yep. One day while experimenting a sister accidentally burnt her face (with. . .apple cider vinegar. We won't even go there.) Try not to think on it too hard--huge, pink, unsightly splotches? Not pretty. In one of my brilliant moments (they don't happen often, so I take them seriously when they show up,)  I slathered yogurt all over the offending burns. . .let it dry for a few minutes. . .and low and behold. . .my sisters face was not only blotch-free, but her skin was beautifully soft and clear. Um, I'm a REALLY big fan of yogurt right about now. ;) Oh yeah, and Cleopatra supposedly used honey on her skin. Another indispensable ingredient (yes, still sugar, but better than the processed white stuff,) that I suggest you invest in. Raw, if possible.

Yogurt facemask

(about) half cup plain, Greek yogurt
t honey

t lemon (optional)

Mix together. Slather on. Leave for about 20 mins or until mostly dry. Feels very cooling and fresh!

I hope these little tips are helpful! If you liked this post, please leave a comment below, and I will include similar articles on the blog. I'd also be curious about YOUR experience with facemaks, detoxing, etc, and if you tried any of the recipes here. :)

Happy skin-care.