The Natural Beauty Workshop

Oatmeal-a-molé

I must admit, I have an Avocado problem.  They are a staple on my grocery list and on any given day you can open my fridge to find at least one or two tucked safely in the crisper.  If they are on sale I will methodically select multiple Avocados in a variety of ripeness so that I can be assured of a good Avocado stock for the next couple of weeks.  I could actually tell you how ripe the Avocado’s tend to be in any given area grocery store.  I’m nuts!  I make guacamole, put them in salads, on sandwiches and everywhere else I need a touch of creamy green goodness.  This facial mask recipe is an homage to my favorite item in the produce department.

Oatmeal-a-molé Face Mask

Great for dry, inflamed, or sensitive skin.  This recipe will yield between 1/3 and 3/8 of a cup of mask.   This can be used fresh or stored in a tightly sealed container for one to two days.

Ingredients
One half of a medium Avocado Fresh, very ripe Avocado
1 tablespoon Colloidal Oatmeal, Coarse   
2 tablespoon Oat Straw Powder   
1 - 2 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
2 drops Rosehip Oil

Directions
Cut one medium Avocado in half and remove pit.  Make sure to choose a very soft Avocado as it will be much easier to use in this recipe.  In a medium sized mixing bowl mash the Avocado until it is a smooth consistency (like guacamole).  Add the Colloidal Oatmeal and Oat Straw Powder.  Stir all ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.  Stir in Chamomile Essential Oil and Rosehip Oil. Make sure you do not add more than 5 drops of Rosehip Oil or the Mask will have a hard time sticking to the skin.

Instructions
Start with a clean face, but do not moisten before you begin.  This mask is inherently slippery so the dry skin will help it to stick.  Leave the mask on and relax for about ten minutes.  Gently massage the mask a little bit to exfoliate your skin before rinsing off.

Storage
Avocados oxidize quickly, but with the addition of Rosehip Oil and Chamomile Essential Oil a tightly sealed container of this mask may last for a few days in the refrigerator.  As with all natural formulations there is a chance that it can become contaminated or go rancid prematurely.  Keep a close eye on your mixture and discard it immediately if it shows any sign of rancidity or contamination.

(Pictured above: What a good sport! Laura, a close friend of mine, tries out the Oatmeal-a-molé Face Mask.It looks like she's enjoying it too!)

Apple Granola Face Mask

After my last post I was inspired to take my own advice. I plucked a ripe, red apple from my fruit bowl, gathered some complimentary ingredients, and set to work on a new fresh mask recipe.

Apple Granola Face Mask

Ingredients
One half of a fresh apple (chopped)
2 tablespoons  Colloidal Oatmeal, Coarse
1 tablespoon Honey Powder
1 tablespoon Buttermilk Powder
1 tablespoon Oat Starch

Directions
Puree the apple in a blender or food processor. Add other ingredients and puree once more. The consistency should be that of a thick liquid.

Packaging & Usage
Apply one to two tablespoons of mixture to your face, avoiding eyes. Leave mask on for ten to fifteen minutes then rinse away. The extra mask can be stored and in an air tight container in the refrigerator for three to five days. As with all fresh recipes, keep an eye on your mask. If it changes color, odor, or texture, or if you simply suspect is has gone bad, please discard it immediately.

Chocolate Milk Mud Mask

Wasn’t it a wonderful day when the news came out that chocolate could actually be good for you? I’ll admit, I was one of the many women out there whose heart skipped a beat at the notion of a GOOD excuse to grab a chocolate bar.

If you are also among the chocolate loving masses, then you are going to love this fresh mask. I tried it on one of my girlfriends recently, and as soon as I held the bowl under her nose her eyes lit up. “Wow”, she remarked. “That smells fantastic!”. Aside from its decedent aroma, this mask is chock-full of goodness. Moor Mud is a favorite ingredient of mine. Its gentle nature allows my sensitive skin to be detoxified on a regular basis, without becoming irritated or over-dried. It is known to contain over one thousand botanical components, and it is used worldwide for its unique healing and cosmetic properties.  The heavy cream nourishes the skin with it’s bounty of Vitamin D, calcium, and lactic acid, which provides gentle exfoliation.   

This mask is gentle enough for all skin types but it is especially useful for mature skin.
This recipe yields about 1/3 cup of fresh mask.

You can use this all at once, if you are masking your body as well as your face, or it can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days. As with all fresh recipes, keep an eye on your mask. If it changes color, odor, or texture, or if you simply suspect is has gone bad, please discard it immediately.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons Moor Mud
1 ½ tablespoons Cocoa Powder 
1 tablespoon Heavy Cream (Whipping Cream)

Directions
Add Moor Mud and Cocoa Powder to a small mixing bowl. Mix these two ingredients together. The Cocoa Powder will soak up most of the Moor Mud’s moisture right away. Next, add the heavy cream. Stir the cream into the Moor Mud by pressing the mud against the sides of the bowl. This should thin the mud out little by little until you reach a smooth consistency, similar to pudding.

Instructions
This mask can be applied to the face, neck, decolletage or anywhere that needs a little extra attention. Moisten your skin with a clean, warm, damp towel before application. Leave your mask on for 10 - 15 minutes. Before rinsing, gently massage the mask to exfoliate your skin.