Improve Skin with the Best Face Masks

A facial mask can perform wonders on dry, oily, flaky, or just plain tired skin. Facial mask sheets do wonders for improving facial skin.

Before setting out to purchase a facial mask first ask yourself what you want to fix or change about your complexion. Is your skin excessively oily? Does it feel dry and tight? Do your look dull and flaky in the mirror? Whatever your specific skin type there are specially formulated facial masks to bring out your best appearance.

If you have oily skin your skin will age the best, with fewer wrinkles and later appearance of them. Your greatest difficulty will be to prevent blackheads and clogged pores and this is easy if you use the right astringent products and facial masks. For you, an occasional professional facial in a salon should keep your pores open and tiny. Don't be seduced by those products that claim to "pull" the clogs out of your pores. These will damage your skin over time, making your pores permanently enlarged. Better are dissolving facial masks that remove pore clogging matter gently.

Normal to dry skin needs constant moisturizing to keep it smooth and wrinkle free. Never apply drying products to your face and your facial mask should be a deep-nourishing, penetrating type that leaves your skin feeling smooth and dewy.

For dull complexion and blotchy skin tone, you need to exfoliate and moisturize. Exfoliation should help with the flakiness and smooth out the tone of your face. You can have oily or normal to dry skin, so before choosing an exfoliation product, make sure what type your skin is.

Facial masks and exfoliants containing shea butter or jojoba are good for all skin types. These products help dissolve natural skin sebum gently, removing it from your face. Both shea butter and jojoba oil penetrate deeply into the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and not a bit greasy.

Look for ingredients that combat excessive oiliness if you have this type of skin. Facial masks with astringents such as cucumber, honey, or citrus are good for oily skin. Clay based mask are also great for oily skin as the clay soaks up the excess and removes it. Another side effect of a clay facial mask is that it will leave a very tiny residue behind, filling in fine lines and slightly enlarges pores.

However the best face masks I found were of the mask sheet types. These paper facial masks are of spa facial quality and is a perfect way to prepare for a big night out, giving you a perfectly smooth surface over which to apply makeup.

A facial mask sheet should be applied about 2-3 times a week and left on the skin for at least 15-20 minutes. Just take off when done and there is no mess to clean off or anything to worry about clogging pores.

No matter if you buy your facial mask ready to use or concoct one from natural ingredients found in your kitchen, treating your face this way weekly will keep you looking fresh and youthful.

Some of the Best Facial Masks

Found some of the best face masks and some very good recipes off www.skincareresourcecenter.com. I love finding new great sites where they provide useful information on face mask recipes. I'll be sure to try some myself.

Best Facial Mask Recipes Added

The following recipes are available off www.skincareresourcecenter.com.

Skin Enriching Mask

1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
Mix together to form a smooth paste
Honey heals, stimulates and smooths, the egg yolk and olive oil penetrate and moisturize. The yogurt gently exfoliates and cleanses while refining and tightening pores.

Hydrating Facial Mask

1 egg yolk
1/4 of a mashed avocado
Drizzle in enough cider vinegar to create a smooth paste
The egg and avocado penetrates, softens and moisturizes while the cider vinegar stimulates, tones and gently exfoliates the skin.

Skin Firming Mask

Juice of half a lemon
1 beaten egg white
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Mix ingredients thoroughly to form a smooth paste
The lemon cleanses and exfoliates, the egg white nourishes and firms, while the cornstarch softens and draws out the skin's impurities.

Anti-Aging Mask

1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of honey
Beat until mixed well
The egg yolk moisturizes, the milk exfoliates, and the honey moisturizes and nourishes the skin.

Rejuvenating Mask

2 teaspoons plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
4 to 6 finely pureed grapes
Combine ingredients and mix well
The yogurt and lemon exfoliates and cleanses, the honey moisturizes, while the grapes nourish and rejuvenates the skin.

Moisturizing Mask

2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tablespoon oatmeal- cooked and cooled
1 tablespoon honey
Mix thoroughly together, then let sit for a while to allow the oatmeal to soften in order to form a smooth paste
Yogurt gently exfoliates and cleanses while the oatmeal and honey moisturize and re-hydrates the skin.

Soothing, Healing Mask

1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoon aloe gel- (peel and mash one aloe leaf)
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
Mix together thoroughly
Yogurt gently exfoliates and cleanses while the aloe moisturizes and heals.
The honey moisturizes and re-hydrates the skin.

Dry Skin Mask

1 tablespoon of buttermilk. or yogurt
1 egg yolk
1/8 cup finely diced rose petals
1/4 cup cooked oatmeal
Mix together thoroughly
The buttermilk or yogurt gently exfoliates and cleanses while the egg yolk, honey and oatmeal moisturizes and re-hydrates the skin.

More of the Best Face Masks

Here are some more of the best face masks and eye masks that you can do for yourself at home. We previously looked at some other fantastic homemade facial mask recipes so be sure to check that out also.

Easy Herbal Compress

A nightly treatment for ongoing eye care.
Ingredients:

* 1 tsp sage
* 1/2 cup water

Instructions:

Boil water, steep sage leaves for 10 minutes. Strain, separate water into two bowls. Soak two gauze pads or cotton balls in each bowl, and put one bowl in the refrigerator, then alternate application to eyes: 10 minutes warm, 10 minutes cool.

Alternatively, try substituting chamomile or dill weeds for sage.

Avocado-Almond Rinse

A rich masque for your eyes.
Ingredients:

* 5 drops almond oil
* 3 slices ripe avocado

Instructions:

Blend almond oil into avocado, smear around eyes. Rest 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
Other Tips

For immediate relief of irritated eyes, mix a teaspoon of salt with 3/4 cup filtered water and flush the entire area.

If you know that you tend to have problems with puffy or dark-circled eyes, take extra care to avoid the things that irritate them. Drink plenty of water. If you work a desk job, take breaks of at least 60 seconds from staring at the computer screen every 15 minutes during the day.

The best cure for puffy eyes is the simplest, yet somehow the hardest to achieve: Get more sleep.

Best Face Masks For Dark Circles Eyes

Stress, age, insomnia, work and just daily life in general has an effect on our skin. We spend so much time doing other things that we barely have enough time to care of ourself. What better way to reward your hard work and rejuvenate yourself than some of the best face masks that you can use simply at home.

Relax and enjoy the benefits of what great facial masks can do for your skin, dark circles, puffy eyes and complexion. Here are some homemade recipes that are spa quality with common household ingredients rather than spending a fortune.

Try these home made recipes for quality treatment of the skin and eyes.

Green Tea Cucumber Slices

A variation on the traditional cucumber remedy, with twice the results.
Ingredients:

* ½ cucumber
* 1 green tea bag

Instructions:

Brew green tea, steep, chill. Slice cucumber and add to green tea. Refrigerate until cool. Place soaked cucumber slices over eyes for 10 minutes.

Potato Puffiness Cure Cream

Moisturize and soothe your eyes with this simple recipe.
Ingredients:

* 1/2 raw potato
* 1 tsp urea-free moisturizer

Instructions:

Peel potato, grate finely. Measure 2 teaspoonfuls into moisturizer, mix well. Apply liberally around eyes, cover with damp cotton pads or gauze. Let rest 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Sour Cream & Parsley Pillows

Reduces puffiness and increases circulation.
Ingredients:

* 2 tsp sour cream
* 1 tsp fresh parsley
* 2 squares cheesecloth

Instructions:

Chop parsley finely, mix into sour cream. Place half of mixture into the middle of each square of cheese cloth, fold into "pillows," put one on each eye for 10-15 minutes.

Face Mask Recipes for Prevention and Acne Treatment

Nobody likes acne, zits or pimples. It is embarrassing, painful and ruins many good photos. Some people still get breakouts even beyond our teenage years but there are some basic and effective homemade face mask recipes that we can use to prevent or fight acne.

Depending on your skin type, some recipes may or may not be effective, so try it out to see which one works and which does not. Face masks whether it is the paper facial masks or paste type masks you should use it around 2-3 times a week at most. Don't overdo it.

Simple Face Mask Recipes

Face Mask Pack Baking Soda-Bran

1. Mix 1/4 cup bran or oatmeal with 2 tsp baking soda.
2. Add enough water to make a thick paste.
3. Apply and leave on 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse gently with warm water.

Garlic Facial Mask

1. Peel and crush eight cloves of fresh garlic.
2. Apply and leave on 10-15 minutes.
3. Wash off with a warm cloth.

Organic Tomato-Honey Face Mask

1. Mix 1/2 tsp camphor lotion, 1/2 tsp tomato juice, and 1/2 tsp honey.
2. Apply and leave on 15 minutes.
3. Wash with lukewarm water, then rinse with cold.

Milk-Lime Peel Facial Mask Recipe

1. Boil 1/4 cup whole milk.
2. Mix in juice of one fresh lime, and 1 tsp glycerin.
3. When dry, peel or wash off with warm water.

Once you are done with the mask, it's common to put on toners to provide additional moisture to the facial skin. This makes your skin feel firm and healthy.
So try applying some of these really simple toner and tonic recipes to achieve the best results after your homemade face mask.

Basil Tonic after Face Treatment

1. Boil 1 cup water.
2. Steep 2-3 tsp basil leaves for 15 minutes.
3. Strain, let cool.
4. Apply to face and neck with cotton ball or pad.

Vinegar-Honey Toner

1. Mix 3 Tbsp honey into 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar.
2. Stir until completely dissolved.
3. Store in refrigerator 3 days, stirring daily.
4. Apply to face and neck with cotton ball or pad.

Peppermint Face Tea

1. Boil 1 cup water.
2. Steep peppermint tea bag for 10 minutes.
3. Remove tea bag and let cool.
4. Apply to face and neck with cotton ball or pad.

Aloe-Thyme Tonic

1. Stir 2 tsp thyme into 1 cup aloe vera juice.
2. Store in airtight container.
3. Let sit in refrigerator overnight.
4. Shake mixture, strain thyme out, leaving liquid.
5. Apply to face and neck with cotton ball or pad.

Exfoliating Myths and Truths

Myth: I can skip cleansing with foam wash since exfoliating is already part of the cleansing procedure
Truth: Scrubs are not the same as foam cleansers. Be sure to apply scrubs after the process of cleansing your face.

Myth: Massage longer and it will be more effective
Truth: It works best if you don't scrub for more than 2 minutes. Too much scrubbing will only damage the skin tissues.

Myth: Smooth and moisturized skin after exfoliating
Truth: After exfoliation, your skin will be drier than usual.

Myth: Bigger grains in exfoliators work better
Truth: Maybe true. Smaller grains have better massaging effects while at the same time, scrubbing effectiveness will not diminished. It is meaningless to compare scrubbing products by the size of the granule. Products that offer smaller granules are just as effective today.

Myth: Exfoliating twice a week will damage your skin
Truth: For dry skin, 1-2 times per week is recommended but you can increase the frequency based on the season or body condition. If too much keratin fades from your skin tone, you can temporarily increase the frequency but be careful not to let it become a long term habit.

Myth: Exfoliating is necessary for all skin types
Truth: If you have acne, exfoliating is not recommended

Effective exfoliating methods

1. Follow the double cleansing method
2. Scrubbing effectiveness will be maximized if you apply a steaming towel on your face before use.
3. Gently massage for 1-2 minutes. If you want to maximize the effect, leave for 1 minute and then massage again.
4. Wash off completely with warm water.
5. After washing off, apply skin lotion promptly and other necessary products for your skin. Lastly, provide moisture with essence.