DIY: Custom Face Mask

Face masks are kind of awesome, right? They can give you smoother, clearer, more even skin and all you have to do is slap some goop on your mug and kick back for a cool thirty minutes or so. That's awesome. Very few things in life have such a favorable effort to results ratio, and for that reason alone, I feel it's necessary to dedicate a little time (and the internet version of ink) to this unsung hero of skincare.

I've tried my share of face masks over the years - from the thick, green ones popularized by every movie portrayal of an old woman ever seen to the oh-so-satisfying peel off numbers, and every squeeze tube in between. One of my main girls is Queen Helene and her tingly Mint Julep Masque - so fancy it requires a 'que' ending (although, I don't know who she's trying to fool because it costs less than a fiver), but the 'Most Noticeable Results I've Ever Seen' award goes to Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay, hands down.

And the award goes to...

I love this stuff. Not only is it super powerful on its own - it even claims to be "the world's most powerful facial" - but it mixes quite nicely with your favorite add-ins, much like a delicious overpriced frozen yogurt. Did you realize you could customize your own face masks? You totally can. I love to pair this clay with organic apple cider vinegar that has "the mother" intact because it gives me better results and feels more 'active' than when I just use water. Because this stuff is so powerful, it can leave my face a little dry, but I counteract that completely by adding a dollop of honey to the mix. Soft skin ahoy! Finally, I like a little acne fighting help courtesy of tea tree oil.

There are a million ways to mix a custom face mask for your skin (e.g. aloe, vitamin E or jojoba oil for moisture, oatmeal or sea salt for exfoliation, green tea for antioxidant power) but this is how I do my thing - and how you can try it too:

WHAT YOU NEED

+ Clay Mask {Aztec Secret. which you can get here}

+ Apple Cider Vinegar {raw is best}

+ Tea Tree Oil {cheap at Trader Joe's!}

+ Honey {raw and organic it good, but here I just have the regular stuff}

+ Plastic Mixing Utensil & Plastic Bowl/Cup

HOW TO DO IT

Measure out your clay. I use about 1 tablespoon and mix it with an equal part of apple cider vinegar.

Stir with a plastic spoon or other utensil (I'm using an Ikea chopstick). Metal makes it angry.

Add in a healthy plop of honey and a few drops of tea tree oil.

Mix it allllll together and slather on your face. This one is on the thinner side, so it might be easier to apply with a cheap foundation brush (like the $1 one from ELF), but I just used my fingers.

This mask has deeply enveloped my nose stud. Also, ewww.

Let it dry - it should take about 15 minutes but you can leave it on a little longer if you wish. You will look fantastic at this juncture, so this is a great time to schedule any upcoming blind dates and/or photo shoots.

I recommend doing this before you get in the shower because rinsing off a mask at the sink takes forever and annoys me. You can also use a face cloth, but then you get clay all over it and that annoys me too. Try to be less annoyed than me because, hey - you have awesome skin now! 

Have you ever customized a face mask before? Do you like feeling like a swamp thing-type creature for beauty? What would you add to your custom mask?

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BEAUTY: 5 Products I Love Right Now

I like to try new things, but I tend to be cautious with my wallet and even more cautious with my shelf space. All things considered, here are five products I’m happy to recommend for any person on any budget:

1. Johnson & Johnson Lavender & Chamomile Lotion

This lotion smells like a warm, cuddly bed feels. The large pump bottle goes for about $4 at drugstores and it’s worth every penny. It moisturizes well and absorbs quickly, without any greasy after effects. Some lotions on the cheaper end feel like hair conditioner on your skin – this is not one of them. Honestly, the function is all well and good, but the heavenly scent is what makes me want to apply it again and again (you’ll get whiffs with every movement!). You’ll never have a dry patch again with the addictive scent of this lotion.

  

2. Say Yes to Carrots Lip Balm

I’m a big fan of the Say Yes to Carrots brand as it is, but since it’s nice and natural it also tends to be on the pricey side (nothing crazy) so I only indulge when I’m not feeling cheap. Their shampoo and conditioner combo transforms your hair into a silky root vegetable infused dream, so I was hoping their lip balm would do the same for my lips. I scored this on clearance for $1 (yay!) but I think they go for around $4 regularly. I’m a diehard Burt’s Bees chapstick fan so I almost never buy lip products, but this one won me over with it’s moisturizing capabilities and the fact that I didn’t need to reapply every time I turned around like a lot of other lip balms. I command you: Say Yes to Carrots!

3. Suave Dry Shampoo

Is there any greater invention of the last century than dry shampoo? Forget the automobile, penicillin and cell phones – going an extra day without having to wash your hair is where it’s at! For those days that you just can’t bring yourself to do it, you want to preserve an amazing ‘do or maybe your hair just can’t handle the harshness of every day washing there is dry shampoo. Spray, fluff and you’ll look like a million bucks that just took a shower! It’ll be our little secret. This goes for about $3 and lasts a pretty long time with semi-frequent use. Be warned, it does have a strong fruity/tropical scent so sniff in store first.

4. Boots Sensitive Skin Face Wash & Lotion

I think I found The One! I’ve had many face washes over the years (remember Oxy pads?) and, while I’ve had a few serious courtships, I’d never fully committed until I found Expert Sensitive Gentle Cleansing Wash and lotion from Boots. The brand is less common than most, but I get this at Target in the fancy-ish section of beauty products (near Burt’s etc.) for only $4-$5 for each. The lotion lasted for almost a year, too and the face wash can be rubbed into my eyes to remove makeup with no irritation whatsoever. It’s love!

5. CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color in Ever Red-Dy

You may recall me mentioning in my What’s In My Bag post that I was in search of a red lipstain. I know Chanel is great and Mac makes some of the best lip products, but I wanted something more affordable so I’d feel like I could use it as frequently as I want without mentally calculating the cost of that use divided by the amount I have before it’s time to buy again. This CoverGirl stain was about $8 and from the first use I was hooked. The color is saturated and classic, and somehow manages to stay in place through drinking, eating and kissing all day. It will need to be smoothed over with the included clear lip gloss stick occasionally but my lips never felt desert-level dry at any point. Pro tip: exfoliate your lips first (apricot scrub works well) to get even coverage.

xoxo,

Michelle