When Life Give You Lemons, Make a Face Mask

Hormones can be a tricky thing. For women, hormones play a large part in our physical lives. They control our metabolism, skin, mood, and even eating habits. What's worse is that we are constantly berated with commercials for beauty products, ointments, creams, and pills to make us smoother, younger, skinnier, or less hairy. The choices can be overwhelming. As a professional woman - one who grew up with two brothers and in an Amish-like private school system - it took me FOR-EH-VER to figure out what worked for me; and it all comes down to those pesky hormones.

"But how," you may ask, "do you separate the garbage from what actually works?" Good question reader. Gosh you're smart. Is that a new hair cut? It suits you. But I digress. Let's talk about my skin. My acne has always been an issue. I've used Proactive, antibiotics, birth control, Finacea, Differin, Clindamycin and even Spironolactone; a medication supposedly used for diabetics! Ridiculous I know. I was tempted many times to try Accutane, but I also didn't want to invest in doctor visits and the threat of sever depression. Nothing seemed to work and I was constantly self-conscious around even my family members. Without anywhere else to turn, I got wind of the idea of trying a facialist.

Click here to visit the website of my old facialist. She's Russian and sassy and wonderful. You'll love her I promise :)

Time for a quick plug. My sister's boyfriend had been going to Valeria Skin Care and Spa; if you live in the East Bay Area, CA you'll be in for a treat. Even though her services didn't quite work for him, I decided to give her a try (on my parent's dime of course). I figured since he and I had very different types of acne, she may be exactly what I was looking for. After visits with her over the course of several months, the results were astronomical. Even after 2 weeks, I could see reductions in scaring and incredible control over blemishes. SHE WAS A VOODOO WOMAN I SWEAR! But alas, my parents decided to switch to a health care provider under our coverage since her fees were starting to add up. I was back onto benzoyl peroxides and salicylic acids. What this time did help me realize about my skin was this: my body craves natural products. 

Recently, I've been largely experimenting with online advice on home remedies to treat my skin. To my surprise, they've shown more results for me than any other high-priced item I could get over the counter or from my doctor. (NOTE: Using home remedies doesn't mean you stop consulting a dermatologist. They are highly trained professionals that actually know what they're talking about. Use them as a guide. Work as a team to find out what works for you.) Here's a remedy that I've been using that has reduced redness, scaring, and softened my complection!

What you'll need:

1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1 Tsp Honey

1 Slice of lemon (about 1 Tbsp of lemon juice)

Serves: 1 Face

Calories: Don't eat this. It's not for you to eat. Please, don't.

This is the face of regret...

…but not really because I LOVE this mask! These ingredients don't seem to be a likely combination for a facial cleanser, but their skin treating roots extend back centuries. Nutmeg has been a remedy for thousands of years as an anti-inflammatory. It's been known to heal many skin diseases like ringworm and eczema. Cinnamon is also in the category of ancient and affective dermatological ingredients. It's been used as an anti-fungal, astringent, and anti-viral. Combine with honey, an antiseptic, and lemon which can fade acne scars and age spots, to make yourself a quick and easy facial mask that does wonders for sensitive skin. I've been using this mask for about 2-weeks now with fantastic results. Obviously I'm still using face wash and night cleansers as a part of my consistent routine (it's important to be patient and stick to a routine. Switching around too often will throw off your body and could potentially damage your skin.)

Additional perks of this mask include:

• Smelling good
• Scaring your little brother
• Not being grossed out if it gets in your mouth;
• And taking hot bathroom selfies

I've got a million more remedies to try. Tune in next week for a cheap and affective replacement to Bare Minerals. I haven't tried it yet. If it works, then I'll post the results. If it doesn't work, then I'll post the results and you get to laugh at me. Everybody wins. Even me.

Cheers,
K