We are spoiled with choices when comes to clay mask.  There are many type of clays : white clay, red clay, green clay, pink clay and yellow clay. These exceptional quality clays have a multitude of purposes and each one carries substantial quantities of minerals for general skin health.

Did you know that Green Clay works best on acne skin? Green Clay is the most absorbing of clays, and it is generally used as a facial mask for tissue repair, drawing toxins from the skin and to normalise excessive secretions of oil or sweat. Green clay also firms, tones and refines the skin, promoting a smooth, supple, and clear complexion.

Green clay can be found at your local health food store or if you wish to purchase online, I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs. They stock all the various clays mentioned above.

To make your very own homemade green clay mask, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 ounce green clay
• 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 3- 1/2 teaspoons of water

Method

1. Combine the clay, aloe vera gel and water in a bowl and mix well.
2. Apply the paste to your face immediatiately, using gentle, upward strokes and avoiding the the areas around the eyes.
3. Let the mask sit on your skin for approximately 15 minutes or until it’s dry.
4. Rinse off well with warm water before applying a toner and moisturizer.

The aloe vera gel in this mask provides strong healing properties, and due to its soothing nature it can calm blotches, rediness and swelling to the skin.

Alternatively, you can also make  a Simple Yogurt and French Green Clay Mask.

The ingredients are

• 1 tablespoon of French Clay
• 2 tablespoon plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons distilled water

1. Mix together the yogurt and distilled water in a mixing bowl.
2. While stirring, slowly sprinkle in the french green clay
3. Apply the paste to your face immediately, using gentle, upward strokes and avoiding the the areas around the eyes.
4. Let the mask sit on your skin for approximately 15 minutes or until it’s dry.
5. Rinse off well with warm water before applying a toner and moisturizer.

Following the post on The Truth About Hand Care, I thought of sharing this extra nourishing hand treatment recipe.

As you may have already know, the avocado is a natural moisturizer. Ancient Aztec, Mayan and Inca Beauties have regard avocado as a treasury of vitamins, minerals and natural oil. The avocado is rich in Vitamin A, C, E, iron, potassium, niacin, pantothenic acid, natural emollients and protein that makes it the perfect ingredient for any moisturizer.

If you have to give the extra nourishment to your hand during the dry season, use the avocado hand treatment.

All you need is a fully ripe avocado. To know if the avocado is fully ripe, simply hold it in the palm of your hand and gently press it with your fingers. A ripe fruit will yield to your touch and it will open easily, peel evenly and reveal its glorious green-gold interior.

To prepare your hand treatment, mashed 1/4 to 1/2 of the avocado and mix it with 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of honey and 10 drops of almond oil.

Gently massage this treatment onto your hands and leave in place for 20 minutes. Rinse. This natural treatment will revive your dry, wrinkled and rough hands.

Feel free to use this for your feet, elbows and knees, too!

Health spa treatments can be costly. Have you ever considered creating your own home spa by using lavender and other herbs from your own herb garden? After all of the hours you spent planting and tending to your herb plants, reap another benefit by using your herbs to make herbal cosmetics, herbal teas or herbal medicines and by all means as ingredients for a home spa. Some people have spaghetti herb gardens, or salad gardens even headache gardens, consider this your own Spa Herb Garden!

For very soft touchable skin use Lavender or Calendula leaves and petals. Bruise the leaves and petals and put them into a glass jar. Pour enough olive oil into the jar to cover the herbs. Set the jar on a sunny window and shake everyday for two to three weeks.

Another lovely way to use Lavender is to sew them into little bags and put them between your pillow and pillow case. The beautiful calming scent will help you sleep.

Calendulas may also be used in the bath. An even better way to use this herb is as an antiseptic. Again, bruise the leaves and flowers and add them to olive oil. It will relieve stings, chapped lips, cuts and burns.

To make you’re own spa loofahs plant Luffa aegyptiaea. For a home spa tool grow the plant in full sun in a place where the plant can climb. When you harvest it, soak it in water to soften the brown skin, peel and set out in the sun to dry. Save the seeds for your next years Spa Herb Garden.

Now let’s make some refreshing teas using herbs from your herbal garden for use in your mini home spa. Most people look at roses as just beautiful blooms, but rose hips have more vitamin C than oranges. The little round balls in the center of the rose is the hips. Gather them and grind them in a coffee grinder. Steep them in very hot water, not boiling, for about ten minutes and enjoy your fruity tea.

For a calming tea try Chamomile or for a refreshing tea try Lemon balm. All of these herbs can be grown in your own yard and will create a wonderful home health spa experience.

About the Author:

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. Mary has also published articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking for more information on these subjects visit http://www.GardeningHerb.com

You know, you can whip up many skin care recipes with tomatoes. Tomatoes are so versatile and oh-so-good for your skin.

I have recently made this discovery after my post on Tomato Blemish Remedy and I am really excited to share what I have found out.

As we all know, tomatoes are one of the top skin food because of their antioxidant and Vitamin C properties. Also, due to their cooling and astringent properties, they are ideal key ingredients for facial mask. These mask are suitable for those with oily or combination skin.

The tomato facial mask are natural astringent and with that, it can help reduce oil and reduce pores. I am going to highlight just a couple of variations of tomatoes skin care recipes for oily skin.

Quick Tomato Facial

The Quick Tomato Facial is a quick-fix for those who are always on the go. All you have to do is just simply cut a tomato into half and rub it on your face. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing. You can focus on the areas of the face with the most blackheads.

Tomato and Avocado Cleansing Mask

This mask is good for people with combination skin because it combines the astringent, blackhead removing and oil reducing properties of the tomato with the antiseptic and hydrating properties of avocado. To make this soothing and cooling mask, mash one small tomato and one small avocado. Mix them together and apply the mixture on your face. Rinse after 20 to 30 minutes with warm water.

Tomato and Yogurt Cooling Mask
This is a variation of a Tomato mask. Rather than using luscious avocado, you will use Yogurt. The Yogurt is a natural skin softening agents and it adds the benefit of protein into this rich mask.
To make this mask, cruch a small tomato and add 2 tablespoons of yogurt. Mix them well and spread the mixture onto the face for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

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This Tomato Blemish Remedy is very suitable for teenagers with blemishes. The use of tomato in skin care has been popular due to its cooling and astringent properties. It is rich in Vitamin C, thus making it helpful for acne and brightening dull skin. Vitamin A is also essential for building healthy skin. Also, the tomato is naturally acidic and this property can help to balance the skin and get rid of excessive oil.

To combat blemishes and persistent acne, try this Tomato Blemish Remedy everyday for at least a week for best results. For each treatment, you will need 1 small Tomato and all you need to do is to mash the tomato in a bowl and apply the pulp liberally to your face. Relax with the tomato on your face for an hour, then rinse your face with tepid water.

How difficult is that? Not only it is good for your face but your wallet too.

If you are seeking for a quick remedy for glowing skin, try this 15 minutes treatment that will result in soft, glowing skin.

This remedy is very easy to make at home, doesn’t cost a lot and it is very effective.

The key ingredient to this quick fix is just a cut of papaya flesh.

Steps

1. Cut a piece of papaya flesh

2. Rub a piece of the cut papaya flesh on your face and neck.

3. Let the rubbed-on papaya sit for 15 minutes.

4. Rinse off with warm water.

5. Rinse again with cool water to close the pores.

6. Pat your skin dry with a towel.
After 15 minutes, you will feel the difference. Your face should feel and look much more radiant.

If your face feels dry, just apply toner/moisturizer.

This honey blueberry facial is a Hollywood all-natural beauty secret. Created by Christopher Watt Esthetics for his high-profile clientèle like Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, this honey blueberry facial is truly all-natural goodness and you can actually whip this delicious Hollywood beauty secret at home with very little cost.

The ingredients are:

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

1/2 cup pure honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt

The method is fairly easy. You will need to rinse the blueberries and place in blender or food processor. Next, add honey and yogurt, blend until smooth.

Using fingertips, apply blueberry smoothie on clean skin, let sit for 10 to 15 min.

Remove with cool water and damp cloth.

To see the instructions in video (video tutorial), click here.

Pineapple contains bromeliad, a protein-digestive enzyme which helps rid the skin of dead cells and dirt. It also counteracts histamines, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is a mild astringent.

Olive oil has excellent healing properties and is a good source of vitamin E, which restores the skin’s surface. Use only the highest quality cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil — it should go without saying that bread dippers and flavored oils ought be left on the shelf. Reach for the good stuff!

In a blender, combine 4 large pineapple chunks or 1/2 cup canned, drained pineapple and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Blend until almost smooth. Apply mixture to face with fingertips and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse face with warm water and pat dry.

Recipe by SpaIndex.com – Homemade spa treatments, beauty treatments, cosmetics and more, courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Day Spas and Stay Spas. The web’s most comprehensive resource for Spa Enthusiasts.