Yogurt and Oatmeal Facial (No, it's not a parfait!)

The Recipe:

Another about.com find! This one's written by Julyne Derrick. It's really simple—only three ingredients. A tablespoon of oatmeal to a tablespoon of natural yogurt and a few drops of honey are all that is needed for this (great smelling) face mask.

 My Recipe Suggestions:

 I grabbed my yogurt right out of the fridge and let me tell you, it was C-O-L-D! Next time I’d let it warm to room temperature before mixing it in. The recipe also calls for the oats to be ground finely, which I didn’t have the capabilities to do. The whole oats made for a more difficult application, but it’s doable with some patience.

How to Use:

Simply apply and wait! If you didn’t get to grind the oatmeal (like me), applying the actual oat part can be difficult because it likes to fall off. Be patient and try to get the oats to stick. Once it starts drying, they’ll stay put.

After the Mask:

As with my previous oatmeal face masks, I took off the larger pieces before rinsing my face to avoid clogging the sink. The mask was definitely dried and crisp after 15 minutes, but it felt good on and my skin definitely feels happier than it did before. It feels less oily and more tightened.

Cost: Drops of honey—I have no idea how to calculate this…I got a 24 oz bottle for $4.69

        1 Tbsp Oatmeal approx. $0.01

        1 Tbsp Yogurt – approx. $0.09

Ease: This was too easy. Definitely a quick one to whip up when you don’t have a lot of time (or dishes).

Effectiveness: Oatmeal seems to be a winning ingredient across the board! I’d use this one again.

Stress Relief: It was nice just to sit still and let this one dry. It’s one that you don’t want to move your face a lot with it on, so it almost forced me to chill for a while.

Your Turn:

It’s time for you to get in there and try one of these facials out! Pick one that I’ve tried here (or one of your own that you’d like to recommend for me to try!) and post your review here. I’d love to hear from you!

Oatmeal, meet Avocado

My first oatmeal mask has, thus far, been my most successful one. In order to attempt a repeat, I gave another oatmeal-based mask a shot. But this one was green.

Here's the recipe (and 20 other variations):

2 Tablespoons Pureed Avocado

½ Cup Oatmeal

2-3 Tablespoons Water

My recipe suggestions:

If you don’t have a way to puree your avocado, give mashing it with a fork a try. I haven’t tried that myself, but it should be doable.

Combine the avocado and a tablespoon water before adding it to the oatmeal. This will make the avocado more easily dispersed. Continue to add water little by little until the mask is to the right consistency. I don’t know exactly how much water total I used, but it was probably more than the 2-3 recommended tablespoons.

How to use:

I spread it on my face using my fingers, then waited for 20 minutes.

Like the previous oatmeal mask, it was a little difficult to apply. Also follow my recommendations for how to wash an oatmeal-based mask off safely.

After the mask:

About 10 minutes in, the mask started to tighten on my skin and a few minutes later it began to tingle. If that sort of thing freaks you out, you may want to avoid this, but I thought it felt pretty good.

My face was definitely smoother after this and my skin felt calmed.

Cost: ½ Cup Quaker Oatmeal approx. $0.10

         2 Tablespoons mashed Avocado depends on your location and the season

         Water – If your landlord pays it like mine will in a few months when I move…it’s        

             free! (or rather, included in your rent)

Ease: Making the recipe—Because of the avocado mashing, this mask might prove a little more involved than a simple mix-n-go. But it still isn’t going to take long. Using the mask—A little difficult to get to “stick” and removal at the end requires some finesse but other than that, it’s as straightforward as any other.

Effectiveness: Softened my skin and left me feeling refreshed.

April Fools Possibilities: Endless. When this stuff dries it looks like… and in chunks, it looks like…like I said, the possibilities are endless.

Honey, Pass the Oatmeal

My RA walked into my room not ten minutes ago and quickly noticed how bright my skin looked. When I told her I had some leftover face mask, she excitedly took it back to her room to use. I now share that recipe with you!

Here's the recipe (from an admittedly sketchy-looking website):

"Mix one cup regular oatmeal add Evian water (regular water can be used) until the oatmeal is a sticky consistency then add a few drops of honey..."

My recipe suggestions:

Evian water is completely unnecessary. Anyone notice that Evian is “naïve” backwards? Unless your tap water is undrinkable, it will work. 

Use hot water to make the oatmeal softer and more paste-like. The hot water will also make a warm mask which feels divine. No one wants to smear cold, gooey oatmeal on their face.

I used 6-8 drops of honey but more would make it smell better and make it more naturally moisturizing. 

How to use:

Smear this paste all over your face. It may fall off in large chunks, so be forewarned—you might get dirty! Be vigilant, however, until your entire face is covered. Pieces will stop falling off as the mask sets and dries.

Leave on for 15 minutes.

I pulled the larger portion of the mask off and threw it away before rinsing because I didn't want to risk having to explain to the maintenance man why our sink was clogged with oatmeal.

The model-face-wash-splash isn't going to work to get this mask off. Instead, I suggest using a washcloth and warm water to gently wipe the mask away.

Once you have patted your face dry, use a light facial moisturizer.

After the mask:

My face felt SO soft. My RA even touched it in awe at the mask's effect. My skin feels fresh, tight, and baby soft. I can tell exactly where the mask started and ended on my neck by the feel of the skin.

Cost: 1 cup Quaker Oats appox. $0.20

Drops of honey—I have no idea how to calculate this…I got a 24 oz bottle for $4.69

Ease: Making the recipe—simple. Using the mask—straightforward, but messy.

Effectiveness: Soft, bright skin!

Ridiculous factor: I felt absurd wearing this. The picture says it all.