Next time you're tempted to drop $100 or more on a professional facial, save your cash and opt for a DIY version. Home treatments allow you to forego chemicals in favor of all-natural (and inexpensive) ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen.

"Facials are a great alternative to invasive or painful skin care procedures and they can be done from the comfort of your own home," says Sabrina Taylor, who makes her own all-natural skin care products and shares her expertise on BESskincare.com. "What makes facials so great for your complexion is their gentle ability to even out skin tone, lighten dark spots, and slough away dead skin that can cause your skin to look dull and worn."

At-Home Facial Recipes

Exactly what you'll need really depends on your goal, explains Lisa Petty, author of Living Beauty: Feel Great, Look Fabulous & Live Well. For instance, do you want to fight acne, reduce and slow the signs of aging, soothe dry or allergy-prone skin, or brighten dark spots? She says different items have different properties that can bring the desired benefits. Three of her favorite at-home facial recipes are below. You can purchase any ingredients that you don't already have on hand at most grocery or health food stores.

1. Avocado Honey Mask

What you'll need:

  • 1 Tbsp mashed avocado
  • 2 Tbsp raw honey
  • 1 whole egg

Directions: Blend these ingredients using a blender (or hand whisk) until you achieve a smooth consistency. Then spread on your face and let sit for 15 minutes. Wash off gently with warm water.

The benefits: This mixture is chock full of essential fats, which will tighten and nourish your skin and take years off your complexion.

2. Skin-Nourishing Breakfast Mask

What you'll need:

  • ¼ cup plain yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • ½ cup large-flake oatmeal.

Directions: Combine the yogurt and honey in a bowl, then blend in the oatmeal to create a smooth, thick paste. Apply this to your face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

The benefits: This mask helps to exfoliate dry, dull skin to reveal healthy-looking skin.

3. The Wrinkle Cure

What you'll need:

  • Egg yolk
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 Tbsp honey

Directions: Combine these ingredients in a glass jar with a lid and shake vigorously. Apply to dry or wrinkle-prone areas of your face (i.e., around eyes, forehead and throat) and leave on overnight. Rinse in morning.

Benefits: Improved skin tone and moisture levels, and less-prominent lines and wrinkles.

Pair Skin Care With Diet for Even Better Results

All of these DIY facials can make a significant difference in the condition of your skin, but Petty advises that for best results, these should be in conjunction with other healthy lifestyle choices.

"You can't put icing on a stone and expect delicious results, and the same is true with your skin: working from the outside will only give you superficial results," she says.

Her advice is to nourish your skin from the inside out with a diet high in colorful fruits and vegetables. She also suggests limiting sugar intake since too much sugar can foster wrinkles and make your skin look older. "My number one beauty secret for skin," Petty says, "is omega-3 essential fats EPA and DHA from purified fish oil."

Lisa Petty, nutrition expert, and Sabrina Taylor, DIY skin care expert, reviewed this article.


 

Sources:

Petty, Lisa, author, Living Beauty: Feel Great, Look Fabulous & Live Well. Email interview. 22 April 2013.
http://livevibrantly.ca/

Taylor, Sabrina. DIY skin care expert. Email interview. 20 April 2013.
http://besskincare.com