Be Your Own Personal (face) Chef!

Bad economy affecting your beauty budget? Don’t despair. You may not be able to visit a luxe spa for your favorite facial, but you can certainly pamper your skin in the comfort of your own home. Whip up each of these easy and inexpensive mask mixtures in your kitchen, most with ingredients you have around the house.

Milk Me Beautiful-- Oily Acne Prone Skin
Milk of Magnesia absorbs impurities and disinfects even better than clay. Paula Begoun made this simple mask popular in her book, ‘The Beauty Bible.’

Ingredients:
-1 bottle Milk of Magnesia

Preparation:
Apply Milk of Magnesia to face.
After letting set for 10-15 minutes, wash with cool washcloth.

Honey Banana Beauty—Oily Skin
A soothing mask to reduce redness, tighten pores, and minimize shine.

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1 tbsp. of honey
An orange or a lemon

Preparation:
Mix banana and honey, add several drops of fresh squeezed orange or lemon juice.
Apply to face for 15 minutes, then rinse with a steaming warm washcloth.

Indian Goddess Brightener—For Brighter Skin
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
1 cup of plain yogurt

Preparation:
Mix the turmeric and yogurt and spread on face. Leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off.

Dairy Soft—To Soften Dry Skin
Ingredients:
1 tsp. powdered milk
1 tbsp. runny honey
1 tsp. aloe vera gel
2 drops essential oil

Preparation:
Mix ingredients well, apply to face for 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Kitty Litter—For the Beauty Daredevil
I’ll admit this one scares me just a little bit. Cat litter? On your face? Beauty junkies swear by it; cat litter is made of the same ingredients as special clays found in $100 spa facials.
Ingredients:
1 bag cat litter (must be marked 100 percent natural clay)
Water
Drops of your favorite essential oil

Preparation:
Mix 2 tbsp. of cat litter with water and oil, apply mask to face, wash off after 15 minutes.

Multiply the ingredients in these masks and enjoy a Thrifty Beauty Girls Night In for under $10!