Homemade Facials

Spring is the time of rebirth and revival, and nothing communicates health and wellness like vibrant and luminous skin. A facial is a wonderful way to help you look and feel better.

If you don’t have the energy or time to make an appointment with an aesthetician, take a tour of your kitchen and refrigerator for inspiration! Be it acne, dark bags under your eyes, uneven skin tone or a dry and dull complexion, refrigerator facials are a quick fix until you can get to the spa.

As delicious as they are effective, some of the best recipes require only one ingredient from the grocery store. Try to use fresh and organic ingredients so that you aren’t putting unnecessary toxins onto your exposed skin. Here are some of my favorite options.

Antioxidant Oatmeal and Chocolate Facial

This combination helps unclog pores and smooths the skin.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce uncooked oatmeal
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons chocolate (raw if you can find it)
• 1 tablespoon organic honey

Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face using upward movements. Leave on for 10 minutes. Delicious!

Salsa Facial

Brighten and decongest oily, acne-prone skin with this mixture.

Ingredients:

• 1 finely chopped ripe organic tomato
• Generous squeeze of ripe organic lemon

Mix ingredients. Apply to skin with your fingers, making certain to avoid eye area. Relax for 5 minutes with your head back. Rinse off with warm water. Margaritas, anyone?

Yogurt Facial

Use one or both ingredients to remove dead skin cells and brighten the face.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup 2% or full-fat organic, plain Greek yogurt. The fat is important so that it will absorb into your skin.
• 4 teaspoons warmed organic honey (optional)

If using the honey, vigorously mix honey and yogurt to blend. Apply with upward movements to your face. Close your eyes and relax, let the lactic acid and milk proteins in the yogurt nourish your skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Perhaps a new Ben & Jerry’s flavor?

Raw Potato Eye Mask

This combo will help to de-puff your eyes and brighten the surrounding skin.

Ingredients:

• 1 organic, raw potato, peeled and finely grated
• ¼ cup organic 2% or full-fat Greek yogurt

Mix ingredients together with your hands and gently apply to the under-eye area. Tilt back your head and relax for 15 minutes. Beautiful!

Kat Tudor is the creative director and co-owner at the new SunWater Spa and Healing Arts Center in Manitou Springs, Colorado. An innovative yoga practitioner and instructor, her unique and creative yoga draws on her art and dance background and extensive training, to transform the mind, body and spirit. SunWater Spa offers a range of radiant, invigorating and soothing facials that use natural ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil to purify your skin and Cherry Enzymes to exfoliate. A personal favorite is the 60-minute Sun Radiance, which will leave your skin glowing.