Though my days can be hectic as hell, I will not let that wreak havoc on my complexion. Rush back home and do my skincare ritual, nothing other than self-indulgence, especially when it comes to face masks. This form of beauty T.L.C delivers a 15-to-20-minute sensory, concentrated treatment merging active ingredients to pick ourselves up after crappy days.
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If you are a beauty junkie, there is no way that you have missed the buzz about face masks on social media, “Face Mask Selfie.” They are everywhere with different types, like sheet, cream, clay or powder.
You can buy those at stores and online. On the other hand, you can even find the secrets to beautiful skin right in your kitchen. The idea of homemade (or do-it-yourself) remedy has never been out of date. In this post, I’m going to humbly walk us through my tried-and-true avocado face mask for combination, oily, sensitive and dry skin types.
1. What We Need
- ½ ripe avocado
- A tablespoon of jojoba oil
- A tablespoon of manuka honey
All of the ingredients are organic so that they will not contain any toxins or harmful elements, to begin with.
2. How We Do the Mask
- Scoop out the flesh of the avocado into a bowl, avoiding dark dots.
- Mash it into a smooth paste with a folk.
- Add jojoba oil and honey into the bowl.
- Gently apply after washing your face with cleanser.
- Stir them all. On the other hand, to make this quick, you can put all of the ingredients into a blender to create an avocado “smoothie” face mask. Of course, it smells really yummy.
Spread it all over your face with clean fingers and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. While letting the mask sit on skin, it feels genuinely refreshing and hydrating. After that, massage on top of it for an extra 60 seconds and then, remove the mask. Make sure that you wash it off completely with tepid water.
My complexion becomes more awake, smooth and plump, retaining moisture without feeling oily or greasy. The mask helps reduce tight, dry sensations and restore skin luminosity. Next, finish off with a thin layer of moisturizing cream to keep skin hydrated during the night.
Moreover, I love to slap on this pre-bedtime mask once to twice a week, especially when my skin is very tired. I’d like to recommend this to sensitive, combination, oily, dry and aging skin types.
3. How the Mask Works
This at-home face mask harnesses three nourishing ingredients.
a. Avocado
Avocado is hailed as nutrient-dense butter fruit. As a matter of fact, it’s jam-packed with over 9 grams of fiber for one raw avocado as well as nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, such as B-complex vitamins (Folate and B6), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, copper and potassium. Plus, abundant in omega-3 fatty acids and mainly, monounsaturated fats (oleic acid).
Many studies have advocated eating an avocado every day to reap wholesome benefits to heart, brain, eyes, muscles, hair and skin. For example, it helps maintain a healthy circulatory system, lower cholesterol, enhance vision, alleviate stress, induce sleep, promote protein synthesis, strengthen the immune system, control hair loss and improve complexion.
Speaking of skincare, the superfood is known as one of the most nourishing ingredients for clear, youthful-looking skin. Its high content of carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene), Glutathione, fatty acids, vitamin C and vitamin E boasts moisturizing, anti-aging and skin protective agents. Dr. Karen Hammerman, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York has confirmed the topical benefits of avocado.
The natural oil in avocado provides antioxidants, triggering the skin’s rejuvenation. “Avocado oil reverses degenerative skin changes seen with aging by stimulating the production of elastin fibers and collagen, thus restoring normal regenerative and degenerative balance,” explains Dr. Hammerman. She also adds the ingredient’s power to fight against UV rays, saying, “Exceedingly bioavailable lutein and zeaxanthin might help to protect the skin from UV and visible radiation damage.”
Moreover, Hammerman recommends applying avocado to moisturize skin, stating, “Avocado oil is capable of penetrating deep into the skin, making skin soft and hydrated. One of the extraordinary properties of avocado oil is it acts as a powerful humectant, which is a substance that absorbs or helps retain moisture, like glycerin.” (Source)
b. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil, a golden liquid wax ester, is pressed out of the seeds of Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) plant. The plant is a shrub native to Southern California, Southern Arizona, and Northwestern Mexico. Jojoba oil is commonly used in cosmetics to coddle a variety of skin conditions, like acne vulgaris, psoriasis, sunburn and flaking.
Renowned for treating overactive sebaceous glands. Using oil to combat oil may sound quite counterintuitive. Jojoba oil’s consistency resembles human sebum, which is the oil the skin naturally produces. “Jojoba oil and sebum are a 97 percent chemical match,” says Dr. Devika Icecreamwala, a dermatologist with Icecreamwala Dermatology in San Francisco. (Source)
Jojoba oil dissolves the sticky build-up of excessive oil (sebum) and unclogs pores, but also tricks sebaceous glands into thinking that they have secreted enough oil. Thus, they refrain from overproducing oil. Dr. Icecreamwala says, “Jojoba oil balances oil production in all skin types.”
Aside from that, jojoba oil also works as an emollient, warding off flaking and scaling. Its oily, waxy texture tends to capture natural moisture and minimize transepidermal water loss.
Furthermore, jojoba oil has a lightweight consistency with small molecules. Then, it’s fast-absorbed, non-greasy and less likely to aggravate breakouts. “It minimizes oil production in oily skin so not to cause acne, and is also very hydrating for dry skin without leaving your pores clogged,” explains Dr. Icecreamwala.
Jojoba oil consists of vitamin E, vitamin B complex and minerals including silicon, copper, zinc and chromium. In addition, loaded with omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. All of those elements deliver rejuvenating and hydrating agents.
It helps energize damaged cells, stimulate cellular renewal, increase skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of premature aging. Plus, its high concentration of Iodine makes it soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial to speed up the healing process of the skin, regarding acne, redness, irritation, scars and wounds.
c. Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is produced by bees pollinating the Manuka bush, or Leptospermum Scoparium, native to New Zealand. It has been widely known as one of the most beneficial forms of honey. Touted as a great source of medicinal properties.
“It’s actually the Manuka pollen that gives Manuka Honey its powerful health-giving properties. Antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral Manuka honey can boost your immune system and even improve your gut health,” explains Rick Hay, a Nutritional Physiologist.
The therapeutic power of manuka honey is legit. It’s prescribed to relieve sore throat, digestive disorders, gastric (stomach) ulcers and other ailments. (Source)
In cosmetics, manuka honey has been used to treat different skin woes. Malvina Fraser, a beauty specialist in London, emphasizes the ingredient’s efficacy to clear up acne vulgaris, when applied topically on skin. “Pure, organic Manuka Honey is the perfect natural alternative for curing acne and skin infections.” (Source)
Dr. Karen Hammerman notes that the anti-inflammatory property of manuka honey can mitigate acne inflammation. Meanwhile, it’s able to slough off dead skin cells to liberate the pores, kill blemish-causing bacteria and stimulate the skin’s repair. (Source)
That is not all manuka honey can do for our skin’s sake. According to a 2012 article published in the journal of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), manuka honey is enriched with antioxidants to counteract free radicals. It contains amino acids, B-complex vitamins, Phosphorus, Zinc, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese and Potassium.
Its nutrients help promote cell turnover and the regeneration of proteins like collagen and keratin to form the protective barrier with a UV-protection effect and building blocks of the skin.
Moreover, it can keep dry patches at bay and reveal a resilient complexion. Dr. Tanuj Nakra, MD and co-founder of AVYA Skincare, claims that manuka honey can function as a humectant to attract moisture to skin and restore natural radiance. As a result, it tends to reduce wrinkles and restore firmness.
A word of caution: Make sure that you choose manuka honey with the UMF 10+ and above for skincare. UMF (or Unique Manuka factor) indicates its level of bioactivity. At levels lower than the UMF 10, its antibacterial activity is less effective. However, those who are allergic to bees should not apply honey to skin.
Hope you enjoy the post and spend some time trying the mask. If you have any ideas or questions about it, please tell me. I’m dying to know your thoughts. Thank you so much for joining me! Have a nice day to you all and stay beautiful as always!