By Fredrica Syren:
Many years ago I would spend a fortune on face masks made by commercial brands whose product promised almost 
everything beauty-wise. Most of these products contained many questionable ingredients that could do harm to my health rather than keep my face eternally wrinkle-free. These days I would never consider buying any of them, and I actually make my very own with ingredients from my fridge and pantry.
Homemade face masks are super easy and cheap to make, and are very good for skin without the potential damage to health. Too many of the commercial face masks contain alcohol and synthetic ingredients that can actually cause more damage than good. My philosophy is that, since skin is our largest organ and things applied to it get absorbed into the blood stream, the only things that should be applied to it should be good enough to eat.
If, like me, you enjoy pampering yourself with a beneficial face mask, then making your own is a walk in the park, and it will nourish your skin naturally without the aid of chemicals.
Here are two of my favorite homemade face masks.
Avocado face mask—Avocado contains vitamins B and E, and amino acids, which all help soothe and moisturize your 
facial skin. Avocado is great for skin care, especially for dry, red, itchy and rough skin.
- ½ ripe avocado
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- ½ olive oil
With the back of a fork, mash avocado with honey and olive oil into a smooth paste. Apply to clean face and neck, and leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water.
Oatmeal face mask—Oats are a great ingredient for both inside and outside your body. Oats contain anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s great for anyone suffering from acne, and can help calm itchy and irritated skin. It contains a property called beta-glucan that can form a fine film on the skin which helps clean and provides a deep moisturizer to the skin.
- 1 Tbsp. ground oatmeal
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 Tbsp. plain yogurt
Use the back of a fork to mash and blend everything to a paste. Apply to face and neck, and leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water or a warm and wet washcloth.
