A new term has popped up in today’s terminology, thanks to close to two years of safety protocols, “mask-ne” is now part of our mainstream vocabulary .
What is it? It’s acne caused by wearing safety masks. Long necessary hours wearing these medical grade paper masks or the 3-layer cloth ones (plus face shields!) have not only stifled our breathing (all for our good, of course) but have caused our skin pores to be stifled as well.
Hello, mask breakouts.
As we brace ourselves for maybe one more year at the very least (thankful for more vaccination rollouts ahead) of these safety precautions, we can take care of our skin in the meantime with this easy DIY facial mask and scrub you can do at home for some me time.
With just 3 simple ingredients available at your local supermarket, warehouse shopping chain or health store, (and just 2 minute prep time), you can clear out clogged pores, brighten skin, lessen inflammation, and slow down the aging process!
All from the comfort of our own homes—yes, your own spa-at-home is now open for business.
Ingredients: (for one mask)
1/2 tablespoon activated charcoal
1/2 teaspoon Virgin Coconut Oil
1/8 cup rice milk (or try a quick alternative of rice water or “hugas bigas”, the chalky water produced when washing uncooked rice, if you’re in a hurry). Quick recipe for rice milk below.
Try to achieve a consistency similar to watery paste, slightly thick but still easily spreadable.
*To make rice milk, prepare 1 cup uncooked rice, 2 cups water. Combine ingredients. Heat until boiling but not fully cooked. Scoop out rice milk from surface, let cool and add to your DIY facial mask and scrub.
Procedure:
As a mask: Apply a tablespoon of the mixture on a freshly washed face, gently massage in a circular motion and let it sit for 5-15 minutes. Watch the impurities rise to the surface! Rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry. As a facial scrub: Rinse off immediately with warm water. Perfect for a quick skin detox during the week.
Tip: Only use this facial mask and scrub once or twice a week since the activated charcoal has a drying effect on skin.
All ingredients also available online at Neutra Organics.
*For the complete demo, click on the video below.
