If you read this blog with any consistency, than you know I’m a beauty junkie.
As a young adult, one of my favorite things to do was peruse the gads of make-up stands at upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Some of my favorite high-end cosmetics companies are Merle Norman, MAC, Nars, and Urban Decay, none of which really boast a reputation for being ‘organic’ or ‘natural’.
As I get older, I’ve turned towards more products by creators like Josie Maran and Mineral Fusion, but I still have my cheap Maybelline and L’oreal favorites as well! 🙂
I’m a total dichotomy in that I still buy make-up with more than questionable ingredients, but my skin care routine is TOTALLY natural and even hippie-ish.
I love making face masks from foods, like avocado or yogurt, using apple cider vinegar as a toner, and rubbing castor oil pretty much everywhere.
I’m not a huge fan of cleansers, since they’re on your skin for such a short period of time, so I either use the oil-cleansing method for cleaning my face or this African black soap.
Masks are really where it’s at for skin! By leaving these nutrients on, the skin has time to absorb what it needs to make you look and feel beautiful!
…once the mask is actually OFF, I should say.
I created this mask based off a few facts I already knew:
- Turmeric is a natural antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent. It has also been shown to speed wound-healing.
(Trader Joe’s, $1.99)
- Raw honey is antiseptic and antimicrobial, and it also contains gluconic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid that brightens the complexion, evens out skin tone, and lightens scars and age spots.
- Charcoal is used to draw out toxins and impurities from the skin, and it also had mild exfoliation properties.
- Spirulina improves age spots, eczema, acne and rashes.
- Coconut oil provides moisture by strengthening the underlying tissues. It also helps remove excessive dead cells on the skin’s surface that makes your skin rough and flaky in texture.
By combining all of these natural and high-nutrient ingredients, I’ve found a formula for a mask that I’ll be using for the rest of my life! My husband has not only told me how great my skin looks lately, but HE wants to do it with me! 🙂
I truly and genuinely notice such a huge difference in my skin when I use this mask. My skin is more even-toned, and (not to sound cheesy) but there’s a literal ‘glow‘ from my skin immediately after washing this off.
It doesn’t take weeks to see results either, you will be able to see noticeable changes with your first use.
If I could package this and sell it on Shark Tank, you better believe I would!
- 1 charcoal capsule I use the brand above, which contains 280 mg per capsule, but any charcoal should work!
- 2 t. turmeric
- 2 t. raw honey
- 1/2 t. spirulina
- 1/2 t. extra virgin coconut oil
- 1/4-1/2 t. water just enough to make the mask 'spreadable'
- Mix everything together in a glass or porcelain dish, adding a tiny bit of water as needed.
- Apply enough of the mixture to cover your face (1-2 teaspoons) using your hands or a spoon made from plastic, glass, or porcelain.
- Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes (I leave mine on for 30).
- Rinse off with warm water and a soft washcloth.
Notes:
You won’t use this entire recipe for one mask, so just cover the remaining mixture with plastic wrap and keep it in a cupboard for the next time (you may need to add a bit more water with your second use to get the ingredients moving again).
The turmeric may stain your skin a bit, but it washes off within 1-2 washes (mine is off after the first wash).
Use an old washcloth, as the turmeric WILL NOT come out completely.
I hope you all give this a try! I promise, you won’t regret it!
What is your favorite natural beauty treatment? Make-up line?
Stephanie York says
Hello, this sounds amazing…only issue, I’m allergic to coconut. Any suggestions on another oil that would be best for a similar outcome?
Lauren says
Hi Stephanie,
Olive or grapeseed should work as well!
Stephanie York says
Thank you very much.
Joie says
Hi! Using this mask constantly and it is so great! My friends comment that my complexion has improved!! Wondering if you have other good recipes to share! Let me know!
Lauren says
That’s awesome Joie, I’m so happy to hear it!
Q says
Hi Lauren, i was diagnosed with chelitis with has my face and lips rely imflamed with a rash. Is the mask good for irritated skin
Lauren says
Hi Q,
It can be, but I’m not familiar enough with your condition to say for sure.
caRly says
i WOils like to subscribe to your page and posts etc
Lauren says
Hi Carly,
I’ll go ahead and enter in your email! 🙂
June Abney says
Lauren, this mask looks wonderful! I can’t use honey so I was wondering what you would suggest as a substitute.
Love the picture of you and your girls…so cute!
June
Liz says
Is there any reason why I can’t whip up a big batch of this (doubling the recipe for like a week’s worth) and use as needed? I’ve been using this in conjunction with a homemade honey salt scrub for the past several days, and my skin is already looking so much better. I find the recipe only lasts for about 4 masks and would like to have a batch last about a week. (I remake a lot of stuff on a weekly basis which really works out well for me so I just want to make sure this mix can safely last 7 days.) What’s your opinion?
Also, after removing the mask, I swipe my face with a witch hazel rosewater toner which removes the turmeric and spirulina coating left on the skin so it doesn’t wind up on my towel.
Lauren says
Hi Liz,
I think you’d be fine making a larger batch. Just be sure to tightly cover whatever container holds the mixture, otherwise it dries out. Great idea with the toner swipe too! 🙂
Jordana says
Hi, Lauren! I actually tried this last night, and I loved how my skin felt afterward! It only took me one wash to get it off, too, which was fabulous, given that I had prepared myself to be turmeric-stained for a day or two. LOL! I may have missed this information elsewhere in the post, so please forgive me if I am asking a question to which I should already know the answer, but how frequently do you do this? Every night? Every week? Many thanks!!
Lauren says
I’m so happy you liked it Jordana! I use the mask pretty often (about five times per week), as I find my skin looks better with more frequent use. 🙂
Cheryl says
Ooooh, this looks amazing! And what glowing reviews… yeah, I punned on purpose 🙂 I need a serious trip to Whole Foods to grab all these ingredients!
Marianne says
I need to get some charcoal so I can try this mask 🙂
For natural diy beauty stuff, you should look up Scratch Mommy. She also sells on Etsy.
Lauren says
Thanks Marianne, I definitely will! I love Etsy! 🙂
Mike@TheIronYou says
That pictures with your young ladies is fantastic Lauren, brought a smile to my face!
Lauren says
Thanks so much Mike! We had a fun time with it, so I’m happy you liked it! 🙂
Ashley says
Lauren, this is amazing! I am so excited to try this out this weekend, especially because my skin has been looking a bit drab lately. I’m in the same boat with the dichotomy of products; I still use questionable makeup brands but then I use only natural, one-ingredient products to clean and moisturize. How do you like Josie Maran’s products? I’ve heard good things but haven’t given them a try yet!
Lauren says
Thanks Ashley! I like Josie’s stuff! Her argan oil is amazing. I like to use a little on the ends of my hair for frizzies or I put a drop in the mixture when I oil cleanse, and it works great for both uses. 🙂
Amanda says
This sounds great! I have to be so careful with products I use on my face (even natural ones), but products/brands I’ve discovered and like include: Alima Pure for makeup and brushes (affordable, too!), Juice Beauty CC Cream (the only sunscreen that doesn’t mess up my skin so far), Osmia Organics (her soaps are great in that they don’t exacerbate eczema in my experience), May Lindstrom (obsessed with her Clean Dirt face wash and body oil), and Lina Hanson (the body serum smells incredible). I love this stuff. 🙂
Lauren says
Thanks for all the info Amanda! Most companies I find are pretty expensive, so I’ll definitely be checking out Alima Pure. 🙂
dawn says
genius! what kind of castor oil do you buy? AND very cute pics of you and the children!!! so funny!
Lauren says
Thanks girl! I use the Home Health brand of castor oil. 🙂
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says
Love this! I have a face scrub recipe coming up soon using some of the same ingredients !:) Gotta love natural skin care!