How To Make a Face Mask for Sensitive Skin

Having a facial at a spa can be a wonderful experience, but most of us do not have the time or the money these days to indulge.  Fortunately, you can recreate the spa experience at home by making your own facial masks.  Sensitive skin types can really benefit from doing a facial mask every so often.  The best part about these masks is that they use items that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard, making them an excellent natural treat for the skin.

Yogurt is a fabulous and soothing ingredient in face masks for sensitive skin.  Containing natural compounds that kill bacteria and fungi, yogurt helps keep skin clear.  Yogurt also contains lactic acid, which is a mild exfoliant.  Since sensitive skin types should avoid abrasive exfoliants like nut pieces or large grains, lactic acid is an excellent alternative.  It sloughs off the dead skin cells very efficiently, leaving your sensitive skin glowing.  This type of mask is most refreshing when the yogurt is cold, so make it directly out of the refrigerator.

For additional benefits, you can mix different ingredients into the yogurt.  Honey is an excellent moisturizer and antibacterial substance.  It is very gentle, yet leaves skin refreshed.  Another option is oatmeal.  Oatmeal-based baths are often recommended for those with chickenpox or other rashes, as the oatmeal soothes the itching.  This makes it an ideal ingredient in facial masks for sensitive skin.  If you like, you can grind the oatmeal into a fine powder using a blender or food processor, or just apply it as it comes packaged.

Another option is an egg white mask.  Simply whisk the eggs lightly, and apply to your face.  Leave on until your skin feels tight, and then wash the mask off.  The egg whites can also be combined with yogurt.

If you have sensitive skin, however, avoid anything that would dry out the skin or could irritate it.  Clay masks would be too harsh, and many essential oils, despite their lovely aroma, are intensely irritating to sensitive skin.  Make sure that you test any potential mask elsewhere on the body first, much as you would test for a home hair coloring kit.  This way, if your skin does react to the face mask, the reaction is less noticeable than if it were all over your face!  Also, although it may be tempting to steam the mask off, sensitive skin is very reactionary, so very hot water could irritate your skin.  It’s best to use warm or even tepid water to remove the mask.

With some imagination and a little research on what is good for your skin, your face, even if it is sensitive, can enjoy a spa-like revivification with a homemade facial mask as often as you like.