by Emily Mongan
There are really few things in life better than taking time out of the day to pamper yourself with a luxurious face mask or scrub, but trying out new products can take a toll on your pocketbook and your skin. Why not give them both a break with a homemade facial? There’s a good chance that you have ingredients on hand in your pantry or fridge to whip up a revitalizing mask or scrub, plus making it yourself assures that there won’t be any additives or chemicals to wreck havoc on your complexion.
If you’re looking for a key ingredient to take your homemade facial treatment to the next level, why not reach for a carton of raspberries? You don’t just have to snack on this superfood to get the health benefits. Raspberries are packed with anthocyanins, an antioxidant that can prevent skin damage from free radicals, as well as Omega 3- and Omega 6-fatty acids that can treat eczema and psoriasis. Plus the raspberry’s seeds work as natural exfoliators to clear and brighten your skin. Here are our top five homemade raspberry beauty product recipes, so head to your kitchen and prepare to pamper yourself!
Revitalize tired skin with a raspberry, yogurt, and green tea face mask. To prepare, steep a green tea bag for one minute. Once it’s cooled down a bit, cut it open and empty the tea bag into a bowl. Combine the tea with a handful (about six to eight) of mashed raspberries, and two tablespoons of plain yogurt. Dampen your skin, apply the mask and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or shorter if you have sensitive skin. Rinse the mask with warm water, and apply a moisturizer.
Soften your lips with a sweet raspberry lip scrub. This one uses beauty powerhouse coconut oil to moisturize, and two different types of sugars to exfoliate away dead skin. Mix two teaspoons of raw sugar and two teaspoons of white sugar in a small container (we recommend an empty and thoroughly cleaned makeup pot). Add a few drops of vanilla essence and one teaspoon of melted coconut oil, then stir. Mash up two raspberries, and add them to the pot. Stir everything together one last time, and get to scrubbing! The scrub can be applied with your fingers or a toothbrush. The remaining scrub can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Keep it simple with a basic raspberry and white sugar face scrub. Mash up a handful of raspberries, and add enough plain white sugar until it no longer dissolves in the raspberry juices. Mix until the texture reaches a paste-like consistency, and apply the scrub to your face with your fingers or a wash cloth. Scrub in small circles until you’ve exfoliated your whole face, then rinse with warm water. Finish with a moisturizer if needed.
Honey and oats are both known for their calming and anti-inflammatory properties, so pair them with raspberries to make a soothing raspberry, honey and oats face mask. Mix together a handful of mashed raspberries with one tablespoon of oats and one tablespoon of raw honey. Apply the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or shorter for sensitive skin. Rinse the mask off with warm water.
Exfoliate and moisturize your whole body with this luxurious raspberry, mint, and olive oil scrub. Mix 150g of mashed raspberries with two tablespoons of olive oil, two to three drops of almond oil, and two to three drops of mint extract. Add one cup of white sugar, and mix. To use, apply the scrub and massage into dampened skin. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water followed by a rinse of cold water.