Out With the Cold, in With the New (Skincare Routine)

With Spring here, it’s time to clean out the closet & switch up not only your wardrobe, but your skincare routine too. Add these easy & travel-friendly face treatments to get you ready those sunnier days.

Here are really simple & affordable ways to take care for your skin – which you can even do while Netflixing your favorite show!

Fresh-Water Facial to Detox Your Skin

Required items: water, large microwavable bowl, towel, flat surface

1. Fill large bowl about halfway with water
2. Carefully place water in microwave & heat until boiling
3. Use towel to carefully remove bowl from microwave & place on flat surface
4. Hover your face over bowl so that the steam is hitting it, but not so close that it burns
5. Place towel over head & bowl & stay there until water cools or you become too hot (about 5-10 minutes if you can hang)

(Thanks mom for this quick & inexpensive beauty trick!)

Natural Face Masks

Find everything you need in your local grocery store (or in your campus cafeteria – for my fellow college students).

Honey & avocado mask (for dry skin)

Required items: ½ of a very ripe avocado, 2 tbsp of honey, ½ tsp of coconut oil, bowl

1. Mash avocado in bowl until it is smooth using a spoon or fork
2. Add honey & coconut oil to bowl & mix until well blended
3. Apply evenly over face, avoiding the eyes
4. Keep mask on for 10-15 minutes
5. Use a warm towel & wipe face clean then, pat dry

Oatmeal mask (for acne-prone skin)

Required items: 1/3 cup instant oatmeal, ½ cup hot water, 1 tbsp honey, 1-2 tbsps plain yogurt

1. Add water to oatmeal & stir until well blended (the oatmeal will look plumped up)
2. Add honey & water & mix (or put in blender if preferred)
3. Apply evenly over face, avoiding the eyes
4. Keep mask on for 10 minutes
5. Use warm, wet washcloth & wipe face; then pat dry

Strawberry lemon mask (for oily skin)

Required items: ¼ cup mashed strawberries, 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp yogurt, 1 tbsp honey

1. Mix all ingredients together
2. Apply evenly over face, avoiding the eyes
3. Keep mask on for about 8-10 minutes
4. Use warm, wet washcloth & wipe face
5. Rinse face with cool water; then pat dry

Orange yogurt mask (for cleansing & tightening)

Required items:  1 tsp of plain yogurt, ¼ of an orange

1. Mix yogurt & juice from orange slice
2. Apply evenly over face, avoiding the eyes
3. Keep mask on for 5 minutes
4. Rinse face with cold water; then pat dry

Some side notes about me & my skin:

My skin tends to be very dry even in the warmer months so about 3 times a week, or every other day i use the honey & avocado mask to soften & moisturize my skin. Then, about once a week I do the fresh-water facial & follow that later with the orange yogurt mask. After washing off each mask I swipe a Shobha Rosewater Freshening Cloth over my face for a cool, refreshing finish & to help minimize my pores. Remember to start this Spring with your freshest face forward & without breaking the bank.