Skip the Spa, Pampering is as Close as Your Pantry
by Pamela White

Don’t despair if you can’t afford the trip to the spa. Your skin won’t suffer if you use the recipes below to re-texturize, moisturize and renew your skin. No matter how long it’s been since your skin was given first class treatment, you will benefit from all three recipes.

To prepare for these skin treatments, thoroughly wash your face, neck and decollete. The recipes contain fresh ingredients so leftovers should be refrigerated, and used or thrown out within 48 hours.

When using any new, especially natural, skin treatment, try it once or twice a week for three weeks to see how great your skin feels. The exception is if you are allergic to any ingredients or develop a rash, do not repeat treatment. However, some minor skin eruptions are normal after the first and second treatments as the natural ingredients draw toxins from the skin. Remember, this is only temporary.

Pumpkin Masque

A version of the pumpkin masque is showing up on store shelves, on salon "menus" and even on Oprah. Why is it so popular? It could be the yummy pumpkin pie scent. But it’s most likely the phenomenal therapeutical value of pumpkin. Pumpkin is overflowing with vitamins A and C, and beta-carotene. These antioxidants protect skin from the damage done by free radicals. Is your upper chest damaged from sun exposure? Even if the sun damage has left your decollete rough, the pumpkin masque will re-texturize your skin giving you softer, younger looking face, neck and chest skin. Cinnamon warms the skin, promoting the circulation of blood to the skin.. Cinnamon also has antiseptic qualities to fight bacteria. Egg yolks emulsify the mixture, and hold moisture in the skin during the treatment.

• One-fourth cup pumpkin puree
   

• one-fourth teaspoon ground cinnamon
   

• one-fourth teaspoon safflower oil
   

• one egg yolk

Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Massage mixture over face (avoiding eyes) and anywhere else you want. Lay back and let the pumpkin soften and rejuvenate your skin for twenty minutes before washing off with cool water. Makes one masque.

Avocado Masque

The avocado is a blessing for dry skin, whether you suffer from it year-round or have problems with "winter skin." Avocado softens and renews dry skin and provides vitamins A, C, and E, iron, potassium and niacin to fight free radical damage and keep skin looking good. Any avocado provides a skin-coating smoothing but avocados from California, with its higher oil content, are the best for masques. Sea salt softens skin; yogurt not only creates a smooth, cooling texture for the masque, it holds in the skin’s moisture.

• One cup (approximately) very ripe avocado, mashed
   

• one-half teaspoon sea salt
   

• one-fourth cup plain yogurt

Mix ingredients into a smooth, cool, light green masque. Slather on face, neck and decollete. Relax on your back so the masque doesn’t drip. While you’re renewing your dry skin, take two slices of avocado and place one on the skin under each eye to reduce puffiness. Leave masque on 20 minutes, then wash off with cool water.

Honey-oatmeal masque/scrub

Honey’s antiseptic properties make it a natural to keep faces free from bacteria. Oatmeal provides gentle exfoliation. Leave the mask on for five to ten minutes, then rub allowing oatmeal to help remove dead skin. Rinse with tepid water. This is a wonderful lift for all skin types.

• One-quarter cup quick cooking oats, finely ground in blender
   

• One-quarter cup honey

Mix oats and honey into a paste. It will be sticky so keep your hair away from the masque. Smooth it on face, neck and chest. Lay down to avoid masque dripping on your clothes. You will benefit from this recipe immediately if used solely as a scrub and washed off right away. You may also leave masque on for five to ten minutes. Don’t worry, it washes off easily, leaving skin soft and feeling new.