Rare is the occasion when your skin doesn't appreciate a little extra attention. The time is always right for a soothing and moisturizing facial. An at-home treatment designed by a leading holistic skin-care expert offers the perfect recipe for a healthy glow -- and inner calm. "Working with fresh, lush ingredients is, in itself, therapeutic," explains Susan West Kurz, author of "Awakening Beauty the Dr. Hauschka Way." "The tactile pleasure of creating treatments in your own kitchen is a wonderful antidote to stress." Read on for her favorite fix.
What You'll Need
Organic lavender essential oil
Cotton washcloth (use organic cotton when possible)
Organic almond butter
Skin toner (try Avalon Organics' Lavender Hydrating Toner or Dr. Hauschka's Facial Toner)
Choose one: honey, organic strawberry yogurt, or organic avocado
Facial How-To
1. Pre-cleanse.
After thoroughly removing any makeup and rinsing your face, fill a sink with warm water. Add two to three drops of lavender oil and stir with your hand. Soak the washcloth in the lavender water, then wring it out and gently press it against your face and neck for 30 seconds.
2. Cleanse.
Put one teaspoon of almond butter and a few drops of lavender water in your palm; rub your hands together to create a paste. Apply to skin using a "press and roll" method, which helps remove dead cells, dirt, and oil: Press your palms against your forehead and roll them outward. Moving down your face and neck, continue the motion until you reach your collarbones. Return to massaging your forehead, and repeat the process for one to three minutes.
3. Rinse and Tone.
Use another washcloth soaked in lavender water to remove the almond cleansing cream from your face. Rinse with cool water and apply toner.
4. Apply a mask.
Choose one of the following masks, depending on your skin's needs:
- To Moisturize Dry Skin
Half of a mashed organic avocado
- To Brighten Dull Complexions
Organic strawberry yogurt
- To Rid Pores of Impurities
Honey
Text by Abbie Kozolchyk
