DIY: The BEST Facial Mask

It's officially May. Not only does this month excite us all because the weather is finally getting to a point of steady warmer temperatures, BUT, May is also notorious for being one of the busiest months of the year. Graduations, school ending, moving time for those of us that rent and with the weather being nicer we're all stir crazy to get out of the house anyway. 

Let's face it, ladies, we're stressed. And - if you're anything like me...the first thing to show it is your face. Most women will agree that their face is sensitive anyway. We find our cleansers that work for us and stick to them, we know what foundations help us look fab everyday and we have our routines down. And then we suddenly have a million things to get done in what seems like a couple of hours. Finally make it to the bed in the evening and....

...when morning arrives you awake with a couple new blemishes. The owie ones. 

I have now used this simple home face-mask once a week for three weeks and it's actually incredible how much of a difference I've noticed. It was way out of my comfort zone putting something on my face that was foreign and seemed so abrasive but it really has worked. A lot. Here's what you do...

You will need: Baking soda, warm water and lemon juice.

Begin by putting 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a small bowl.

                             

Next add equal parts (2 tablespoons) of warm water. 

In all honesty, I prefer my mask to be a little thicker. I've found with some trial and error that it stays on my face better and is easier to apply when the paste is a bit thicker. I use only 1 tablespoon with my mixture.

Now add your lemon juice. If you DO in fact have sensitive skin, begin with only a TEAspoon of lemon juice. Fresh squeezed or store bought has just the same outcome. (Science nerd moment:) Baking soda has the awesome ability to either act as an acid or a base so when you add this acid (lemon juice) to the baking soda...it will Miss Frizzle like crazy. Bubbling is good. After you try the mask a couple of times and see how strong or weak it performs on your skin, try adding a little more lemon juice. 

Currently, I'm on week 4 (one mask a week) and my mixture is as follows:

2 tablespoons baking soda

1 tablespoon H2O

1 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

 

Apply to a CLEAN but not exfoliated face. The mixture will be a bit runnier at first but will dry hard on your skin. The first few times you try it, keep it on around 10 minutes. As you continue to use this mask, try keeping it on for 5 more minutes progressively. Do not keep on for more than 30 minutes, please. :) 

As you're going to rinse it off, the paste will just liquefy again and rinse easily. Scrub the baking soda a little bit and it's like an instant easy exfoliator. Immediately after rinsing thoroughly, be sure to moisturize with your facial lotion. Your skin WILL be redder than usual and as the mask is on you WILL fill a tingle/slight burn. This means it's working! 

After the first mask I used (after I let my skin settle down a little) I noticed an immediate lessening of redness. As I've continued to use it, I've noticed way less blackheads, an overall much smoother complexion and those owie blemishes cleared up almost entirely by the next day. 

I've added this to my skin-care regimen weekly. It's cheap and totally works. 

My skin-care regimen: 

I use the Clinique Comforting Cleanser morning and night. 

I use witch hazel as my toner morning and night.

I use the Clinique Dramatically Different facial lotion.

& lastly I use this mask once a week.

= my face...

Lemme take a selfie...

Unedited! Light BB cream and face powder ONLY!
Yippee!