to stiffen and dry. Use a warm wet washcloth to remove it, being careful not to get the mask in your eyes.
Now that you've removed the dulling, pore-clogging dead skin cells, you'll want to open up your pores to let them breathe. The most effective way to do this is by steaming. There are a few ways to go about this, depending on your kitchen set-up. You can boil water in a pot, put a bowl or water in the microwave, or simply run the hot water in your bathroom sink until it's steaming, then plug the drain. Then drape a towel over your head to trap the steam, and hold your face over the water. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax; for an even more authentic spa experience, add a few drops of essential oils to the water. You can also toss in an herbal tea bag for a scented experience; chamomile calms and has anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint and citrus invigorate, while ginger and cinnamon stimulate blood circulation on a chilly day.
Once you've gently patted your skin dry, it's time for a mask. Your kitchen is full of facial-ready ingredients; you can have fun mixing and to find a mask recipe that's perfect for you. In general, dry skin can benefit from the natural oils in a mashed-up avocado, or from the soothing and moisturizing properties of yogurt (full-fat is best, although low-fat is ok too; just make sure it's plain). A beaten egg is also a great mask; the yolk nourishes and moisturizes, while the white firms. For oilier skin, try the egg mask with just the white. To help prevent breakouts, you can also slather honey on your face for its moisturizing yet antiseptic properties. Leave each mask on for a few minutes; each combination of ingredients will take a different amount of time to dry.
Of course, no facial would be complete without an eye treatment. Take two chilled cucumber slices and lay them across your eyes as you relax in your mask, or two used and chilled teabags. Pick a tea with some caffeine to stimulate blood flow and reduce puffiness.
After rinsing your mask, follow up with your usual moisturizer.
If you're really looking to create a total spa experience, you'll want to move on to the body treatments. Run yourself a hot bath; throw in some whole milk to moisturize your skin or some baking soda to soften. While the bath is running, take the rest of the avocado from your mask (if you used one) and mash it up with some olive oil. Apply this mixture to the ends of your hair. If you don't have an avocado, olive oil by itself works
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