Budget Beauty Thrills: Dry Chapped Skin

Avocados and honey are particularly moisturizing. This mask is particularly great for mature, wrinkled and dry skin. It's best to use a ripe, fresh, organic avocado. Make sure to mash it up into a creamy pulp.


Avocados are also great for deep conditioning dry hair. See my avocado and banana hair mask recipe.

Ingredients:

•½ avocado

•¼ cup honey

Preparation:

A classic recipe for dry skin. Mash the avocado in a bowl, then stir in honey.

Apply to skin and leave for 10 minutes.

Rinse face with a cool washcloth.
 

Ingredients:

•1 tsp powdered milk

•1 tbsp runny honey

•1 tsp aloe vera gel

•2 drops essential oil

Preparation:

This is a classic milk mask for the face. Mix ingredients well, apply to face, let sit for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water. This recipe is enough for two. (Note: The original recipe called for 1 tbsp pulverized almonds, but I have removed it from the ingredients list because almonds, no matter how pulverized, can tear at skin).

 

Brown sugar is a wonderful natural exfoliant that works for all skin types. I adapted this recipe from one suggested by Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and makeup artist Jemima Kidd, in the July 2008 issue of Cosmopolitan. They recommend curing chapped lips by mixing brown sugar with honey and massaging into lips.

Ingredients:

•1 tablespoon brown sugar

•1 tsp (more or less, add drops if you need them) of olive oil or extra virgin coconut oil

Preparation:

Put the brown sugar in your palm

Add the olive or coconut oil

Stir in your palm with your finger, creating a paste.

Add or less as needed

Massage into skin in a circular motion.

Rinse off with warm water.

Press a warm washcloth into face.

Slather your skin in your favorite moisturizer or follow with a moisturizing mask.