Above is a video I came across on the Beauty Food Tips site for an easy wine mask. Here are the instructions:

Directions:
Always start by cleaning your face using a cotton pad with your usual cleansing milk.
Mix all the ingredients together well until completely blended. The consistency will be a little jelly-like (the smell and appearance is really yummy, remember you DON’T have to eat it  . Apply a thick layer to your face with your clean makeup brush, avoiding the lips and the eye area. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Finish with a moisturizer.

It’s a luxurious mask for your skin with luxurious results!

The antioxidant properties of wine help in getting the toxins out of the skin and giving an instant wrinkle-free effect. Honey hydrates and tones the skin. Yoghurt, which is rich in zinc, helps clearing the skin and improves the overall skin texture, besides adding a healthy glow to your skin. Least but not last, the cocoa powder is amazing for our skin: fit helps firm and renew skin cells.

And not only: Cocoa is a mood enhancer and it helps stabilize your mood by initiating serotonin release. The lavender essential oil enhances the relaxation, making you feel rejuvenating and at peace.

A true homemade vinotherapy at the cheapest cost possible therefore what are you waiting for to show your skin some love? 

Remember to always make an allergic test on a small angle of your face before applying the mask.

Enjoy! Do you have a favorite homemade mask? If so, please share!

Head into spring with your best face forward, using a simple four-step regimen: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing twice a day, and use a mask once a week.

Using a mild cleanser, like our Minnie Pore Facial Oil Cleanser, will do the trick, whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, menopausal, or acne prone.  Our mild Rosie Apples Facial Toner is the perfect compliment for all skin types.  Our Mighty Mud Facial Mask will tighten your pores and reduce oiliness. Its soothing skin-cleansing properties soften the skin as an emollient, reduce inflammation and aid in the removal of dead skin as an exfoliant with its natural alpha hydroxy acid properties, while producing a mild massaging effect. Choose from a number of facial moisturizers, like our popular Goddess Envy Moisturizer for the final step.

If you're adventurous, try these at-home recipes for winter-into-spring pampering skin care.

Brown sugar/olive oil/ginger body scrub: Mix 2 cups of brown sugar with 1 cup of olive oil and add a small amount of ground ginger. Mix well into a paste. Using circular motions, rub your entire body, paying special attention to elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse well. The result: Softer, suppler, and less dry skin.

Milk and honey foot treatment: Pour 2 cups of milk per one cup of honey into a basin large enough to hold both feet. Soak for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the mixture into skin. Results: Softer, smoother skin without harsh exfoliation. You can also use the milk/honey combo to soak elbows or hands, or pat gently onto the face and massage in. Always rinse with tepid water.

Egg white and citrus face mask: (normal to oily skin) -- Mix 2 raw egg whites with 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice. Apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes until dry. Rinse well with warm water. The result: Tighter pores and a brighter, less dull complexion.

Oatmeal face mask: (sensitive skin) Mix oatmeal with boiling water according to package instructions. Let cool, then apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. The result: A radiant, moisturized glow.

What special recipes do you like to make for your renewed spring skin?

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are derived from fruit and milk sugars.  They work mainly as an exfoliant by causing the dead skin cells of the epidermis to slough off and allowing regrowth of new skin cells.  By exfoliating, AHAs help stimulate production of collagen and elastin, which in turn can improve wrinkling, roughness and mottled pigmentation.  Generally speaking, AHAs in skin care products work best at concentrations between 5% to 8% and at pH levels of 3 to 4.  At this time cosmetic manufacturers are not required to provide concentration information on labels. If the AHA ingredient is listed as the third or fourth ingredient on the label, it more likely contains the proper concentration.  The only way to know the pH of a product is to test it with a pH strip.

Here are the 5 major types of alpha hydroxy acids found in skin-care products and their sources:

• glycolic acid - sugar cane
• lactic acid - milk
• malic acid - apples and pears
• citric acid - oranges and lemons
• tartaric acid - grapes
  

When you choose AHA products, whether they are moisturizers, cleansers, eye cream, sunscreen, or foundations, pick one product that has AHA as your exfoliant, then select other skin care products or cosmetics that don’t contain AHAs to reduce the possibility of skin irritation.  AHAs in a moisturizer base may be the best choice.  Cleansers with AHAs are as effective because AHA must be absorbed into the skin to be effective.  Sunscreens with AHAs are not stable at the pH required to make AHA work successfully.  It is recommended that sunscreen be applied liberally when using an AHA product to avoid sun damage. It should contain zinc oxide and have an SPF of at least 15 for UVA and UVB protection.  As a single ingredient, zinc oxide is the broadest range sunscreen on the market with a long history of safe use. It is not irritating and compatible with sensitive skin.

Applesauce Face Mask

This at-home remedy works especially well for oily skin.  Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, which produce too much sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. It is necessary as it helps lubricate your skin and carries away dead skin cells. When the skin is oily, too much sebum is being produced. The skin becomes dull and greasy and pores may become clogged.  Fruit acid masks are very effective in oily skin care. They remove the excess oil and dead skin cells, without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

You will need one apple cut into quarters plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon dried herbs for oily skin, such as parsley, sage or rosemary  -- or use other preferred herbs.  The lemon juice will act as astringent, helping tighten large pores and brighten the face, while the malic acid from the apple will exfoliate your skin, sloughing off dead skin cells to make way for new skin.

Heat the apple in a pot of water until it softens enough to mash the pulp.  Remove apple from pot and mash.  Strain liquid and set aside.  Discard the pulp. Add the lemon juice and herb to the liquid. Mix well. Apply the mixture to your face.  Wait 5 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the mask and apply a moisturizer to the face.

Feel free to add your recipes for AHA skin care.