It's super easy to prepare and apply a honey and lemon face mask. This powerful combination is particularly effective for treating blackheads, but it can also brighten and moisturize the skin. Just use honey and lemon to prepare an excellent mask, but there are also variants that enrich the mixture with the addition of other ingredients.
Ingrediants
Doses for 1 mask
- 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of fresh lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of honey
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Squeeze half of a lemon
Rinse a ripe lemon under cold water and pat it dry with a clean napkin. Cut it in half with a sharp knife and squeeze it, collecting the juice in a small glass bowl.
- You can use 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of bottled lemon juice if needed, but fresh lemon juice is ideal because it has more nutrients.
- You can use any ripe lemon, but the organic one offers more benefits.
- Lemons have antibacterial properties, so the juice can help treat blackheads and other types of impurities. Being acidic, it is also an excellent exfoliant, not to mention that it can brighten and lighten skin spots caused by skin aging, dark patches, signs of an artificial tan and other uneven spots on the skin. Finally, it eliminates excess sebum.
Step 2. Use 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) of raw honey
Pour it directly into the juice bowl. You should use roughly equal doses.
- Just as recommended with lemon juice, look for organic raw honey. Honey you find at the grocery store may do just as well, but it doesn't have the same beneficial properties for the skin.
- Honey has antiseptic properties, plus it can help fight scars and inflammation. It also helps relieve sun burns. Finally, it attracts water, so it's a great natural moisturizer for the skin.
Step 3. Mix honey and lemon juice using a spoon until you get a smooth, thick liquid
This mask should be used as soon as possible, within a very short time from preparation. It is also preferable to use it all at once. If stored for extended periods, mold will form
Part 2 of 3: Usage
Step 1. Wash and dry your face as usual, whether it's on the sink or in the shower
Open your pores using warm or hot water.
Before applying the mask it is advisable to use a mild cleanser for the face, especially in the case of sensitive skin. Lemon juice can be aggressive, so stressing your skin with such a substance can do more harm than good
Step 2. Once your skin is clean and dry, apply the mask all over your face with your fingers
Proceed with care to avoid the eye area.
- The mask can cause itching and eye irritation. If it gets in your eyes, rinse them immediately with cold or lukewarm water for a full minute or until the burning sensation has subsided.
- This mask can also be quite sticky, so collect your hair before proceeding with the application.
Step 3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes
The processing time is important: if you rinse it immediately, the honey and lemon will not have the time to act.
Of course, if your skin starts to burn, itch, or otherwise bother you, rinse it off immediately. If these symptoms occur it is possible that it is an allergic reaction or that your skin is too sensitive
Step 4. After the exposure time, rinse with warm water, then do a second rinse with cold water to close the pores
You can also remove it by using a sponge moistened with warm water, which will exfoliate the skin. Just remember to gently tap your skin to avoid irritating it
Step 5. If you want, repeat the treatment once a week
The exact frequency depends on how sensitive or oily your skin is, but on average it would be fine once a week, in the morning or afternoon.
If you have oily skin or skin that tends to develop acne, do the mask 2-3 times a week, but discontinue use if redness, irritation, or acne worsens
Part 3 of 3: Variants
Step 1. Use baking soda
Once you have combined the recommended doses of lemon juice and honey, add about ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) of baking soda, mixing well to obtain a homogeneous mask. Gently apply it to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off as described above.
- Baking soda has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, so the mask will be even more effective in fighting acne.
- Apply it gently: if you rub the baking soda on the skin, the mask can be too aggressive.
Step 2. Use the white of an egg
Mix 1/2 tablespoon (7.5 ml) of lemon juice and honey, then add the white of one egg. Stir until you get a homogeneous mixture. Apply the mask to your face, leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse it off with warm water.
Egg white tends to dry the skin slightly, so it helps close pores and compact the skin. Just remember that this is a temporary and short-term effect
Step 3. Add milk and yogurt
Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of honey and the juice of one whole lemon. Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fresh milk and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of plain yogurt (classic or Greek). Mix until you get a creamy consistency, then proceed with the application.
- Apply the mask in layers for a better result. Wait for the first layer to dry (it should only take a couple of minutes) before continuing with the second. Continue until the mask is finished. At this point, leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse it off with warm water.
- Both milk and yogurt help cleanse, hydrate and soften the skin.
Warnings
- Do not apply the mask on open wounds: lemon juice can burn and irritate.
- In case of burning, tingling or other discomfort, rinse the mask immediately.
- Avoid exposing yourself to sunlight while the mask is on. When the lemon interacts with the sun's rays, you risk a chemical burn.
