Aloe vera facial for acne

The Oil Control Facial

Caution: Before using the mask, apply some on the inside of the wrist. If it itches or feels irritated, skip the facial. if at anytime, your skin feels itchy during this facial, stop immediately and rinse off with lots of water.

Before you start

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Wash all the bowls, whisk, utensils, spoons, cups and whatever equipment you will be using for this facial with soap and water. Sterilize these with boiling water. (Note: do not boil glass items as these can crack and the splinters can injure you. Certain plastics can melt if boiled so watch out for that). Make sure all surfaces you use for preparing this facial are clean. Remember. For home facials, hygiene and cleanliness is all important.

Put 2 tablespoons of corn flour in a bowl. Add enough witch hazel to form a paste.

Fill a kettle with water and set that to boil.

Wear a hair band or shower cap to keep your hair off your face.

Get ready some cotton pads and a clean towel an 1 tablespoon of skim milk.

Now you are ready for your facial.

The facial

Dip a pair of clean cotton pads into the skim milk. Use these pads to wipe your makeup off your face. Discard leftover milk.

Wash off the milk with lots of water.

Skip the scrub.

Dry your face with a clean towel.

Pour boiling water into a bowl. Add 3 drops of lavender oil to it.

With the towel forming a 'tent' over your head and the bowl, keep your face about 20cm above the bowl. (Caution: Skip this step if you are an asthmatic. The steam could trigger an attack. Skip this step if you have thread veins. The heat could worsen your condition )

Relax and let the steam cleanse your face for 10 minutes.

Apply the corn flour and witch hazel paste as a mask over your face, avoiding your eye area.

Put 1 slice of cucumber over each eye

Relax for 10 minutes

Remove the cucumbers

Remove the mask by gently rubbing it off with your fingers.

Wash your face with lots of water.

Dip 2 new cotton pads in witch hazel and use it as a toner to clean your face further.

If you don't have the time, Clinique Deep Cleansing Emergency Mask Tried and Tested works well against acne. You need only 5 minutes for it to work. I've been using it most of the time because of my tight schedule.

Use these oil-control skincare products to control the excessive pore clogging oil on your skin.

For more facials, check out Beauty Parlour