Oily skin home facial

If you have oily skin, try this easy meets west home facial. Green Tea and kaolin from the east, lavender and witch hazel from the west are great for reducing the oil and fighting off pimples.

Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants. Lavender is healing and soothing. Witch hazel balances oily skin and fights off pimples. Kaolin is great for removing excess oily and cleaning the pores.

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. Sterilise the heat proof items 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.

In a clean cup, put a green tea bag and a teaspoon of lavender flowers. Pour boiling water in to fill the cup. Cover and leave to cool. This is the green tea lavender liquid.

When the liquid is cool, Scoop up the lavender flowers with an additional 2 tablespoons of the green tea lavender liquid into a small clean bowl. Add in 2 or more tablespoons of kaolin into the bowl and mix to form a smooth paste. This is your mask.

Put 1 tablespoon of rice flour into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the green tea lavender liquid. This is your scrub.

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.

Use your scrub to cleanse your face. Discard leftover scrub.

Wash off the scrub with lots of water.

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 your mask over your face, avoiding your eye area.

Put 1 slice of cucumber over each eye

Relax for 10 minutes

Remove the cucumbers and the aloe mask.

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.

For more facials, check out Beauty Parlour