Homemade facial moisturizers

Lack of water in skin cells can lead to premature wrinkles, flaking, and a feeling of tightness. To avoid these unpleasant symptoms, you must constantly adhere to simple rules for home skin care, regularly make masks, use moisturizing tonics and creams.

How to moisturize your facial skin at home

When dry skin appears, it is not at all necessary to rush to the store for a special cream, lotion or tonic; you can try to cope with the problem on your own. There are 3 ways to moisturize your facial skin at home, which will bring the desired effect in a short time:

1. Masks. The main value of this method is that the skin not only receives the necessary amount of moisture, but also a lot of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. At home, you can prepare a moisturizing mask from oatmeal, cottage cheese, cucumber, apples, and other fruits and vegetables in season. The disadvantages of this method of moisturizing include: difficulty in choosing the right ingredients for combination skin, high risk of allergies to the products of the composition.
2. Moisturizing compresses. One of three methods that helps get rid of flaking, gently cleanses the upper layers of the epidermis and instantly moisturizes. To prepare them, use vegetable or fruit juices, mineral water, and herbal decoctions. The main disadvantage of compresses is that they saturate only the surface layers of the epidermis with moisture.
3. Sprays. Juices from fresh vegetables and fruits are used to prepare homemade aerosols. The third method is perfect for hot weather: you can take the spray with you for a walk, work, or school. The disadvantage of this method is surface moisture.
4. Steam baths are made using herbs. In addition to deep hydration, they provide gentle cleansing, get rid of blackheads, and reduce the visibility of pores. The disadvantage of the method is the presence of many contraindications: wounds, scratches on the face, rosacea, dermatological diseases.

Remember that moisturizing your face at home should be done not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

A properly selected or prepared moisturizing face mask at home ensures a complete supply of moisture to all layers of the epidermis. There are many folk recipes, here are the three most effective methods:

1. Cucumber. Take one fresh cucumber, peel and remove seeds. Grate the pulp on a medium grater. Add three tsp. thick sour cream, stir. Lie down, place a towel around your face (the mask may leak), apply the composition. Keep it on for half an hour, then rinse with warm water. Carry out the procedure three times a week.
2. Tomato. To prepare it, grind 1 medium-sized tomato through a sieve. Apply the pulp to your face in a thick layer. Leave for 20-25 minutes. Rinse off the remaining mask and apply moisturizer. The method can be repeated 1-2 times a week.
3. Cottage cheese. Grind through a sieve or grind three tablespoons in a blender. l. cottage cheese. Add 1.5 tsp to it. honey Distribute the mask evenly. Keep for 20 minutes. Repeat this moisturizing facial skin at home every three days.

It is recommended to use face masks no more than twice a week. The rest of the day you can use compresses to moisturize the skin. Useful home recipes:

1. Mix three tsp. milk and liquid honey. Beat the mixture with a fork. Moisten the gauze with the solution and place it on your face. Leave the moisturizing compress on for 30 minutes.
2. Grind the aloe pulp. Add 1 tbsp to it. l. dry herbs and plants: linden, chamomile, rose, St. John's wort. Pour boiling water into the container, cover with a lid. After half an hour, moisten the gauze, squeeze it out, and apply it to your face for 30-40 minutes.

The simplest facial moisturizer that can replace your daily morning wash is ice cubes. They tighten the oval of the face, effectively cleanse pores, and moisturize. The method for making ice is simple: freeze fruit juice, mineral water, and herbal infusions. Rub your skin with one ice cube every morning. In addition, it is recommended to follow a number of rules:

1. Wash your face twice a day. With more frequent procedures, you wash away the lipid layer, which prevents moisture evaporation.
2. Instead of aggressive soap, use a moisturizing gel for washing or soft foam.
3. In dry rooms where air humidity is below 65%, use special air humidifiers.
4. In summer, do not use cosmetics with glycerin. This substance draws water out of cells. Instead, use special hand sprayers with micellar water to moisturize.
5. When washing your face, do not dry your face with a towel. Allow the moisture to evaporate naturally.

In the first part of the article "Part 1: Deep moisturizing facial skin at home - is it possible or not?" We looked at the causes of dry skin, the 4 main types of moisturizing from a dermatological point of view, and also what ingredients should be avoided, as they not only will not help, but will do harm.

We will devote this material to the most useful folk remedies for moisturizing facial skin, and also present the best recipes for natural tonics and masks, which can be prepared at home.

Among all the diversity herbal ingredients, cosmetologists especially highlight some plants, whose moisturizing effect on the skin can be equate to expensive developments of scientific laboratories.

Botanical Moisturizing Ingredients

1. Such amazing plants include, first of all, aloe vera. Its stabilized form helps cope with dehydration on several levels at once, because... Aloe has several active moisturizing components.
2. Besides, agave, Having a number of unique healing properties on the skin, it is an excellent conductor for other beneficial substances.
3. Many moisturizing components are located near us: honey, cucumbers, raspberries, plums, carrots, apples, avocados, lemon, oils (olive, wheat germ), oatmeal, yolks, green tea, kefir, dry seaweed.
4. And from medicinal herbs, except aloe, you can use linden, rosemary, chamomile, calendula, parsley, chickweed, iris, birch. Healing vegetable oils have not only a nourishing, but also a moisturizing and antioxidant effect, so they will be useful for dry and aging skin (wheat germ oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil, sea buckthorn oil, olive oil, shea oil, rose oil, sandalwood oil, geranium oil , evening primrose).

If the skin is not hypersensitive, it will be very useful to wipe the skin of the face, neck and décolleté in the morning with an ice cube prepared with a decoction of herbs or fruit juice; for aging skin, ice made from birch sap is suitable. A massage with this cube lasts 20-30 seconds.

Before applying the mask or before the massage, you can make a steam bath for 10 minutes or a hot compress from the same herbs. This will facilitate better penetration of beneficial substances deep into the skin. And at the final stage of care, a cool herbal compress will protonate and refresh.

Thorough cleansing of the skin before a mask or massage is a necessary condition for a quality procedure. If you have dry skin, you should avoid using soap and alcohol solutions.

Moisturizing lotions

The cleansing stage ends with toning lotion. This is necessary to restore the acid-base balance of the skin that has been disturbed due to washing. The simplest recipe is a decoction of chamomile or mint. However, you can prepare more complex compositions at home:

Plum lotion (for dry skin)

Peel 3 large plums, removing the pits. Mash a little and pour 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, strain, use the cooled broth.

Oatmeal lotion (for oily, dehydrated skin)

2 tbsp. pour oatmeal with 2 cups of boiling water or milk (for peeling skin), cover with a lid and cool. Wipe morning and evening after cleansing your skin.

Grape lotion (for normal and combination skin)

Mash the ripe red grapes thoroughly and leave them for 2 hours. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tsp to half a glass of the resulting juice. honey, stir and leave for another half hour.

Oil lotion (for very dry, flaky skin)

1 tbsp. mix apricot oil with 1 tsp. wheat germ oil and 1 tbsp. jojoba oil, add 1-3 drops of rose essential oil. It is good to wipe your face and neck with this mixture at night.

Moisturizing mask recipes

Here are some recipes for moisturizing masks offered by traditional medicine.

Nourishing and moisturizing mask.

Mix cottage cheese, warm milk, carrot juice and olive oil (1 tablespoon each) until smooth and apply it on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and wipe your face with an ice cube. This mask also has a whitening effect.

Herbal mask for dry skin.

1/2 tsp. dry herbs yarrow, St. John's wort, chamomile, hop cones, strawberries and blackberries, pour a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 20 minutes. Mix the infusion with 1 tbsp. sweet apple juice, 1 tsp. honey and 1 egg yolk. Apply the resulting mixture to your face and after 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly with water.

Rejuvenating mask for dry skin.

Beat 1 tbsp until foam appears. heavy cream along with 20 drops of propolis and 1 tbsp. cucumber juice. Apply a thick layer to your face, leave for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and wipe your skin with cucumber juice.

A refreshing mint mask for dry skin.

2 tbsp. crushed mint leaves, pour 1 cup of boiling water. Boil for 3 minutes, cool and strain. Apply a warm paste of leaves to your face and remove after 15 minutes with damp cotton pads.

Egg mask for dry and flaky skin.

Mix 1 egg yolk with 1 tbsp. grape, peach or apricot kernel oils, and with 1 tsp. slightly crushed oatmeal. Apply the resulting mass to your face, lightly massaging it. After 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

During such procedures, you need to lie down and relax your facial muscles. The course takes 1.5-2 months (2 times a week). After 2 months the course can be repeated. To maintain the effect, 1 mask per week is enough.

Vegetable oils to moisturize skin

A few words about such common healing oils as olive and grape seed.

Olive oil

Olive oil has antioxidant, rejuvenating, moisturizing, cleansing, regenerative and analgesic effects.

It restores the protective function of the skin and restores its tone, does not clog pores and improves skin respiration. It contains a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, which in their composition similar to lipids in mother's milk.

Recently, olive oil has received special attention due to its anti-cancer properties, It is recommended to apply it to the skin after sunbathing. Its use in a cream, mask or as a massage base gives remarkable results for the above tasks. Perfect for sensitive skin.

For home cosmetic procedures, use natural extra-virgin oil, first (cold) pressed, to avoid clogging of pores and inflammation.

Grapeseed oil

Grape seed oil is used in cosmetology both as a separate component and as part of skin care products.

Suitable for any skin type, as on the one hand it nourishes, vitaminizes, deeply moisturizes and regenerates the skin, increasing its tone and elasticity, on the other hand, it has astringent, sebum-regulating, antibacterial and pigment-constricting properties.

Besides this, it strengthens capillaries, serves as a conductor for other beneficial substances, is a powerful antioxidant and source of phytoestrogens, preventing aging and removing toxic substances from the body.

This oil is widely used in the care of skin, hair, nails, for acne and rosacea, products for the area around the eyes, in lip balms and lipsticks.

For massage, thicker jojoba, wheat germ, avocado or almond oils are added to this light oil.

Moisturizing the skin from the inside

In addition to the direct effect on the skin, there is an indirect effect on its hydration. First of all, this concerns the drinking regime.

Under conditions of normal humidity and normal sweating water consumption is 25-30 g/kg body. By depriving the body of a source of fluid, it is impossible to achieve skin hydration with any procedures.

In vegetables fruits and berries contains water in a form that is most easily absorbed by the body, without special costs for its processing.

1. The richest in water are cucumbers, radishes, celery, cabbage, pumpkin, spinach, tomatoes, watermelons, melons, grapes, cherries, currants, and raspberries.
2. There is also a lot of water in mushrooms, seaweed, citrus fruits and greens.

Such food will moisturize the skin from the inside, not only helping to restore moisture, but also those components that are responsible for retaining it in the skin.

And, of course, your appearance is greatly influenced by your lifestyle: a balanced work and rest regime, regular exercise, healthy sleep, avoiding stress, and the absence of bad habits. All this greatly increases normal metabolism in all organs, including the skin.

By following the basic principles of health and proper skin care, you become healthier and younger!

Bonus - another mask for hydration

No compromises: every skin type needs hydration at any age. We will tell you in this article which products will best cope with this task and what to look for in their composition.

1. What you need to know about moisturizing your facial skin
2. How to moisturize your facial skin
3. Composition of moisturizing cosmetics
4. Review of facial moisturizers

What you need to know about moisturizing your facial skin

Without exaggeration, water determines and regulates all body functions. And it is almost primarily responsible for the health and beauty of the skin. If there is little moisture, the production of collagen and elastin immediately decreases, and elasticity decreases sharply. The skin becomes defenseless against aggressive environmental factors, and the aging process is activated.

Water, without exaggeration, determines and regulates all functions of the body © iStock

The skin reacts to a lack of moisture depending on its type.

Dry - tightness, flaking.

Oily - irritation and rashes, since dehydration increases the production of sebum and the pores often become clogged, provoking inflammatory processes.

Combined - shine in the T-zone and peeling in the U-zone (we talk about this area of ​​the face here).

Normal - loss of healthy color and smoothness, feeling of discomfort and tightness.

How to moisturize your facial skin

Moisturizing masks and serums are useful for any skin. But the cream must strictly correspond to your skin type.

Moisturizing care is a must for all skin types! © iStock

For dry skin, it is worth combining hydration with nutrition - this is a smart solution for a lack of natural lipids. And here emulsions with natural oils, ceramides, and squalane work well.

Oily skin will benefit from intensely moisturizing gels and fluids with a mattifying effect (especially in summer), which regulate sebum production. It is important that the formulas are non-comedogenic and do not contain mineral oils.

Combination skin needs light textures, and for the T-zone it is worth additionally choosing a mattifying fluid.

How to properly apply cream to your face? Try to stick to the diagram presented below.

Composition of moisturizing cosmetics

Moisturizers necessarily contain two types of ingredients:

attracting and retaining moisture (hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, glycerin, L-carrageenan);

moisture-locking (squalane, natural oils), forming an occlusive film on the surface of the skin, preventing water from evaporating.

Extracts of some plants, in particular aloe, turned out to be powerful moisturizers © iStock

Review of facial moisturizers

The product with thermal water, glycerin, zinc and sebulis is non-comedogenic and does not contain oils. Mattifies the skin, reduces oily shine, tightens pores and moisturizes well.

Reviews

Alina: “Light texture, skin remains fresh and matte throughout the day.”

Ksenia: “I bought Effaclar Mat - I recommend it. Even at +33°C, your face looks super, you don’t want to fry potatoes on it. From now on I’m a fan of La Roche-Posay!”

Konstantin: “I really liked the cream, especially in combination with the gel and duo+, excellent texture, the skin becomes soft, inflammation goes away, I recommend it to everyone.”

The formula based on thermal water, neurosensin, shea butter and squalane moisturizes and soothes oily and combination skin prone to allergies.

Review

Tatyana: “My skin is hypersensitive, after winter it has become very vulnerable. On advice, I bought myself a cheap mask, which resulted in allergies. I started looking for a new cream that would fit under makeup, moisturize, wouldn’t look like a pancake on my face, and wouldn’t give any unpleasant sensations. Based on the reviews, I liked Toleriane Fluide, I ran to the pharmacy to get it, applied it in the evening and realized that it was bliss for the skin!”

Hyaluronic acid moisturizes the skin, ceramides seal moisture, extracts of Chinese peony, moringa and French rose soothe and provide a feeling of comfort.

The hypoallergenic formula contains hyaluronic acid, carrageenan and aquabioryl. Intensely moisturizes the skin and restores radiance.

Reviews

Angela: “Excellent cream, I’m very pleased! This is not the first time I have bought Vichy creams and I will continue to use them.”

Maria: “Thank you for the product, it helped me a lot. Light texture, moisturizes the skin well, no discomfort!”

Christina: “I am absolutely delighted with the cream. I tried other creams from the brand, but settled on this one. Combination skin, sometimes flaking. Thanks to this cream, everything is just perfect.”

Apply the product with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aquabioryl and nourishing shea butter an hour before going to bed to eliminate the risk of morning swelling. The next day, the skin looks hydrated and rested. A couple of times a week, the cream can be used as a moisturizing and nourishing mask, applied in a thicker layer.

Reviews

Rose: “Wonderful night cream! I have combination skin. The cream perfectly moisturizes, has a pleasant texture, and is not greasy.”

Svetlana: “Amazing cream! I suffered for a long time with my skin, which was dry and irritated, prone to flaking and sensitive. Having tried the spa treatment once, I was so surprised that I simply cannot afford to apply any other creams to my face.”

Ekaterina: “Honestly, I have never received such a result on my skin as from this product from any cream. I have dehydrated, dry and, on top of that, sensitive skin.”

A powerful moisturizing and toning complex: hyaluronic acid, NMF component (natural moisturizing factor) and regenerating vitamin B5 - literally transform the skin, restoring its healthy appearance.

Reviews

Svetlana: “My favorite serum! Perfectly moisturizes, absorbs quickly, leaving the skin perfectly soft. The face is fresh and rested.”

Gaide: “Magic serum! I love her very much! Perfectly moisturizes and gives radiance to the skin.”

Elena: “The serum is in a convenient package, economical, three drops are enough for the whole face. The hydration is excellent. It also worked well for my husband, who doesn’t like creamy textures, but uses this product every day because it doesn’t leave any shine on the skin.”

Intense hydration at night is provided by a formula with glycerin, extracts of ophiopogon japonica (Japanese lily of the valley), and imperata cylindrical. Thanks to the prolonged action, a good level of skin hydration is maintained throughout the day.

Reviews

Larisa: “The mask really deeply moisturizes, it’s a godsend for my dry skin!”

Ekaterina: “This is my must-have, mask number 1 in my collection. The consumption is very small, it lasted me for 7 months of constant use. Removes flaking in one go, skin is super moisturized afterwards.”

Izar: “The mask is my first purchase of Kiehl’s cosmetics. I decided to try the brand, it has a lot of good reviews, but the price is high. I don’t regret it, my skin started looking better.”

The product is instantly absorbed and deeply moisturizes the skin thanks to purified water, hyaluronic acid and aloe juice.

Reviews

Olga: “The coolest thing! Best for oily skin! Absorbs immediately, does not leave a greasy shine, moisturizes well, does not stick. If you have a normal attitude towards facial products with fragrances, feel free to take them.”

Ksenia: “It moisturizes quite well, but I would like it to be better. It is completely absorbed, even by my capricious skin.”