In Your Face! Egg Yolks

So I bought a package of muffin mix that requires an egg white. And I thought, crap, what am I going to do with the yolk? My refusal to waste inspired this post...so join me as I eggsplore all the wonderful ways you can use egg yolks to beautify your skin.

Why are egg yolks good for your skin? They contain both vitamin A and albumin. Albumin is a type of protein found in the yolk that dries out acne and tightens up pores. Because it is a water soluble protein, albumin helps soften and smooth dry skin. Vitamin A is especially important for the treatment of acne, as it removes dead skin cells that block up pores.

It is recommended that you do not use egg yolk on your face every day. Start by using at least once a week. The great thing about egg yolk masks is that they dry, allowing you to apply without having to lay in the bathtub for half an hour (a task I find most boring). So throw on a mask , lay down, relax, watch a movie, get caught up on LOST, read a book, write a haiku, whatever...and enjoy!

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Basic Egg Yolk Face Mask
Beat one egg yolk until it becomes frothy. Apply to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water then follow up with toner and moisturizer.

Soothing Honey Yolk Mask
Mix 1/2 tsp of honey (make sure it is runny, gently heat if necessary) with 1 egg yolk and 1/2 tsp olive oil. Apply and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse, tone, moisturize.

Honey is a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture into the skin and keeps it there.

Hydrating Cuke and Yolk Mask
Combine about a 1/4 c. chopped cucumber (sans peel) with 1 egg yolk and 1 tsbp sour cream. Apply for 20 minutes, rinse, tone, moisturize.

Cucumbers are naturally hydrating while the sour cream acts as an exfoliant.

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Unused egg yolk, if sealed tightly in a container, can survive refrigeration for 3-5 days

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sources:
Ehow.com - How to Treat Acne with Egg Yolks
Rice Bunny on Xanga - Egg Mask

In Your Face! Strawberry Skin Care

Here in New Brunswick strawberry season usually hits full swing around Canada Day and maaaan we love our strawberries. Almost as much as we love our lobster. But lately with the beautiful weather and the subtle signs of Spring I could not resist picking up a quart of imported strawberries to indulge my berry fervor (imports, sadly, never as good as in season). Never being one to indulge immediately or waste, I decided to spare a couple of berries and dabble in some berrysistable skin care.

I have terrible, terrible skin. I'm 26 and I look like a pubescent teenager. I've had acne since a very young age and despite daily cleansings and numerous treatments, it won't pack its bags. And soooo many things affect it: diet, stress, certain female cycles, environment, etc. Because I have yet to find a skin care regime that completely eliminates the blemishes, I am willing to try different techniques to reduce the acne.

Hence the strawberries. Strawberries are bursting with acne-fighting properties suited for all skin types: dry, oily, normal, combination. Because they contain salicyclic acid, strawberries slough off dead skin (exfoliation!), open pores, clean them and dilate the pores to prevent bacteria from nesting within the skin. The anti-oxidants of strawberries repair damage to the skin and the folic acids promote new cell growth. Strawberries are also antiseptic and astrigent, meaning they tone and lighten the skin.

If you're like me and you have combination skin, strawberries are perfect because while the acidic properties exfoliate and clear dry skin, the high water content hydrates.

When it comes to using strawberries for skin care, recipes are simple:

Oily Skin: mash up some strawberries, leave on face for about 15 minutes, rinse with warm water

Dry Skin: combine 2-3 mashed strawberries with 1 tsp sour cream or milk and 1 tsp honey, again 15 minutes and rinse with warm water

Foot Scrub: 1 part strawberries, 1/4 part olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp finely chopped almonds (optional)

Mixtures should last about a week in the fridge.

Now, these are not miracle cures for acne. One strawberry face mask isn't going to disappear your blemishes. Most sources recommend using twice a week to see results. Thusly, I tried this for two weeks.

I noticed that the redness in my face had reduced but I didn't find my face any less dry than it had been. Of course, many outside factors also affect the condition on my skin. Overall, I found using these methods berry enjoyable!