How to Create an Oatmeal Mask

How to Create an Oatmeal Mask



Using oatmeal as a facial mask can be a natural and effective way to treat many skin conditions, such as oily or dry skin, razor burns, acne, sunburn and even chicken pox. While merely plastering cooked oatmeal on your face will certainly work, the addition of many other ingredients may make your oatmeal mask even more effective.







Things You'll Need:





Oatmeal




Lemon juice




Baking soda




Egg white




Olive oil









1


Cook some oatmeal or organic rolled oats according to the directions on the package. While there is some disagreement over the use of instant oatmeal to create an oatmeal mask, you should certainly avoid any oatmeal varieties that have been sweetened or flavored.





2


Allow the oatmeal to cool slightly after cooking when you create a mask. Excessively hot or even warm oatmeal can be a bit uncomfortable, and the heat may also dry out your skin.





3


Fluff up one egg white with a fork in a small bowl. Add the egg white to the oatmeal mask for consistency, folding it into the mixture until it is smooth and easy to spread on your face.





4


Add a few drops of lemon juice when you create your oatmeal mask. Lemon juice is an astringent that can help remove excess oil from your skin, which will be helpful if you have blackheads or blemishes. Lemon juice may also help even skin tone throughout your face by helping eliminate dark patches and discolorations.





5


Experiment with other types of ingredients when you create an oatmeal mask. Baking soda, for instance, can soothe itchy skin, and olive oil can help reduce the wrinkles caused by dry skin.





6


Smooth the oatmeal mask onto your face. Add more layers of oatmeal to problem areas of your skin, such as your nose and forehead. Be careful around your eyes, since oatmeal will definitely cause irritation.





7


Allow the oatmeal mask to dry completely before you remove it. The skin on your face may become slightly itchy as the oatmeal dries completely, which will be your signal to wash up.





8


Rinse the mask off completely with cool to lukewarm water. Hot water can irritate your pores. Dab dry with a soft washcloth.








Tips & Warnings










Dry, uncooked oatmeal, mixed with a little lemon juice and olive oil, can also make an effective facial scrub. Use just enough olive oil to make the oatmeal damp, not soaked, for the best results.



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