Mother Nature | Tilda Swinton photographed by Tim Walker for W Magazine, December 2014.
Tim Walker
As calls for social distancing and isolation increase, this particular moment could be an opportunity to up your beauty regimen. Two weeks ago, the thought of taking calls and returning e-mails during lunch hours, with your hair tied up in a deep conditioning mask seemed only a pipe dream. Still, now seems like the time to take advantage of in-home self-care opportunities. We’ve consulted with top celebrity skin experts on both coasts for the best DIY masks—each unique in its formulation with the easiest readily available (for now) ingredients to make your skin its visible best for any upcoming video conferencing meetings.
For Hydration and Glow
Celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas recommends her own an anti-inflammatory, DIY Hydrating Spice Mask to stimulate the skin. The red-carpet skin expert who tends to the faces of Rachel Brosnahan, Julianne Moore, Helena Christensen and Mindy Kaling recommends mashing up a half of an avocado, one tablespoon of Manuka honey, two teaspoons of coconut oil and ½ teaspoon freshly chopped fennel. “It’s rich in nutrients that stimulate the lymphatic system. This mask smells absolutely divine and ideal if you’re looking for an invigorating, hydrating glow,” Vargas says. “I encourage the mask twice a week after exfoliation. Leave on for 15-20 minutes.”
For Deep Cleaning
Los Angeles-based celebrity aesthetician of the moment Vanessa Hernandez, whose Brentwood office boasts a 6-month waiting list, suggests a deep-cleaning DIY skin pick-me-up with ingredients that refine the pores. “Prepare to mix ingredients in a small glass (martini preferred) and use a small spoon,” Hernandez says. “Take one teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon milk and two to three drops of lavender oil and stir for two minutes in a paste. This will be just enough for one facial mask application. Apply with the back of the spoon in upward motions.”
Hernandez, who works on such recognizable faces as Amber Valetta, also recommends making use of this time with some facial lymphatic strokes with the spoon. Use the front of the spoon for curved areas of the face like the top of your nose and chin. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. This can be done one to two times a week. Baking soda is a natural exfoliant that detoxifies, brightens and minimizes pores. Milk naturally contains lactic acid, which is deep cleaning and brightening, drawing excess sebum from the skin. Olive oil is rich in vitamins for this skin. Lavender oil is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, while repairing skin health, and boosting your immune system. It helps with redness and is extremely calming and relaxing. It’s packed with vitamins and helps fight against free radicals. “I know what you’re thinking: turmeric?! What a mess,” Hernandez says. “I dare you to try it. I promise there is zero mess or stains. The only time your hands physically touch this concoction is when you are rinsing it off. Make sure to apply moisturizer after the mask has been rinsed off.”
For Calming
Dr. Lamees Hamdan, the wellness doctor behind the Shiffa Beauty line (Kim Kardashian West and Kelly Rowland are fans) recommends an all-natural soothing mask to calm skin and also brighten. “Start by adding a dash of turmeric to one teaspoon of honey, a squeeze of lemon and enough live, full-fat yogurt to get the right consistency for a mask. Any type of raw honey will do. Use once a week for 10 minutes. It’s calming because of the turmeric, yet exfoliating because of the yogurt and also acts as an astringent because of the lemon.”
For Exfoliation
A favorite of Dakota Johnson and Kate Beckinsale, facialist Kat Rudu’s exfoliating DIY mask repairs skin from premature aging with a dose of natural antioxidants. Rudu recommends, “Take one tablespoon of sugar, one tablespoon of Greek yogurt and one tablespoon of cacao powder. Mix all ingredients together into a paste. Apply a thick layer on the face and leave on 20 minutes. For extra exfoliating, wet your hands, and in circular motion, begin to scrub your face. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Mist it with your favorite spritz. The sugar draws in moisture and acts as a natural humectant to give skin a glow. Greek yogurt is a natural probiotic for the skin, while the cacao is excellent for repairing skin from premature aging and very potent in antioxidants.”
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