Don’t you just love peel-off masks for their convenience and simplicity? No mess, no stains, no hard to remove patches on your face… just straight up peel off and you’re good to go.

I certainly love them! That’s why I was really happy when I found out that I can actually make my own peel-off masks very easily. A really great thing about making your own masks is that you can fully customize them to your needs. There is so many variations! This mask is completely vegan and have wonderful anti-aging, smoothing and pore cleansing properties. Agar-Agar, also known as Agar or Kanten (Japanese name) is a mix of carbohydrates extracted from seaweed, specifically Red Sea algae. It comes in a form of bars, flakes or the most common one, and the easiest to work with – Agar-Agar powder. The substance has very strong thickening and gelling properties, and therefor it can be used as a perfect vegan alternative to gelatin.

This mask will clean and tone your face beautifully!

Basic Ingredients:

* 1 tbs of agar-agar powder

* hibiscus or green tea

* 1/5 cup of water

Directions

  1. Put a hot, moist towel on your face for a few minutes. It will open up the pores and allow the whiteheads to be lifted out easily.
  2. Boil the water with 2-3 bags of your favorite tea.
  3. Let it cool for a few of minutes and sprinkle with some vit. C powder.
  4. Optionally add any other ingredients of your choice (check out the add-ons down below).
  5. Add your thickening agent (gelatin or agar-agar powder) while the water is still warm/hot. Stir well.
  6. Apply the mask to your face and leave it for 20-30 min.
  7. Peel off and remove the possible remains with a cotton pad soaked in rose water.

 

Optional Add-Ons:

Depending on the current condition of my skin I like to add different ingredients to my DIY peel-off masks. Keep in mind that certain ingredients (especially powders) tend to change the consistency of the mask so it may take a few “peels” to remove the mask. Here are some of my favorite beautifying ingredients and their properties:

  • Spirulina – loaded with proteins, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, Spirulina has spectacular anti-aging and toning effects on your skin. High content of anti-oxidants and vitamins: A, B-12 and E (tocopherol), as well as calcium, iron, selenium, tyrosine and phosphorus helps to fight free radicals on your skin leaving you with a refreshed, glowing look. Tocopherol, selenium and tyrosine slow down the aging process of skin cells. Another great benefit of this ingredient is its abilities to prevent candida overgrowth that can cause acne breakouts. It is also effective in treating dark under-eye circles.
  • Chlorella – similarly to Spirulina, chlorella has very strong detoxing and anti-aging properties on your skin. It contains a unique, rejuvenating nutrient called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) which makes chlorella multiply rapidly every four hours. When ingested, CGF has the same effect on the human body at a cellular level, which means it can help promote rapid tissue repair and cellular renewal. When used topically on the skin chlorella has remarkable abilities to soothe inflammation and fight free radicals toning the skin. Rich in beta glucans, nucleic acids, faty acids like Omega 3, amino acids, abundance of vitamins and minerals promotes collagen production and a deep detox of the skin cells.
  • Raw Honey – has great broad-spectrum anti-bacterial benefits, strong enough to stop the “superbug” MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that causes “staph infections”) from growing. Since honey has highly acidic pH, all the bacteria, germs and microorganisms get trapped in its sticky, acidic consistency and eventually die. It also has oil absorbing properties which helps prevent acne and tone oily skin and attracts and retains moisture beautifully nourishing the skin. Another benefit of honey worth mentioning is its ability to stimulate tissue growth which finds a great purpose in wound and scar healing but also
  • Activated Charcoal – has outstanding detoxing properties. It binds and removes toxins and excess of oils from your skin leaving it smooth and beautiful.
  • Turmeric – high in antioxidants, slows down cell damage, reduces fine lines and gives your skin that recognizable “glow”. Strong anti-inflammatory properties helps to fight various skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema. Also, turmeric is a wonderful tool to reduce pigmentation including sunspots and even out the skin tone.
  • L-ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) – The antioxidant properties of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its role in collagen synthesis make vitamin C a vital molecule for skin health. Dietary and topical ascorbic acid have beneficial effects on skin cells, and some studies have shown that vitamin C may help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV)-induced photo damage.

References:

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-benefits-of-spirulina-for-skin-hair-and-health/#gref

https://www.sunchlorellausa.com/chlorella-growth-factor-a/264.htm

Honeycolony.com

DrAxe.com

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C