An oatmeal mask is a natural and inexpensive way to care for your skin. You don’t need expensive and complicated products to have a moisturized, youthful, blemish and acne-free complexion. Some ingredients from nature can help us with this purpose.
Oatmeal is a great ally for the skin. Alone or combined with other ingredients, hydrates the skin and controls acneIt is an economical, practical and simple alternative to prepare and use. Here we leave you the step by step to apply an oat mask and tell you about its benefits.
How to make and apply the oat mask
The oatmeal mask is easy to prepare. Its great virtue is that it absorbs oil, therefore fights acne. It also hydrates and rejuvenates the skin thanks to the amount of proteins and antioxidants it contains, which also help to fade spots and scars.
However, it is very important to use natural oatmeal. The one containing flavorings or sugar could damage the skin. Another important observation is that if dry oatmeal is used, it works as a scrub and boiled helps with swelling and redness.
1. Choosing the right oats
The first step in making an oat mask is to choose the right cereal. Some of the oat presentations have added sugar or even other ingredients such as seeds or nuts, this oat should definitely not be used for facial care.
The best thing is that it is totally natural and without additives, so that there is not going to be any problem in your skin.. Although some of the oatmeal mixes may include sugar, it’s best to choose one that’s natural.
2. Allergy testing
Before you start making the mask, an allergy test should be done. Putting a small amount on a specific area of skin is the most efficient way to check if there is a reaction to the oat mask.
To do this “patch test” you have to soak the oatmeal a little and place a plate on a gauze or piece of cloth, and place it for a few minutes on a small part of the skin of the face. Withdraws after waiting about 10 minutesto check for redness, itching, or swelling.
3. Detect your skin type
The mask is suitable for almost all skin types, but it depends on how you prepare it. In order for this natural mask not to end up affecting the skin, it is necessary to identify what type of skin we have to know which is the best way to prepare it.
If you have oily skin that is prone to acne, it is best to use cooked oats.. But if the skin is dry, then raw oatmeal is a better choice for mask making. For both skin types, the recommendation is to apply it overnight.
4. Prepare the oats
The first step is to prepare the oatmeal for the mask. You need half a cup of raw oatmeal and ¾ of water if you are going to boil it. If you are going to use the raw oatmeal mask for dry skin, just spray or crush the oatmeal with a mortar and add water.
If it is going to be used cooked, boil the water and then add the oatmeal, let it soak for a few minutes and grind it. In both cases it must remain as a thick paste to facilitate its application.. Wait for it to cool down before starting to use it.
5. Apply the mask
Before applying the oat mask, the face should be cleaned, preferably with a make-up remover, although neutral pH soap and water is also sufficient. The goal is for the skin to be clean before applying the mask.
With your hands also perfectly clean, spread the mask and apply it over the entire face. If the oats are dry, you can make a little pressure and rub gently to make it work as an exfoliant.. Otherwise, just apply it to the entire face.
6. Recommendations for applying the oat mask
There are several recommendations for applying the oat mask. The first thing is not to exceed more than three times a week its use. Also it is important to apply it at night to prevent it from causing spots on the skin.
The oat mask has so many skin benefits that it can also be applied to other parts of the body apart from the face, either to exfoliate or to soften. So for the back, arms, legs and feet, this mask is also very efficient.
7. Other Acne Oatmeal Mask Ingredients
Oatmeal can be combined with other ingredients to make it more effective. If the skin has acne problems or a tendency to accumulate oil, can be combined with honey or lemon to make it even more effective.
To make this mask, follow the same procedure and simply add a spoonful of honey or juice of half a lemon at the end. It’s applied the same way. The antibacterial properties of honey and lemon help fight acne.
8. Oatmeal and yogurt for young skin
Dairy products help your skin look young with their probiotics. In addition to the acid pH of yogurt and milk helps reduce blackheads. For this reason if you add any of these ingredients to oatmeal you will get a beautiful skin.
The yoghurt must be natural, i.e. without added fruit, colourings or sugar. Add a tablespoon to the oatmeal and water mixture, either dry or boiled. Milk can also be used, in this case the water is replaced by milk to make the mask more pasty.
9. Oatmeal mask with egg
Another excellent ingredient to add to the oatmeal mask is the egg. Due to its multiple healthy properties, eggs can provide the skin with the nutrients it needs to look hydrated, young and supple.
For this oatmeal mask with egg, add the whole egg and mix it with the oatmeal and water. It is for all skin types and is also excellent for cleaning the face of chemicals and impurities. This mask can be worn up to two or three times a month.
Bibliographic references
- Cricket, M., Roure, R., Dayan, L., Nollent, V., & Bertin, C. (2012). Safety and efficacy of personal care products containing colloidal oatmeal. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 5, 183-193. doi:10.2147/CCID.S31375.
- Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(1), 70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070.