Women will do just about anything in the name of beauty. But what about these DIY facials? Here’s a list of funky facial treatments that just might save you from an expensive trip to the plastic surgeon.

Mayonnaise: If you don’t mind smelling like a fresh batch of coleslaw, then you should definitely give a mayonnaise mask a try! With soybeans and eggs as its main ingredients, mayonnaise is an effective facial treatment, especially for dry skin.  This creamy white goodness also contains vinegar, which helps stimulate the turnover of cells.  So you see, mayonnaise works double duty by moisturizing and lifting off dead skin cells.  If you suffer from dry skin, you may want to add a mayo mask to your daily beauty routine.

Caviar: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, caviar is basically good cholesterol for your skin.   This luxurious and decadent food product for your face provides a layer of shine on your skin, and even helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines that have set in due to age and years of using makeup. And because the cell structure of both caviar and human skin are so similar, this product helps speed up the rejuvenation process. Although this can be quite expensive, we suggest that if you have the means you should definitely indulge at least once!

Breast Milk: After recently covering a story on men drinking breast milk to get buff, I’m really not surprised to find that spas are now using breast milk as an active ingredient in their facial treatments.  Mud, a Chicago facial bar, is now offering breast milk masks to their customers who are looking for the next best beauty thing. Sure, breast milk is packed with antibiotics which are good for the skin, but we think there are far better (and safer) ways to nourish skin.

Escargot: While you might prefer your snails smothered in garlic butter and herbs, you may soon change your mind about how you like your slugs served. The “mollusk makeover,” as it’s known among celebrities, is quite the beauty breakthrough.  It’s reported that the slime or mucus from live snails offers a beauty-boosting cocktail of proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, which help skin retain moisture, reduce redness and remove dead skin.  While we don’t advise rummaging through your garden for snails to put on your face, you might want to consider it then next time you are at a high-end spa in Tokyo or London where these snail facials are on the menu.

Coffee grounds: The best part of waking up might not be Folgers in your cup, but rather on your face. Thanks to caffeine (which your morning cup o’ joe has in spades), a coffee mask made of fine grinds can improve the look and feel of your skin more than you would ever think.  Coffee helps tighten pores, remove dead skin cells and even has powerful antioxidants that help protect skin against free radicals and may even reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Beer:  I don’t know about you, but I’d rather drink my alcohol than wear it. Well, at least that was my opinion before I read about this ingenious concoction with beer as its main ingredient.  Turns out that combining beer, egg whites and fresh lime juice or honey can seriously increase your skin’s luminosity. There’s a little bit of science involved here: when mixed with egg whites, the yeast found in beer creates a filmy mask that actually improves the elasticity of skin.  The added lime juice or honey helps clean your pores, while the acidity fades brown spots. Bottoms up, ladies!

Kitty Litter: I wish this wasn’t a thing, but it is.  While some beauty bloggers like Michelle Phan swear that using an unscented kitty litter mixed with water acts as a perfect go-to beauty treatment, other professionals say that the coarse grains of litter can actually scratch the top layer of your skin, leaving ugly streaks and cuts. Unlike exfoliators with rounded edges, kitty litter is a bit too harsh to use on something as delicate as skin. Not to mention if you purchase the wrong kind of litter brand, you might end up using harmful chemicals that would obviously do more damage than good. I think we will pass on this meow mask, thank you very much.

The post 7 DIY-If-You-Dare Facial Treatments appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

The holidays are officially over which means the inevitable self-deprecation and guilt tripping may now commence.  Perhaps you’ve over-indulged with decadent holiday desserts, or maybe you’ve treated yourself to a few too many cocktails (heavy on the booze, light on the mixers).  Regardless of whichever way you put a dent in your digestive tract and major internal organs this December, remember that what goes in must come out.

We’re talking about pores, of course.  All of that deliciously rich chocolate you gorged yourself on during Christmas and the bottomless wine spritzers you sipped on New Year’s Eve are slowly going to make their way out, so don’t be surprised if you wake up with the face of a pubescent teenage girl in desperate need of salicylic acid acne cream.

Instead of fighting back with harsh chemicals, go organic with a detoxifying facial steam blend like we did.

Our choice: Fig + Yarrow Autumn Herbal Steam.

This aromatic and certified organic blend of dried herbs and blossoms including rosehip, cardamom, figwort, citrus peel, juniper berry, star anise, rosemary and cornflower is the perfect mélange to open pores and detox skin.

The colors alone are a sensory treat, but the true magic is in the fresh yet subtle scent of this hypnotic concoction.  Allow yourself to unwind and immerse your senses with the gentle steam.  Your face (and even your mood!) will thank you later.

Application: In a large bowl, cover a handful of any Fig + Yarrow herbal steam blend with boiling water; allow to cool slightly before placing a towel over your head, creating a steam tent. Breathe deeply for 5-15 minutes before patting dry.

The process may seem simple, but the results are extraordinary.  We suggest keeping a hand mirror nearby to examine your skin after steaming along with an extractor for a little extra help removing that hard-to-get gunk out of your pores.  It’s a priceless tool and an esthetician’s best friend!

Was your face able to make it through the abundance of holiday feasting unscathed? If so, count your lucky stars.  Regardless of how lovely your complexion might be, a Fig + Yarrow herbal steam remains to be a delightful break in the ordinary routine of creams and cleansers which are all-to-often unforgiving on your skin.  Stop neglecting your face and give your skin a quick pick-me-up now and again.

To learn more about Fig + Yarrow Herbal Steams, visit www.figandyarrow.com

The post How to Steam Clean Your Face appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.