MANILA, Philippines?Facial treatments and skincare have a great impact on your overall appearance and health of your skin. But for those with tight budgets, there is still a way to create these facial indulgences at home. All it takes is to establish a relationship with our green friends and the healing gifts they offer.

These home-made treatments work just as well as commercial brands because they are pure and undiluted. When you create your own treatments, you can be sure of exactly what goes into them and there are remote chances of triggering allergic reactions.

The following recipes are enough for single application. If you are sharing with a friend, just do another batch. This way you will not worry about spoilage and you will always have a fresh stock.

Prepare clean jar with tight fitting lid or any container to be covered with plastic wrap for any leftover you may have. Mark it with the date, as these concoctions are good for about two weeks. Most of these facial treatments are found in ?Natural Beauty at Home? by Janice Cox.

Always start by washing your face thoroughly, using a mild soap or cleansing cream before any facial treatment.

Natural facial scrub

Nuts and grains are ideal to exfoliate dry skin because of their high oil content. Oatmeal, garbanzo beans and even plain sugar can also be used.

In a blender grind ? cup oatmeal (125 ml) leaving some grit and mix with 1 plain yogurt. Apply to face gently in a circular motion. Especially treat the T-zone area of the face that includes the forehead, nose, mouth, and chin. Rinse with warm water and then with cooler water.

Green tea skin toner

Green tea is one of the most widely used non-alcoholic beverages in the world. It is also an excellent skin toner because it contains antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E which helps strengthen your skin?s natural defenses.

Boil ? cup pure spring or distilled water. Place the tea leaves in a glass or ceramic bowl.
Pour boiling water and allow to steep for 2-3 minutes. Strain the leaves and allow the liquid to cool. Apply to the face with cotton and do not rinse off.

Strawberry acne mask

Strawberries are rich in salicylic acid, the same key ingredient in many commercial acne products; honey is also known as antibacterial ingredient. Together, they make a powerful facial treatment for troubled skin.

Take ? cup fresh strawberries, 1 egg white and 2 teaspoons of honey mix together until smooth using a blender or a fork.

To use: Spread over your face and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry.

Salsa facial mask

No, not commercial salsa, but an all-natural salsa recipe that is perfect for stressed-out or oily skin.

Cucumbers make gentle and mild astringent mask. It is specially soothing for sunburnt skin. Tomato, parsley, and lemon juice make a mildly acidic and astringent mask.

Combine ? small tomato, ? cup chopped cucumber with peel, 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped and 1 tsp fresh lemon juice in a blender or food processor and puree.

Apply to your face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry.

Peel-off gelatin fruit mask

Gelatin masks are smooth and cool. They can be peeled off the face or easily rinsed away, removing dead skin cells.

Combine the gelatin and fruit juice in a clean, oven-proof glass container.

Heat gently to dissolve the gelatin completely. Use microwave oven for 45 seconds to 1 minute on High. Place the gelatin in the refrigerator and cool until almost set for about 30 minutes. Spread thin layer of the gelatin over your face and allow to dry. Peel off and rinse face thoroughly with cool water.