One of my favourite raw material in homemade cosmetics is seeds. I have shared here a recipe in which dry powders are used. This time we make ready-to-use pastes from seeds. I chose chia seeds and sunflower seeds.
The idea behind these pastes is using seeds containing niacin. Niacin is a very effective skin regenerator and anti-aging stuff. Niacin has a great deal to offer for skin care. You can read my article on niacin here.
Skin rejuvenating mask from chia seeds
This recipe is funny because you can even eat it for breakfast if you cannot use it all. Therefore, you do not have to worry about quantities. Just prepare enough paste. It is easier to deal with bigger quantity than too small. You can also freeze the remaining paste for the next use.
Chia seeds
Chia is a sage (Salvia hispanica). Its home is both Mexico and Guatemala. Chia is a Mayan language and means powerful. Small chia seed contains a huge amount of minerals, vitamins, and vegetable oils. Chia also contains niacin, which is an important nutrient in this mask.
- Chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, caffeic acid and quercetin are all effective antioxidants. They all have specific skin healing effects.
- Niacin regenerates the stratum corneum of the skin and keeps the skin moisturized
- Folate (folic acid) acts as an antioxidant
- Particularly rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, phosphorus, manganese
- Rich in linoleic acid (50%) and about 20% alpha-linolenic acid.
Chia produces a gel-like liquid when the seeds are soaked in water. Chia gel consists of polysaccharides that naturally moisturize the skin.
You will need the following ingredients for a moisturizing chia mask
- 1.5 decilitres of chin seeds
- 1.5-2 decilitres of cold water
- 2-5 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional, do not use essential oils if you plan to eat the rest of the mask)
- Just a drop of spirulina (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground seaweed (optional)
Do like this:
- Grind chia seeds and seaweed in a coffee grinder.
- Pour the powder into a bowl and mix in the water and the other ingredients (if any)
- Stir well and refrigerate overnight
- Put the mixture into a glass jar and use within a week
Use a chia mask once a week, even more often if you want. Let the mask warm up to room temperature, apply to cleansed face and leave on for about 20-30 minutes.
Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water and cloth.
Traditional Indian sunflower seed mask
This recipe is very traditional and comes from India. The good thing about this recipe is its ease and simplicity. In general, the simplest ingredients and methods of preparation are the best. Sunflower seeds are really high in niacin and milk is a particularly good product for the skin. That’s why I chose this special recipe for you.
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds contain a lot of minerals and a lot of niacin, which is so important for the skin. Sunflower seeds are
- Rich in zinc, manganese, copper, selenium and magnesium
- Rich in skin linoleic acid
- Rich in niacin and vitamin E.
Saffron
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It is very popular in India because it has a lot of good features. Saffron cleanses and brightens the skin. It helps dead skin cells come off, making the skin look younger. Saffron also soothes the skin.
Milk
Milk is a traditional skin care product all over the world. Cow’s milk has been used in this recipe but you can of course replace it with vegetable milk or goat’s milk.
The properties of plant milk depend on the plant. Almond milk might be best for this as it is also high in niacin.
If you use cow’s milk, get as natural, unprocessed milk as possible for this purpose.
- Milk is especially suitable for sensitive skin
- Milk contains proteins that make the skin elastic
- Milk contains natural lactic acid bacteria that soften the skin and help it regenerate
- Milk is rich in B vitamins and alpha hydroxy acid
- Milk contains natural vitamin D.
- Milk contains calcium and other minerals such as potassium and selenium
You need for a traditional Indian sunflower mask
- 3-4 tablespoons of sunflower seeds
- 1.5 decilitres milk, you can also use plant milk, sheep’s or goat’s milk. An authentic Indian recipe mentions whole cow’s milk.
- A few saffron
Do like this:
- Soak seeds and saffron in milk overnight
- Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
- Apply the mask to cleansed skin and leave on for 30 minutes.
- Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water and a cloth
- Use this mask immediately, it cannot be stored
These two seed masks are really effective and easy to make. You can do these masks once a week, even more often. They are very mild.