DIY Blueberry Exfoliating Mask

It’s probably hard to tell from that tiny picture over there in the sidebar, but I’m not 20 anymore.  In fact, I’m closer to 40 than I am to 20!  Fortunately, I’ve been blessed- through zero intervention on my part- with some pretty awesome skin.  Wizardry?  Chance?  Genetics?  Fairy Godmother?  Who knows!  I like to think my contribution has come in the form of leaving well enough alone.

That said, small issues are starting to be a slightly bigger problem now.  Skin concerns that never really applied to me (such as dry skin) are noticeable these days.  Funnily enough, I love skincare products!  When I noticed a few weeks ago that my skin looked a bit dull, I went on an exfoliation kick.  I subscribe to a few sample boxes and purchased a skin-specific sample kit from Sephora recently, but even after four or five rounds with different samples, I couldn’t get something to give me the result I wanted: gentle exfoliation to brighten up my skin without causing a ton of redness or irritation.  (One of the products was so gimmicky and laughable that I can’t believe it costs FORTY EIGHT DOLLARS.  Email me if you really have to know!) 

Knowing that I should at least TRY an at home option, I discovered that the antioxidants in blueberries might be exactly what I was looking for.  I mixed in a little sugar for exfoliation and some oil to keep the skin moisturized and prevent the blueberries from staining my skin.  And I’ll say it right upfront: this blueberry exfoliating mask was just what I was looking for.

Gather up just a few ingredients to get started:

1/4 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon high-quality (organic if you can find it) olive or coconut oil
1 tablespoon sugar (since this is for your face, don’t use anything too coarse)
Toss all those ingredients into a small food processor and blend until combined. 

(This recipe made enough to use the mask at least twice.  I stored the extra in the fridge in a small jar, but made sure to let it sit at room temperature for about fifteen minutes to take the cold edge off before using the second time.)

Since the blueberries can stain, put on something you don’t mind getting a little dirty or wrap a towel around your shoulders.  Apply the mask to your face using small, circular motions.  I made sure to spend a little longer on areas where I wanted some specific exfoliation (forehead), but made quicker swipes where I didn’t (cheeks). 

Let sit on your face for a few minutes to let the oil and honey sink in and moisturize.  Remove with a small washcloth and warm water, buffing in small circles to promote circulation.  Pat dry.

For a DIY solution, I was shocked at how effective this mask was!  My skin felt great and didn’t experience any of the harsh effects I saw in other masks.  The sugar particles smoothed my skin and something in the combination of berries and honey really added softening.

Let me know what you think when you try it!