1. Gelatin
Gelatin is a great way to tighten skin and remove blackheads in one stroke! Gelatin is a form of collagen that is used in many things, but you are probably most familiar with it used as a dessert. There are unflavored, translucent kinds the come in powder that you can use as a budget skin tightener. They typically come in packets of 5, depending on the brand, and you only need to use one at a time for a substitute to commercial deep cleaning pore strips.
Simply mix one packet of unflavored gelatin with 1-2 tablespoons of milk in a microwaveable container until you get a sticky mess. You can use water instead of milk, but the lactic acid in milk is a natural exfoliant so you might want to rethink that. Zap it for 10 seconds and apply to your face (avoiding your eyes and eyebrows as it can carry off hair!) in an even layer using a rubber spatula or popsicle stick. You have to move quickly as the gel sets pretty fast as it cools. Go for a medium-thick layer for easy peeling. Leave for 10 minutes or so until it has set. Peel off carefully. Skin will be sensitive and slightly red, so stay indoors without makeup until your skin feels normal again.
2. Honey
Another sweet treat that doubles as a beauty aid is raw honey. You can use it as is as a natural and hydrating facial cleanser or you can mix it with lemon juice and olive oil for a hydrating mask. Either way, its antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-wrinkle properties make it a winner in the natural skin tightening race.
As a cleanser, you can just pour a capful of raw (not pasteurized) honey (you can add some baking powder to remove makeup) in to your palm rub gently over your damp face just like a commercial facial cleanser. You can leave it on for a few minutes if you want to; it will be more effective that way. Rinse off thoroughly.
As a hydrating mask, mix 2 teaspoons of honey with a few drops each of olive oil and lemon juice in your hand. Apply all over your face and neck and allow to dry. Rinse off with warm water. You can do this first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Your skin will be like honey with regular use.
3. Coffee grounds
If you feel like exfoliating, you can use your used coffee grounds mixed with olive or coconut oil to make a paste. Rub on the face slowly and gently to get the circulation going and soften the dead skin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Your face will feel very clean and tight. Use fine or regular grind as the size of the granules is directly proportional to the roughness of the scrub. Don’t use this if you have an active acne breakout; it’ll hurt.
4. Yogurt
Aside from its benefits to digestion, the probiotics in natural yogurt can fight bacteria on the skin and the lactic acid is a natural exfoliant. Use any leftover yogurt (especially if it is turning a little more sour than usual) and spread it on your face. Allow it to dry before rinsing it off for tight, healthy, glowing skin.
5. Egg white
Leftover egg white can be put to good use as a skin tightening mask. Whip it until it is stiff and apply on the face. You will feel it tightening your skin as it dries. Rinse off with warm water.
6. Baking soda
Baking soda is a gentler exfoliating scrub than coffee grounds though it doesn’t smell as good. Mix some with water to make a paste and massage onto your face. It will pick up dead skin cells and soften the skin even as it tightens the pores because of its alkalinity. Rinse off with cold water. You should try it first on a small portion of your skin to make sure you’re not allergic, though.
7. Oatmeal
If you happen to have leftover cooked oatmeal, you can use it to tone your skin for pleasing tightness and glow. Add a little buttermilk to make a paste and apply to damp skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes or so. This will improve your blood circulation. Wash off with cool water and follow with a mild cleanser
8. Lemon
The citric acid in lemon is drying, but the vitamin C in it improves collagen elasticity which makes it a great skin tightener and astringent for the acne-prone. To offset the drying effect, follow a pure lemon juice facial and neck mask with a moisturizer. You can also dilute the acidity by adding water in a 1:2 ratio and using it as a leave-on air dried final rinse. You can also add the lemon to coconut or olive oil and use that as a facial mask. Whatever you do, don’t throw out that unused half of a lemon!
9. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera plants are found in many homes because it helps improve the quality of the air. If you or a neighbor happens to have one, you can use it to moisturize and tighten your skin as well. The malic acid in the extracted gel acts on the collagen fibers in the skin to improve its elasticity. Extract the gel by removing the tough outer layer of the thick leaf and removing the gel. Make sure no sap gets mixed in (it’s a natural laxative)! Once you have the gel, smear it on your face and neck and rinse off after 15 minutes or so.
10. Cucumber
Here is another popular toning and tightening mask: cucumber juice. Grind half a cucumber to a pulp and pass it through a fine sieve to extract the juice. Spread over your face and feel it grow tight as it dries. Rinse off with warm water. Use it as a daily skin tightener and eat the other half as a healthy snack!
11. Cabbage
You can use 2 or three fresh cabbage leaves as a skin tightening and hydrating mask if you mix it with yogurt, honey, and olive or coconut oil if you have dry skin. Make a paste of the cabbage leaves first before tipping in the other ingredients. Slather it over your face and neck for 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
12. Banana
Mashed bananas make a great moisturizing and anti-aging mask, making your face soft and smooth. It is packed with vitamin A, B and E, all skin nourishing vitamins. Mash a ripe banana until it is smooth and apply to your face and neck. Leave it alone for 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water.
13. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is known for its astringent properties, so it works great as a facial toner. Dilute 1 tablespoon of vinegar in two cups of distilled water and use as a final rinse. Allow to air dry and feel your skin tighten and smoothen out. Finish off with a moisturizing sun block.
14. Powdered milk
We’ve mentioned before that lactic acid is a natural exfoliant, so the powdered version just makes it easier to make a paste. Add enough water to powdered milk to make a paste that is thick enough to coat your face and allow to dry thoroughly. Rinse off with warm water. You face will look clear, feel tight, and rejuvenated.
15. Mayonnaise
Last but not least, you have your basic mayonnaise. Whole egg mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil and egg, so naturally it works as a convenient face mask all the time, every time. Get enough mayonnaise to cover your face and neck in a thin film and rinse off with cool water after about 20 minutes. Tight, clean, and smooth. That is your skin.
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