The Only Face Mask You Need This Summer

Recently I thought how strange it is that I don’t tan as easily as I used to when I was younger. Then I realized it’s because DUH, I don’t have the entire summer off anymore to run around and play outside like I did back in the good old days. Now I spend my days inside an office, am too afraid of skin cancer and wrinkles to go outside without SPF slathered all over my face and body, and I often decide paleness wins over the perils of self-tanning. Yes, I am ALWAYS that girl with streaks or random white spots no matter how confident I think I am during application! I swear, that exfoliation trick is only half true.

So, how do we grown-ups get that effortless summer glow? Surprisingly, it only requires two ingredients, and you may even have these in your kitchen: honey & turmeric! While you may have previously only used these items to sweeten your tea or spice up a bland recipe, you may be surprised to learn they also provide impressive benefits for soothing and brightening your skin.

Honey, specifically manuka honey, has a ton of healing and medicinal qualities. It helps treat inflammation and also has an antibacterial element called methylglyoxal (aka MG). When applied to the skin, it helps calm any redness, irritation, or blemishes you may have. It also acts as a soothing treatment and makes your skin feel incredibly soft.

Turmeric is a spice which originated in India which also boasts the ability to fight off free-radicals, which are basically little molecules which prematurely age our skin. Turmeric is highly revered and considered holy in India. It is yellow in color, so it leaves behind a gorgeous golden glow. Indian brides actually use turmeric on their face prior to their wedding ceremony to ensure their complexion looks flawless on the big day. It can also help even out your skintone, which would potentially reduce the amount of makeup you would normally wear!

When you mix the two ingredients together, your concoction should look like this:

The trick is not to use too much — a thin layer is all you need all over your face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with warm water. It should melt off easily, but feel free to use a muslin cloth to make sure you get every little bit. The cloth will also lightly exfoliate your face, leaving the skin extra soft!

Your skin should always be treated with care, but especially in the summer when the heat, humidity, and sun can really take a toll. Luckily, sometimes all it takes is a quick trip to the kitchen to get back that perfect, natural glow.