AS promised last week … here are Betsy’s natural skin-care recipes

FACE SCRUB – ALL SKIN TYPES (EVEN SENSITIVE)
Add a handful of finely ground oatmeal to some cleansing milk, cleansing gel or some sweet almond oil.

Rub gently over face and neck for 1 to 2 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
This removes dead skin cells.  Use once or twice a week just before using a face mask.

FRUIT ACID FACE PEEL – OILY AND PROBLEM SKIN
Rub a slice of freshly peeled pineapple or papaya over clean dry skin for a few minutes. Leave for five minutes and rinse.
Not good for sensitive skin. It uses natural enzymes such as papain and bromelin, which “dissolve” the dead skin cells. Use twice a week before a face mask.

BANANA AND HONEY MASK – NORMAL TO DRY SKIN
Mash a ripe banana and add a tablespoon of double cream and a tablespoon of warmed honey and one drop of chamomile essential oil (optional).
Apply to face and neck and leave 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, tone with rose water and apply a rich moisturiser.

TOMATO AND YOGHURT MASK – OILY AND PROBLEM SKIN
Put a large ripe tomato in a blender and puree. Use a sieve to remove the seeds. 
Then add tomato puree to a pot of natural yoghurt, the juice of a lemon and a little fuller’s earth clay (from pharmacies) and one drop of tea-tree essential oil   and mix to a paste.
Apply to face and neck, avoiding eyes.
Leave 15 minutes, rinse with warm water and tone with witchazel (pharmacies) and apply a water based moisturiser.

EYE MASKS
Choose one of the following:
Ice-cold full fat milk, on cotton wool eye pads.
Cucumber juice mixed with some milk powder to a thin paste.
Cold used tea bags, chamomile tea is best for swollen puffy eyes.
Grated raw potato wrapped in muslin and placed over the eyes as a compress.