Skincare Saturday: Skin Preparation for 20+ Hours Makeup (DIY Steam Facial & Moisturizing Mask)

Helllllo Saturday everyone! Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.

It's been one long week for me and unfortunately it doesn't end there. Although it is the weekend, I am crazy busy today. Reason? Answer, one day trip to Cali tomorrow.
We leave at 5 and there are endless of things to do before that. I gotta sleep early tonight also because I for the life of me cannot sleep in the car. What's worst, I get car sick easily. So it's like death for me to travel in a car for more than an hour at a time. Nooooot looking forward to it at all. But on the upside, we're going to Cali to stock up on food, I think it's currently fruit season right now. Mmhmm, fresh jackfruit, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, durian...gahh! I also get to stock up on my beloved banana milk when we stop at H-Mart. They seriously need to have an H-Mart in Arizona. Making us drive six dang hours to Cali just to visit them.

Besides food we can take back to Arizona, are the endless restaurant choices at Little Saigon. Haha.
Intensive diet can be tucked aside for a day or two. Yummy food comes first. Also super ecstatic we get to stop by Banh Mi Che Cali (I prefer this over Lee's Sandwich if you're wondering) before leaving Cali. Thirty banh mi to-go please!

So tomorrow's blog will be posted early in the morning before I leave. By the time anyone reads it, I will probably be on my way or Cali-bound already. It'll be my "Today's Make Up" on super long lasting. I will have my makeup on for about...20 hours? So if you're interested in what I will use, please come visit tomorrow.

Which brings me to today's post. Maybe because I've been
stressing out or something, but my face has recently become a minefield. I take care of one and up sprouts another. I tried out a Mint Scrub yesterday; it seems to work? No new pimples today and the old ones seem to be losing the battle and will disappear soon. I had some left over from yesterday and used the remaining this morning when I got up.

My Mommy, being the all-knowing Mother that she is, asked me why I haven't done steam facial in a while. She was right, I have not done a steam facial since maybe January, back during the Winter. Ever since I can remember, my Mom would have me face steam to clear my pores and what not. I'm using this "recipe" as a facial steam but it was actually initially a sauna type steam for when you're sick, used by most Asians. Like say you caught a cold or flu and you feel weak, sluggish, unwell. They'll just brew this up and cover themselves tightly with a blanket or sheet with the hot pot inside and use the steam to sweat out the "bad sweat". I've actually been
forced to do this when I was younger and while I don't do this now as a cure for sickness, I will do it to clear my pores. I'll probably do this once or twice a year but for my face, I'll do it more frequently. Somehow, I  just blanked out and forgot about this.

I have to go to bed super early today because I'll have to be up by 3 at the latest. But before that, I'll whip up a quick face mask to help hydrate my face for tomorrow. I mentioned earlier that my makeup will be on for a good 20-ish hours so I already know my face will hate it for it. Giving it some attention for about 15 minutes will greatly make a difference tomorrow.

Now check out the recipes below. :)

DIY STEAM FACIAL - ASIAN STYLE (Family Recipe)

What You'll Need:
- 20 to 30 leaves of lemongrass (tied up into a knot)
- 10 leaves from a grapefruit tree
- 10 leaves from a lemon tree
- 1/2 ginger (smashed)
- water

What To Do:
- In a pot, throw in all of the ingredients at once.
- Fill the pot with water so that all of the ingredients are covered
- Place the lid on and bring to a boil on high
- Do check up on it every now and then because it might cause an overflow if it continues to boil

How To Use It:
Option 1 - Take the pot off of the stove, lid on and set aside. Hunch yourself over the pot, face directly over the pot and drape a large towel over your head to completely cover the pot. Slowly open the lid bit by bit to let the steam out. Be careful to not open the lid too much at a time or you might risk burning yourself. Continue until there are no longer no more steam OR until you feel like you've had enough. Pat to dry.
**Please, please, pleeeeease be extremely cautious because this is boiling water and hot steam we're dealing with. This could cause burns and/or injuries. I do not recommend this option for beginners or people with sensitive skin. I myself use this option because I have been doing this for years so I know the timing and limits.

Option 2 - Do not take the pot off of the stove but instead turn it to medium-low heat. Set it so that the water is continuously heated so there will be steam but not to the point of boiling. Completely remove the lid. Put your face directly over the pot and let the steam work its magic. Do this for 10-15 minutes OR until you feel like you've had enough. Pat to dry.
**I do recommend this for beginners but still, please be very careful!

Option 3 - If you're still uncomfortable with the idea of hunching over the stove, just pick the pot off the stove, take the lid off and put your face over it (without the towel) until there is no longer steam. Pat to dry.

This can actually be used for a few more times, three at least. Just leave it out on the counter and reheat it when you want to use it again. Don't worry about it going bad, I've done it before, maybe five days or so and it did not spoil.

My face feels super clean afterward, it's just an amazing feeling. One so hard to describe. I cannot believe I forgot about this facial. Mothers does know best. :P I will do this again tonight, before I go to bed.

___________________________________

DIY MOISTURIZING FACE MASK

What You'll Need:
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 teaspoon (plain) yogurt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil

What To Do:
- In a clean bowl, with a fork or spoon, mash up the avocado until it is lump and chunk free
- Add the yogurt and stir well
- Add the olive oil and give it one final good stir

How To Use It:
- Apply to a clean face
- Leave on for 30 minutes
- Rinse with warm water and pat dry

______________

Alrighty guys, hope you enjoyed these recipes. Check out other recipes I have posted before, here. Give 'em a try, most are super easy to prepare. Pamper your skin now, they'll repay you in 10 years.

Annnnd I'm off to finish preparing, among other things. Only a few hours before I need to head off to bed. Ugh, one day trips are so stressful. Hopefully the abundant of food will be worth it... :roll: haha, oh who am I kidding. OF COURSE it'll be WORTH it.

Final reminder guys, tomorrow's blog will go up super early tomorrow morning before I leave. I will compose the blog later so just a heads up.

Thank you for joining me again guys. I really appreciate each and every one of your visits. Thank you for reading and please come back soon! :)