Oatmeal mask: how to apply it (step by step) and its benefits

An oatmeal mask is a natural and inexpensive way to take care of your skin. You don't need expensive and complicated products to have a hydrated, youthful, blemish- and acne-free complexion. Some ingredients from nature can help us with this purpose.

Oatmeal is a great ally for the skin. Alone or combined with other ingredients, hydrates the skin and controls acne, being an economical, practical and simple alternative to prepare and use. We leave you here the step by step to apply an oatmeal mask and we tell you its benefits.

How to make and apply the oatmeal mask

The oatmeal mask is simple to prepare. Its great virtue is that it absorbs oil, therefore it fights acne. It also hydrates and rejuvenates it thanks to the amount of proteins and antioxidants it contains, which also help to fade spots and scars.

Of course, something very important is to use natural oats. The one that contains flavorings or sugar could damage the skin. Another important observation is that if dried oatmeal is used, it works as a scrub and cooked helps with inflammation and redness.

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1. Choosing the right oatmeal

The first step in making the oatmeal mask is choosing the cereal correctly. Some of the oatmeal presentations have added sugar or even other ingredients such as seeds or nuts, this oatmeal should definitely not be used for facial care.

The best thing is that it is totally natural and without additives, so that there will not be any problem with your skin. Although some of the oatmeal mask mixes may include sugar, it is best to choose one that is natural.

2. Allergy test

Before starting with the elaboration of the mask, you have to do an allergy test. Putting a small amount on a specific area of ​​the skin is the most efficient way to check for a reaction to the oatmeal mask.

To do this "patch test" you have to soak the oats a little and place a paste on a gauze or piece of cloth, and place it for a few minutes on a small part of the skin of the face. It is removed after waiting around 10 minutes, to check for redness, itching, or swelling.

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3. Detect your skin type

The mask works for almost all skin types, but it depends on how you prepare it. So that this natural mask does not end up affecting the skin, we must identify what type of skin we have to know what is the best way to prepare it.

If you have oily skin prone to acne, it is best to use oatmeal cooked. But if your skin is dry, then raw oatmeal is a better option for your mask. For both skin types, the recommendation is to apply it overnight.

4. Prepare the oatmeal

The first step is to prepare the oatmeal for the mask. You need half a cup of raw oatmeal and of water if you are going to boil it. In case you are going to use the raw oatmeal mask for dry skin, you just have to pulverize or crush the oats with a mortar and add water.

If it is going to be used cooked, boil the water and then add the oats, let it soak for a few minutes and grind. In both cases it should be like a thick paste to facilitate its application.. You have to wait for it to cool down before starting to use it.

5. Apply the mask

Before applying the oatmeal mask, you have to clean your face, preferably with a make-up remover, although a neutral pH soap and water is also sufficient. The objective is that the skin is clean before applying the mask.

With perfectly clean hands, spread the mask and apply it all over the face. If the oatmeal is dry, you can apply a little pressure and rub gently to make it work as an exfoliator.. Otherwise, just apply it all over your face.

6. Recommendations for applying the oatmeal mask

You have to take into account several recommendations to apply the oatmeal mask. The first thing is not to exceed its use more than three times a week. Also it is important to apply it at night to prevent it from causing spots on the skin.

The oatmeal mask has so many benefits for the skin that it can also be applied to other parts of the body other than the face, either to exfoliate or to soften. So for the back, arms, legs and feet, this mask is also very efficient.

7. Other ingredients for oatmeal acne mask

The oatmeal mask can be combined with other ingredients to make it more effective. If the skin has acne problems or a tendency to accumulate oil, can be combined with honey or lemon to make it even more effective.

To make this mask, you have to follow the same procedure and simply add a tablespoon of honey or the juice of half a lemon at the end. It is applied in the same way. The antibacterial properties of honey and lemon help fight acne.

8. Oatmeal with milk and yogurt for youthful skin

Dairy products help with its probiotics to make the skin look young. Besides that the acidic Ph of yogurt and milk helps reduce pimples. For this reason, if you add any of these ingredients to oatmeal, you will get beautiful skin.

The yogurt must be natural, that is, without fruit or added colors or sugar. Add a tablespoon to the mixture of oats and water, either dry or boiled. Milk can also be used, in this case the water is replaced by milk to make the mask more pasty.

9. Oatmeal mask with egg

Another great ingredient to add to your oatmeal mask is egg. Due to its many healthy properties, eggs can provide the skin with the necessary nutrients to make it look hydrated, young and supple.

For this oatmeal with egg mask, you have to add the whole egg and mix it with the oats and water. It is for all skin types and is also excellent for cleaning the face of chemicals and impurities. This mask can be used two or three times a month maximum.

Bibliographic references

• Criquet, M., Roure, R., Dayan, L., Nollent, V., & Bertin, C. (2012). Safety and efficacy of personal care products containing colloidal oatmeal. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 5, 183–193. doi: 10.2147 / CCID.S31375.
• Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19 (1), 70. doi: 10.3390 / ijms19010070.