Tricks for soothing oily and inflamed skin

Oily and inflamed skin can be uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are several simple home remedies you can use to keep your skin feeling fresh and healthy.

• Using healing earth (from a health food store) is an effective way to calm inflamed skin. Stir together 25 millilitres (two tablespoons) each of healing earth and water to create a spreadable paste.
• Also effective against inflamed skin is a mask made from tea, egg and carrot. To make the mask, beat one egg white until stiff and finely grate half a carrot. Mix the two loosely, and then stir in five millilitres (one tablespoon) of calming chamomile and anti-inflammatory yarrow teas, and apply.
• Brewer's yeast has long been touted as an effective remedy for oily skin. To make a traditional brewer's yeast mask, stir together about 20 grams (2/3 ounces) of brewer's yeast, 20 grams (2/3 ounces) of yogurt and five millilitres (one teaspoon) of honey.
• Concoct a soothing mask that will ward off pimples, blackheads, and inflammation by stirring together 15 millilitres (three tablespoons) of oat flour with three drops of antiseptic tea tree oil, two drops of sage oil and an equal amount of warm water. Apply thickly.
• A mask using ground almonds works like a gentle exfoliating scrub, cleansing your skin of residue and oil. To make the mask, mix 25 millilitres (two tablespoons) of honey, 45 millilitres (three tablespoons) of finely ground almonds (use a food processor or coffee grinder) and the juice of half an orange. Use to scrub your face gently, avoiding your eyes. It should last for one week in the fridge.
• Cetaphil cream (from a pharmacy) is also a good tool to fight oily, blemished skin. Stir together five millilitres (one teaspoon) of the cream, five millilitres (one teaspoon) of fresh grape juice and two millilitres (1/2 teaspoon) of honey, and apply. Your skin will feel noticeably fresh after.