Green Bean aka Mung Bean Face& Body mask

Green Bean is famous for curing pimples and deep cleansing. It can remove the dirt in the pores, purify your skin and especially kill the pimples in the next day.If you suffer from acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, or simply want to exfoliate your skin, this homemade mung bean scrub recipe comes in really helpful.
 

Because of their amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, mung beans are often used in Asian cooking in cooling recipes.Interestingly, research shows that green beans work better than Vitamins C and E in improving skin pigmentation, freckles as well as spots.

Step 1: Buy Green bean powder from supermarkets. Buy the organic ones if you can afford it, i'm usually not that picky. The powder looks to be a mixture of white and green.

2. Dampen a face cloth in  warm water with a 1-2 drops of essential oils such as lavender or rose ( or just warm water will do). Lay the cloth over your face for 10-15 minutes to loosen dirt, grease, and debris on your oily skin. Remove cloth. To spare all this trouble, you can also do this after your hot bath in the bathroom.

3. Scoop 3-4 tablespoons of the mung bean powder and mix it with 2 tablespoon of plain unflavoured yogurt. Mix with your hand to form a mudmask-like texture. It should be enough for both body and face.

 4. Apply on face and body for 1 minute. Scrub face and body for 2-3 minutes. Wash it off. Make sure that you cleanse yourself thoroughly and properly.

5. You should feel very comfortable, skin should feel smoother, cleaner and brighter. This is especially good for oily and acne prone skin.

 Tip: Apply both face and body moisturiser within 15 minutes after the scrub and bath, when the body is 70% dry. This helps to lock in the moisture.

3 stepsSkincare regime

3 steps: cleansing, toning and moisturising. Is that a marketing gimmick whereby they make something unnecessary a need, or is it a real need?

There are many professionals who disagree; stating it really is an unnecessary step in your skin care regime unless you have oily skin or just love using a toner."Today most dermatologists agree toner isn't necessary. Its main purpose is to remove traces of makeup and residual cleanser, but a high-quality cleanser, even a creamy one, should rinse off easily with water alone. Some women like the fact that toner leaves their face tight and smooth. But that taut, tingly sensation actually indicates dryness." -- InStyle's "Getting Gorgeous"

Personally, i feel that it depends on your needs.
Toners with alcohol are like astringents, which are solutions that remove surface skin cells, soap residue and oil from the skin, which might be good for acne skin. But on the other hand, some acne is caused by dry skin, then this will actually worsen the condition.

A big misconception is that a toner will close enlarged pores, but actually it gives the appearance of minimizing pores as the toner irritate the skin and make it swell slightly.

A toner remove excess oil from the skin, whisk away impurities that remains after cleansing, which can lead to blemishes or breakouts. But if you cleanse properly, maybe the toner isn't even needed?

Different toners have different uses:

 1. Freshener - contain virtually no alcohol (0-10%), water, and a humectant such as glycerine. Humectants help to keep the moisture in the upper layers of the epidermis by preventing it from evaporating. A popular example of this is rosewater, or neutrogena lotion.

2. Astringents-
strongest form of toner and contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skins as they are drying. e.g witch hazel.

I use Neutrogena myself, what about you?

One of my greatest woes is having dry lips.And the funny thing is, the more i apply lip balm, the drier it gets. i'll get momentary relief but after the balm is absorbed, the lips is twice as dry.

Sounds familiar? I tried and error many times, and this method very effective, especially if you have cracked and peeling lips, especially after your bath:

1. Apply a generous layer of lip balm, preferably oily ones like vaseline.

2. Fold a cloth into a few layers. Dip it in warm water.

3. Clasp the warm cloth over your mouth till you feel it cools or when the balm is absorbed.

4.Wrap the cloth around your finger and rub in gentle circular motion to exfoliate your lips.

I have personally tried and tested these lips balms in cold and dry areas up to -7 degrees in extremely dry conditions.
1. Brambleberry rose salve. Supposed to double up as perfume but i find the smell too horrible. Very effective as a lip balm and moisturizer tho.

2. MOST VALUE FOR MONEY - at nearly $5, the mentholatum medicated lip gel is a lifesaver when is was spending winter overseas. Not overly oily and yet effective. Can be found at watsons!

3. Kiehl's lip balm - effective but expensive

4. Body shop lip balm- Effective with a shimmer, suitable for work. But you have to use your fingers to apply.

Feel free to share if you know of more lobangs!