Nighttime found Fran Humble slouched in her chair, watching mindless sitcoms. She had sat there for five hours. She shoveled greasy potato chips into her mouth. "Fran, what are you doing?" Her mom called from the kitchen. Fran continued to stare blankly at the tube.

Mom walked into the room. She looked horrified at Fran’s oily, ruddy complexion. "Fran, when was the last time you washed your face?" Fran looked curious. Her answer, " Five mornings ago." led to Mom’s disapproving nod.

Suddenly, Mom snatched Fran’s chip bag away and shut off the television. Fran looked shaken, "MOM! Why’d you do that?" Mom stood unmoving by the television, taking a deep breath, " Five mornings ago you washed your face. Inactivity and hoarding greasy chips are harming your skin." Fran looked perplexed. Their was an eerie silence, until Mom said, "Come, let me show you some things..." Fran hesitated, but followed her mom upstairs.

They found themselves in the bathroom. Mom flung Fran’s sink cabinets open. "Here’s the root of your skin problems, my dear," mom pointed out, "Your makeup brushes and sponges are dirty. So, when you apply your makeup, these tools clog your pores, causing major pimple outbreaks." Fran look surprised, "If that’s true, how do I stop outbreaks?"

Mom took out the sponges and brushes, placing them onto the counter-top. " Well, cleaning them with soap and water once a week should help tremendously. If they become unusable, though, consider buying new tools." The twosome cleaned the brushes and sponges.

When they were done, Fran attempted to wash her face. Mom quickly disposed of her soap. "Mom, you’re acting so strange today." Mom replied, " You’re not thinking clear skin, Fran." Mom flipped to the ingredients listing, " Look at all the harsh abrasives, deodorants, and alkali!"

"Alkali is an ingredient used in scrubbing bathtubs. Do you want that on your face?" Fran looked increasingly frightened. " This strips away your outer layers of skin, exposing the sensitive layers to the elements." "Then what’s left to use for a daily cleanser?" Fran replied,  " A mild soap will do the job." Mom continued, "It builds up a great lather. Then thoroughly wash away. Otherwise, it’s clogged pores again." Fran groaned, "It always goes back to clogged pores!" " That’s just how it is, sweetie." Mom soothed. They scampered down to the kitchen. Fran whined, " These clogged pores are going to be on my mind all night." Mom halted midway down the stairs, turning to meet Fran’s eyes. " Stress is another demon in the battle for clear skin. It’s causing your frequent outbreaks. Relaxing, yoga, and exercise will keep you focused and happy. You could also try fixing your problems during the daytime." Fran nodded, and they continued descending down the stairs.

 In the kitchen, Mom searched the pantry. " You know, Fran" Mom said, "Skincare can be fun!" Fran stopped pacing, " I don’t see how, Mom." Mom’s head reappeared from the pantry. She dumped ingredients onto the counter. She put her hands on the table with a deep sigh. " With homemade facial masks!" Mom answered, "They’re fun, and are great for skin!"

Fran’s eyes widened, " You mean I don’t have to be a millionaire to have healthy skin? Store bought facial masks cost a fortune!" Mom brought out her personal mask recipe book. "That’s why we can use household items. In fact, they’re even better then store-bought!" Fran looked curious again, " Do these products have specific uses?" Mom organized the products, " I’m glad you asked. For an exfoliating effect, oatmeal is the most effective. Raw egg whites gently soften skin." Fran looked eager, " How do we start?" Mom opened her personal recipe book, " Let’s browse some recipes together."

" What great ideas, mom. I promise to care for my skin from now on."  Mom smiled, and hugged her daughter, " I’m happy for you, Fran. But remember, recommending the facial masks to acne patients can worsen their condition. People with acne must seek a dermatologist immediately." Fran nodded her head. The two sat back in the couch, literally with egg on their face; and a little oatmeal.

4 fun and free homemade
facial mask recipes

Milk Mask

You’ll need:
Milk
1/2 Cup Besan Flour

What you do:
Combine the ingredients until it’s a hearty paste. Refrigerate for a few hours. Smooth the mixture over face and let it set for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a warm damp washcloth. Then splash on cool water to close skin pours. A benefit from this mask is a tightening sensation.

Exfoliating Mask

You’ll need:
egg whites
oatmeal

What you do:
Mix ingredients, slap on for five minutes. Let egg whites dry. Rinse with water. Voila! The oatmeal exfoliates dead skin, and works wonders when you scrub it on. Egg whites soften and smooth dry skin gently.

Moisturizing Honey and Lemon

You’ll need:
I TBSP honey (room temperature)
1 Tsp. lemon juice

Blend. Apply for 30 min, rinse with warm water. One plus is it’s
moisturizing effect.

Honey and Oatmeal mask

You’ll need
Honey
Oatmeal

Equally mix in oatmeal and honey leave on for 15 min. Rinse with warm water and then cold.

For All Skin Types
You’ll need:
1/2 c chopped cucumber
2 tsp. powdered milk
1 egg white

Blend to a smooth paste and apply in upwards motions to face and neck. Let dry on face for 30 min. Rinse with warm water.

Meet the Author
Deb Carpenter
"Nature's Beauty Kit"
hosted by Joanne Spataro
interview & FREE beauty tips
Deb Carpenter’s book, "Nature’s Beauty Kit," offers many wonderful, beauty recipes that can be made right from our own backyards. She’s appreciating nature’s gifts ever since she began collecting recipe clippings from newspapers, and from her grandmother’s own stash. She completely filled a drawer with these recipes. So Deb thought it was time to make a book out of her collection. And I’m so glad she did! "Nature’s Beauty Kit" includes tons of clever recipes, like homemade hair rinses, facial masks and shampoos. Deb thinks hair rinses will be a winner with teens, since it gives hair natural highlights!

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Dr. Gail Slap, "a Dr. Spock for teenagers," teams up with Martha Jablow to present a complete guide for promoting teenage health. Covering the full range of medical and social issues of adolescence, here is a definitive look at the dramatic, often confusing changes that take place during puberty. A family reference explains complex health issues, such as exercise, eating disorders, drugs, depression, sexuality, teen pregnancy, and various medical conditions, helping families understand and cope with adolescent problems.