Face Good

I generally don’t believe in overnight miracle cures for skin. Improving your skin is just like trying to lose weight – you can’t do it quickly has it’s either damaging or non-lasting. In this case, especially with acne, you need to find the root of acne (stress? Poor lifestyle? Bad hygiene?) and eliminate it. On-the-Surface solutions like some creams may alleviate the problem for awhile but the acne will return if you don’t get rid of the root problem.

However, as some people have expressed interest in the effect of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) solution on acne because I mentioned it in my previous post, I’ll blog about it today.

H2O2 is an antiseptic product that is commonly found in household products and hospitals. Just like how it disinfects by killing bacteria, it clears acne by killing bacteria in the skin that causes the acne. Without intrusion from the bacteria, the skin can then heal faster on its own. H2O2 is also throught to prevent acne from returning because it oxygenates the pores, hence preventing bacteria from growing in it since bacteria thrive best in anaerobic conditions. H2O2 solution is very cheap and commonly available. A bottle of 3% concentration H2O2 (nothing higher! H2O2 is caustic and high concentrations will burn the skin) will do the trick! You are advised to get it from the pharmacy.

Sounds good eh? However, as with all acne treatments, there is little scientific basis to prove its effectiveness or long-term effects. Here are some things to consider. Since H2O2 oxygenates your skin by introducing new, unstable oxygen molecules, these free radicals could cause damage to your skin. If used over a prolonged period of time, it could cause dry skin and wrinkles to set it. Use it with moderation; you can use it get rid of current acne, but do not attempt to incorporate it into your regular skin care regime. Once the acne shows sign of clearing up, put it away and concentrate on solving the root problem to stop acne from setting in again. I’ve written some articles concerning acne previously which you can refer to.

Now that we’re aware of the pros and cons of it, how does one use it? Firstly, only use it at night. After washing your face and toning it, dab H2O2 solution over the problem areas, keeping it well away from your hair and eyebrows as H2O2 is an ingredient in bleaching agents. After 1 or 2 minutes, apply moisturizer over it.

If you’re iffy about putting straight H2O2 on your face, you may also consider getting an actual acne kit which utilizes H2O2 but contains other ingredients to serve its cause.

Good luck getting rid of those pesky red things! And don’t forget that a healthy lifestyle and strong immune system always helps get rid of all the bad stuff from your body!

One last milk mask for this series before I go on to something new next week! If you are plagued with age spots and uneven pigmentation, this mask will help you to fade the problem spots and restore even skin colour!

You will need a tablespoonful of milk, two tablespoonfuls of Hydrogen Peroxide Solution (H2O2), three tablespoonfuls of pearl powder and a little water.

H2O2 solution has been used to treat acne as well as diminish marks caused by acne. However, bear in mind that it can be quite drying and irritating especially on sensitive and dry skin. Milk does help to alleviate some of the dryness, but go for a solution with as low a concentration as possible. 3% concentration is the most commonly available one often used as antiseptic. Most pharmacies should carry it, so do consult the pharmacist on its contents and concentration. H2O2 with a concentration of 10% and above can burn skin!

So back to the mask! Mix the above-mentioned agreements together until it becomes a nice gooey mixture. Apply it to your face. Be careful not to touch the brows and area around the eyes because they are too delicate to handle the H2O2. After the mask dries, rinse off with warm water.

Tip: Masks are great for deep cleansing. However, if you have no time to make your own masks, you can simply pour a little milk into your face wash basin, dip a mask sheet in the wash basin and place it over your face. Once the sheet dries, wait a few minutes and then remove the sheet and rinse your face with water.

This article is shared at Face Good on Facebook! Please join it if you have a facebook account, and discuss and contribute!

In my previous article, I wrote about the wonders of milk, and using fermented milk to make masks. However, it seems some people really dislike it (my mum. oh dear. she nearly threw up because of the smell). So if you think that fermented milk smells too bad for your liking, here are a few more milk masks, made from fresh milk! Take your pick!

#1
Mix three tablespoonfuls of fresh milk with three tablespoonfuls of pearl powder and stir until it becomes an even gooey mixture. Apply it all over your face. Once the mask is dry, wash it off with warm water. You should only use this mask twice a week or less.

#2
Mix a tablespoon of fresh milk, a few drops of olive oil and 1 table spoon of pearl powder together until you get a nicely even mixture. Apply it to your cleansed face. When it dries, wash off with warm water. This helps to reduce wrinkles and maintains your skin’s suppleness and elasticity. Similarly, only do this no more than twice a week, and if you use one, don’t use the other.

#3
Mash 50g of strawberry. Juice it by placing the pulp in between porous sheets or a porous bag. Pour the juice into one glass of fresh milk and stir evenly. Massage this all-natural strawberry milk mixture over your face and neck. Wash off after 15 minutes. This cleanses, tones and moisturizes your skin and prevents wrinkles!

This article is shared at Face Good on Facebook! Please join it if you have a facebook account, and discuss and contribute!

I’m back with my first post for the New Year! I hope everyone’s New Year started out great! My new year was tonnes of fun, but I’m so exhausted! I’ve been staying up past 2am for the countdown and parties. My poor skin’s gone through the mill! To make up for the late nights and unhealthy food and beverages, I’ve been giving my skin a treat – milk masks!



Since historical times, milk has long proven its worth in beauty and skin care. Concubine Yang, one of the four great beauties of China, was famed for taking a milk bath everyday. Even in modern times, Fan Bing Bing, touted as one of the greatest beauties in Chinese entertainment, revealed milk baths as one of her beauty secrets!

However, milk baths are rather extravagant, and not all of us have bath tubs to begin with! On the other hand, using milk on your face once in a while is pretty affordable!

For this week and the next, I'll share with you some recommended DIY treatments and masks derived from milk!

Wrinkle-removal & whitening mask

Milk is rich in dairy fat, vitamins and minerals. It has natural moisturizing properties and is easily absorbed by the skin. It prevents skin from drying, and reduces dry wrinkles. It is a great all-natural skin care product!

First of all, place a glass of milk in a warm part of the house for a few days. This will cause the lactic acid in the milk to ferment, thus releasing its anti-bacterial properties. Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of milk and set aside. Add a tablespoon of pearl powder paste to the rest of the milk and stir until it becomes a gooey mixture that is thick enough to stay on your skin surface.

Do not choose low-fat milk or skimmed milk. Freshly collected, unprocessed milk straight from the farms is the best, but this is not very conveniently available, so you can make do with packet milk.

Here’s how to milk the treatment for all its worth!

1. Using some milk from those 2 tablespoons of milk that you previously set aside, apply it onto your face. Massage it all over your face for about one minute.

2. Wipe your face clean with a warm towel.

3. Apply the milk mask thickly to your face. Rinse off with warm water after 20 – 30 minutes.

4. Dab green tea water or alkaline toner (because lactic acid is acidic) to your face and wait till it dries.

5. Massage the remaining fermented milk all over your face. You don’t have to wash this away. However, if you can’t tolerate the smell from it, you can use fresh milk, or mix fresh milk with fermented milk. Pure fermented milk is still the most effective though!

After doing this five or six times, you should find that your skin looks visibly better!

Tune in next week for more!

On another happy note, I've created a Facebook group for Face Good! It's still rather empty but I'll spruce it up soon and invite more members. Apart from discussing my articles posted here, you can discuss anything and everything to do with beauty. So do come and join up and contribute your wealth of knowledge, and invite your friends!