Thursday, August 14, 2008

Homemade Pore Strips (a.k.a. Embarass Yourself Thursday!!)

... so I was thinking ... there are many great people out there that read my blog (THANK YOU!) who often don't have the time or money- or both -to pamper themselves.... including me. I also often have to remind myself that one of the New Year's resolutions I made was a promise to make time to take care of me as well as I take care of my family.

If I were rating myself, I'd say I was doing a fairly decent job of it most of the time-- sometimes stumbling, but always getting back on track. In this year long quest, I have found some great easy (and mostly cheap) homemade ways to keep this resolution... remember the Mother's Day Bath Salts?? Yeah, I made a bunch for me!

Last night while Rob was watching some smart-alek British TV auto show, I donned a mud mask and pondered my pores... thinking I ought to get some of those Biore Cleansing Pore Strips again. At 2 a.m., I woke up wondering why couldn't I make them myself? Hmmm...

A quick search the next morning proved that I could make my own version of the pore strips-- and with ingredients I had in the house already! So, what's a gal to do but try it out, embarrassingly document it all and share with everyone else!?!??!

All you need for one treatment is:
  • 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of milk (I used whole milk... but I don't think it matters)
  • A teeny spatula, new Popsicle stick or brush to apply
  • Small clean microwaveable container
  • Microwave
  • Witch hazel
Here's what you do.
  1. Wash your hands
  2. Pour milk into container
  3. Add gelatin and stir to combine
  4. Microwave for 10 seconds until mixture looks like thin oatmeal
  5. Apply to your T zone (forehead, nose, chin)
  6. Let harden for about 10 minutes
  7. Now, here comes the fun/gross part. Peel off! I try to peel from both sides slowly to make sure everything comes off.
  8. Lightly clean area with Witch Hazel and you're done!
Keep in mind from my pics that my skin is pink from Rosacea, not from this. Let me know if you try it and what you think!