Achieve That Summer Glow With These Home Spa Remedies

Summer living is the best. But long hours outdoors drenched in sunshine, sweat and sunscreen can take its toll on your complexion. Find the cure for dull, dry, irritated skin in these four home remedies.

Citrus yogurt mask

Yogurt is the perfect ingredient to achieve that luminous complexion we all want. In addition to exfoliating, it also stimulates collagen production. Lemon adds alpha-hydroxy powers to minimize the appearance of fine lines.

To make your own citrus-yogurt mask, combine 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt with 3 teaspoons lemon juice. Apply to your face, leave on for 20 minutes and rinse. Hint: Use only at night, because citrus can make your skin sun sensitive.

Coffee ground scrub

Set aside some of your spent coffee grounds to inject new life into your complexion. The caffeine will go to work restricting the blood vessels near the surface of your skin, reducing swelling and inflammation, making this an excellent remedy for puffy, baggy skin around the eyes. Some studies suggest caffeine adds an extra layer of protection against UV rays.

For a coffee scrub, combine 2 tablespoons of your oil of choice (olive, coconut, almond) with 3 tablespoons of finely ground coffee. Scoop, gently rub into skin and under eyes, rinse and pat dry. Store the remainder in an airtight jar.

Sugar scrub

Sugar (and honey) moisturizes and exfoliates, perfect for dry summer lips.

To make a simple sugar scrub, combine 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 tablespoon of the oil of your choice. Rub into your skin as well as your lips, and rinse.

Oatmeal sunburn soother

Whether you suffer from bug bites or sunburn, oatmeal soothes itchy and sunburned skin.

Try this homemade oatmeal mask to soothe sunburns: Take 1 tablespoon of oat flour (you can make this yourself by grinding whole oats in a processor), add 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of milk or yogurt. Apply to your face, and let it set for 20 minutes. Gently remove with a damp washcloth and rinse.

Try any or all of these easy to make, homemade masks to achieve the perfect summer glow.