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I recently posted the natural remedies for acne that helped me finally achieve and maintain clear skin. One thing I mentioned was the benefit of probiotics on the skin, and a probiotic face mask is one of my favorite inexpensive ways to get them on the skin naturally.
Why Probiotics on the Skin?
As I mentioned in my acne remedies post, we are just starting to understand the system of living organisms that exists on our skin. Just as we have a gut microbiome, researchers are finding that we have similar but different colonies of bacteria on our skin, in our mouths and other places as well.
I’m excited for the emerging research about the skin biome and for skin products that will take into account individual probiotic needs, but in the meantime, this is a simple at-home recipe that has been around for ages! (I read one time that Cleopatra used to bathe in yogurt to stay youthful).
Food on the Face?
I love this face mask because it is cooling and refreshing and just feels great on the skin too. Yogurt naturally has probiotics and beneficial fats and this is a very gentle mask. I typically do a yogurt mask every couple of weeks and alternate with a deep cleansing mud mask.
The best thing about this mask is how easy it is to do. You can use plain organic yogurt or add a capsule of probiotics for an extra boost. I typically add a capsule of a probiotic/prebiotic for an extra boost.
Yogurt contains zinc and lactic acid (a natural hydroxyl acid) that are great for the skin, and the beneficial fats in yogurt help to nourish skin. I found that adding 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder was great when I was fighting acne and that adding 1 teaspoon of olive oil helped with dry skin.
How to Make a Yogurt Mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon plain organic yogurt (full fat preferred)
- 1 capsule of probiotics (optional)
- For Oily Skin: 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (optional)
- For Dry Skin: 1 tsp olive oil (optional)
Instructions:
- Mix yogurt and any other optional ingredients you are using.
- Gently apply to face in small circles.
- Leave on for 10-30 minutes. 10 minutes will be more moisturizing and 30 minutes will be more deep cleansing.
- Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
Ever put food on your face? How did it work?
Risks and Dangers of Essential Oils
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Do you use probiotic lotion? Have a recipe for that that you enjoy?
Can’t wait to try this one. Should it be used more often if experiencing a breakout.
we need to try this!! we have done yogurt on our face in the past but never as a mask
This sounds great! I have oily skin, and am interested in the turmeric additive— but will it turn my skin yellow???
I have never had a problem with it, and some people use it alone on their faces, but try a skin patch test on your inner arm first to make sure.
Not your face, but it will probably turn your washcloth yellow, if you use a cloth to scrub it off.
I don’t know if this is commonly known, but sunlight fades turmeric stains incredibly well!! When I make a curry or a soup with a lot of turmeric, the wooden spoon and especially my handheld blender are always bright yellow afterwards. It doesn’t wash off, but leave any turmeric-stained items on a sunny windowsill for a couple of hours and the transformation is amazing!
So if you get a yellow facecloth, try drying it in the sunshine 🙂
Would milk kefir in place of the yogurt provide the same benefits?
I make homemade Greek yogurt with Organic full fat milk. I will be using that for my mask. How often do you recommend doing this. I am 72 yr old with skin that is a bit dry. How necessary is adding the probiotic capsule Love your website.
Hi!
This is fascinating and something I’ve never even heard of before. Definitely excited to experiment and give this recipe a try… Thank you for all of your time, detailed research and ideas! You are helping people in a significant, accessible, healthy way and I am so grateful.
I’m a little nervous to put turmeric on my face… Have you done it? I’ve known for a while about turmeric’s amazing anti-inflammatory properties, etc, but won’t my face be stained yellow??? (Basing this fear off of what happens to my hands when I cook with it).
Thanks again for all of your help and info,
Savannah
I’ve done a turmeric/milk (so really high turmeric concentration) mask before – just use it at night, then wash your face; it might just be a bit yellow. Then wash your face again the next morning when you would normally wash your face and it should all be gone. And with the low turmeric concentration in this, I think you’d hardly notice it!
I have been making my own full fat yogurt for years, fermenting it for 24 hours……which not only digests all the lactose, but increases the lactic acid content for anyone who desires an alpha hydroxy acid product but doesn’t want to buy a facial crème with chemicals in it. Sometimes I will “drip” the yogurt to make it thicker, which helps it to stay on the face. I have added ascorbic acid powder, sometimes fruit to make a “facial smoothie”. I love the effect. Of course with lactic acid caution needs to be taken not to leave it on for too long. I eat it also, to get the benefits inside and out. Love it!
Can you use Greek yogurt?
How do you ferment?
Thank you for this info. I just finished my 3rd batch of raw milk yogurt. I plan on using this on my recently sebaceous glands due to hormone cream. Gracias, Amiga!
I am definitely trying this! Thanks for the time and energy you put into researching your content. I am continually amazed at the awesome stuff I find on this blog!
Me too! ?? I seem to find all my answers here! Am about to make lotion bars…… have my probiotic drinks brewing all the time now & homemade beeswax candles next week when my wicks arrive…… my kitchen is evolving fast. Thanks wellness mama legend
going to do this–sounds great–thank you!!