Cooling Cucumber Avocado Ice Mask: a refreshing facial mask made with Palo Santo and Andean Mint Essential Oils.
Every once in a while a new beauty trend comes out that really makes me raise my eyebrows. Cryotherapy facials, the practice of applying intense cold to the skin, certainly captured my curiosity when I first started hearing about it. This unique treatment is touted to do everything from tighten pores to exfoliate dead cells and stimulate collagen.
While I have not tried a professional cryotherapy facial yet, reading about it got me thinking of more familiar beauty treatments. Placing cold spoons or chilled cucumbers under your eyes to reduce puffiness has been a popular trick for ages. When combined with ingredients that are well-known for their soothing benefits, perhaps a frozen facial could be pretty fabulous!
And so, the idea for our cooling cucumber avocado ice mask was born. It’s not quite cryotherapy, but our ice mask recipe is perfect for calming irritated skin, refreshing yourself after a hot day, and encouraging a more well-rested look. You can even use these ice masks as skin soothers after mild bug bites or sun burn.
About the Ingredients
Avocado
Fresh avocado is packed with healthy fats that your skin loves. The presence of chlorophyll and vitamin e make avocado a soothing and beneficial main ingredient for our ice mask.
Cucumber
Deeply hydrating and toning, fresh cucumber is a classic ingredient for spa skin care. In our ice mask recipe, cucumber helps calm and cool the skin while adding some body to its texture.
Aloe Vera
I prefer using fresh aloe vera flesh for my ice masks because it gives the mask a really wonderful and slightly gelatinous texture. If you can’t get your hands on an actual aloe leaf, you can use bottled aloe vera gel instead.
Palo Santo Essential Oil
A sacred treasure from the Peruvian rainforest, our sustainably harvested Palo Santo Essential Oil gives our ice mask recipe a mesmerizing earthy scent. This oil also helps to boost the soothing properties of our ice mask with its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Andean Mint Essential Oil
Andean Mint Essential Oil is an extra potent heirloom herb responsibly harvested from the mountains of Peru. The fresh, cool aroma and tingling chill of Andean Mint makes this ice mask recipe extra refreshing!
Cooling Cucumber Avocado Ice Mask
Makes about 12 15-ml masks
Ingredients
- 60 grams fresh avocado
- 60 grams fresh cucumber, chopped
- 60 grams fresh aloe vera gel (or 30 ml bottled)
- 20 drops Palo Santo Essential Oil
- 10 drops Andean Mint Essential Oil
Directions
- Combine avocado, cucumber, and aloe vera in small food processor and blend until smooth.
- Transfer to bowl and add essential oils. Stir well.
- Fill silicone or steel molds with about 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of mask in each cavity.
- Cover, and freeze until fully hardened (about 1 hour).
Usage & Packaging
- Fresh ice masks, like our cooling cucumber avocado ice mask, should be used right away or stored in the freezer for up to two weeks. Masks should be stored in airtight packaging to avoid freezer burn.
- To use, pop one serving of mask out of the mold and warm it between your hands for a moment. Make sure the surface becomes moist and slightly melted, then gently massage it onto your face. The mask will slowly melt into a thick liquid which you can continue to massage onto the skin like a cleanser. You can rinse the mask immediately, or allow it to sit on your skin for up to twenty minutes. Follow with toner and moisturizer as needed.
Shelf Life & Stability: Please note that the formulations featured here on The Natural Beauty Workshop have not been challenge tested for stability or shelf life, and may not be suitable for commercial use as-is. For more information on shelf life, stability, and working with preservatives, check out the following article from our Information Library.
Looking for more fresh facial inspiration? Check out our recipes for Manuka Honey & Banana Facial Mask and Five Fresh Facial Mask Recipes Using Natural Ingredients.
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