Burning Mom

I've struggled with acne for the last decade- I admit it. I've also known and read about plenty of women who had clear skin until they became pregnant. Those hormones can make you break out like a kid in junior high. In fact, that pregnant "glow" is due to increased oil production.

Once you become a mom, extra time spent prepping in front of the mirror becomes a hassle more often than not. A few days ago, Evelyn took advantage of my cosmetic distraction by removing an old coffee filter from the garbage and scattering its contents like confetti.

So when I saw the recipe for a DIY face mask specifically for acne scars on Pinterest, I decided to give it a try. The recipe required four simple ingredients from my kitchen:

Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Honey
Lemon Juice

You only need about 1 teaspoon of each ingredient to have enough for a single application. Wash your face and apply the concoction. This might be a good time to mention that it's called "The Burning Mask." The same as it burns a cut on your finger, lemon juice has the potential to burn the sensitive skin on your face. The original directions instructions say to leave the mask on for half an hour if you can stand it, or at least 10 minutes.

When I first applied the mask, I thought, 'Psh, this doesn't hurt." Several minutes later, it hit me. Not as bad as I anticipated, but you can feel it. If you want to distract yourself from the sensation, surrender to the temptation to lick your face. It smells good; tastes awful.

When time is up, rinse your face and moisturize. Each of the mask's ingredients is supposed to have extremely beneficial properties. Immediately after rinsing, I noticed my skin was much softer and smoother. I can't say I woke up the next morning looking flawless, but I can see enough difference to encourage me to keep applying this mask once a week.