Face masks with kelp: contraindications, recipes and reviews

Laminaria is called sea kale - brown seaweed, which we add to seafood salads and eat canned. Marine plants are rich in nutrients, therefore, are actively used in cosmetology. Such funds are suitable for sensitive epidermis due to the softness of the effect.

Rules for the use of masks from kelp

Thallus kelp must be eaten, and not only made from it algae masks for face and hair. Deficient iodine, selenium, molybdenum, cobalt are in its composition in easily digestible forms. The most famous among them is iodine. Medicine speaks about its chronic deficiency in the body of every person most often, because it leads to pathologies of the thyroid gland. And more recently, seaweed has “distinguished itself” by its antitumor effect, since deficiency of omega-3 polyunsaturated acids increases the risk of cancer.

Indications

Initially, the ability of kelp to beneficially affect subcutaneous fat was discovered on the example of cellulite, which absorbed under the influence of wraps with chopped seaweed. After that, medicine started talking about its benefits for the face. Use algae products in the following cases.

• Dryness, irritation and peeling. Perhaps you have not a high sensitivity of the skin, but a deficiency of the components involved in the restoration of its upper layer. There are quite a lot of them, but selenium, B vitamins, including the relatively rare B1, B5 and vitamin PP (niacin, a nicotinic acid) We consume selenium in an assimilable form even less often than iodine, since it is easily destroyed by temperature during cooking. And the daily requirement of the body for nicotine in general can be covered only by smoking, which is undesirable, or eating about 150 g of baker's yeast, which is fraught with digestive problems.
• Enlarged pores. The skin lacks silicon, molybdenum and other trace elements, as well as vitamin E and Omega-3. Polyunsaturated acids are present in sufficient quantities only in fish oil and seaweed. Vitamin E is found in excess in all vegetable oils from sunflower toolive and corn. Therefore, kelp for the face also helps with wrinkles.
• Wrinkles. Many in reviews of kelp for facial rejuvenation write that such masks can significantly smooth out the "crow's feet" in the outer corners and reduce the "bags" under the eyes. But remember that puffiness under the lower eyelid is not only a cosmetic problem, but also a consequence of kidney failure. Therefore, it is wiser to contact a nephrologist.
• Freckles and age spots. Laminaria is rich in zinc - the main component of a whitening face cream. Vitamins E, C and PP have a pronounced ability to even out skin color. Iodine also has this property, which improves capillary circulation.
• Oily skin and acne. All these manifestations well stop iodine, magnesium and sulfur.And zinc and vitamin C help whiten oily and / or problem skin, eliminate its shine.
• Old scars. They are smoothed out due to saturation of the skin with selenium, other microelements and vitamins. According to reviews, a facial mask from kelp allows you to prevent or slow down the growth of keloid scars.

Contraindications

Basically, doctors' concerns about face masks with kelp are associated with a high concentration of iodine in it, but not only. The population of areas where tap water is “hard” (saturated with salts) often does not even suspect that they have a hidden surplus on trace elements that the rest of humanity lacks. Therefore, such masks are contraindicated in the following cases.

• Extensive inflammatory processes on the face. Laminaria does not have antibiotic properties. But it improves blood circulation at the site of application, and this threatens the accelerated spread of infection.
• Thyroid disease. Seaweed is strictly contraindicated in hyperthyroidism. In this case, it is better to consult an endocrinologist first.
• Allergy to iodine and foods rich in it. This type of allergy is not too common. But thyroid pathologies are often found - thyroiditis of various etiologies. Initially, they proceed in a latent form, giving only allergy-like reactions - including foods rich in iodine and vitamins.
• Skin rash. Here you need to find out and treat the problem, not its consequence. Sea kale does not alleviate such conditions, and you just waste your time.
• Rosacea This hereditary and age-related skin disease is quite widespread. It is manifested by the formation and growth of the vascular network on the skin of the face, mainly on the cheekbones. Algae improve blood circulation, which means they will make the net even more noticeable.
• Pregnancy and lactation. Vitamins and minerals that enter the body of the mother after applying the mask will be in the circulatory system of the fetus or breast milk, although not all of them are useful for the child as well as for his mother. Therefore, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, care must be taken when choosing not only food, but also cosmetic procedures.

Recipes of popular homemade masks

It is very simple to prepare a face mask from kelp algae at home, but there are difficulties with its use. Sea kale has slippery leaves, so the compositions are best applied in a prone position. It does not hurt to use some kind of thickener.

Choose the ingredients for the masks according to the needs and type of your skin. Do not forget that seaweed gives a long-lasting cosmetic effect. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it more than once a week. Consider a few recipes on how to make a face mask from kelp.

Clay based

One of these thickeners, preventing slippery seaweed from crumbling immediately after application, is cosmetic clay. It will be white, blue or black - in this case it does not matter, choose to your taste. Just do not combine different types in one mask.

Ingredients:

• dried seaweed - 1 tsp;
• blue or white cosmetic clay - 1 tsp;
• boiled water, warm - 1 tsp

Cooking

1. Soak dry kelp in warm (not hot!) Water, leave it for 1.5-2 hours to make it swell.
2. Remove it with a slotted spoon, so that the excess glass water itself, fold, without squeezing, into a dry bowl.
3. Add the prepared liquid and clay to the kelp, mix until smooth.
4. Apply to face in a prone position, leave for 15 minutes.
5. Wash off the mask with warm water, without using detergents.

For problematic skin, clay can be replaced with Dead Sea mud, especially with the addition of sulfur. On this basis, make a mask from a mixture of pre-soaked, swollen kelp and the same amount of crushed pulp of fresh aloe leaf.

Honey oil composition

According to reviews, a face mask made from seaweed on a honey-oil basis is effective. It acts very softly even on sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

• dried seaweed - 1 tsp;
• thick, natural flower honey - 1 tsp;
• olive or linseed oil - 3 drops.

Cooking

1. Warm the honey a little, add dried kelp to it, mix everything thoroughly.
2. Add oil, mix again until smooth.
3. Apply the composition on the face, leave for 10 minutes.
4. Wash off the mask with warm water, without using detergents.

Give preference to thick, natural floral honey - with it your treat for the skin will not spread. In this recipe, oils are sources of polyunsaturated acids and vitamin E. Sometimes they are replaced with one drop of nicotinic acid, which can be bought at a pharmacy. Such a local application is much more beneficial than smoking.

Gelatin

Gelatin is an excellent natural thickener, a source of collagen - a protein necessary for the skin, which is almost never found in other animal products. But you need to remember that in a cold and frozen state it is impossible to add anything to it. And if the gelatin is hot, kelp will lose about a third of its beneficial properties. Therefore, seaweed should be added only when it cools, but has not yet had time to freeze.

Ingredients:

• dried seaweed - 1 tsp;
• edible gelatin, without dyes and flavorings - 1 tsp;
• warm boiled water, fruit or vegetable juice, decoction of herbs - 3 tbsp;
• warm boiled water - enough to soak kelp.

Cooking

1. Pour dried seaweed with warm water, set to swell for 1.5-2 hours.
2. Pour gelatin into a saucepan and pour warm fruit or vegetable fresh, milk or other selected base, set to swell.
3. Slowly heat it in a water bath.
4. As liquefied, add seaweed to it, removing it with a slotted spoon.
5. When all kelp has been added, remove the mixture from the water bath, mix and apply on face until it solidifies.
6. Wait, avoiding facial movements, until the mask hardens.
7. Wash off the mask with warm water, without the use of cleansers.

Reviews about masks based on seaweed

• Christina (22 years old, Eagle): “As a teenager, I learned that I have sensitive skin, and not all cosmetics from the store are suitable for me. Mom advised using a mask with seaweed to moisturize and nourish the skin. After a month of its use, once a week, redness occurred due to cream from the store, which I had used before, although it was considered hypoallergenic. Now I regularly make masks with kelp. ”
• Elena (36 years old, Vladivostok): “I have oily skin, so by the age of 30, expanded pores and fatty nodules appeared on my face, especially on my cheekbones. Until then, I used aloe vera masks, but it is not very effective in combating malfunctioning of the sebaceous glands. A friend told me about masks from seaweed. I heard somewhere about anti-cellulite wraps from it, and decided to take a chance. After three applications within two weeks, the wen became less, more than half of the enlarged pores disappeared, small wrinkles around the eyes smoothed out. I really liked the result, I continue treatment. ”
• Irina (51 years old, Krivoy Rog): “The most unpleasant consequence menopause for me was the appearance of age spots and skin fading. Foundation and powder look worse on makeup on a fading face, and I was afraid to switch to hormonal cosmetics. I learned at one women's forum about masks with kelp.The skin color improved after the first application, and in general I regularly use them for more than six months. During this time, my wrinkles were noticeably smoothed out, the oval of my face tightened, a healthy glow returned on my cheeks. Seaweed is slippery, so I prefer clay and gelatin masks. ”

Therefore, before starting to make any wraps or face masks from fresh or dried kelp algae, read the reviews about them, as well as a list of contraindications.

It should be remembered that some of the deficits or surpluses in the body are asymptomatic. Therefore, in order not to suddenly encounter an allergic reaction, try to pre-check your next "masterpiece of home cosmetology" for a possible allergy. To do this, apply a small amount of the prepared mask to some skin area that is hardly noticeable under the clothes and wait a couple of hours. Only then can a face mask with kelp be used as intended