The Magic of Barley for Skincare

The Magic of Barley for Skincare

Barley has very good skin whitening/lightening properties that will help fade freckles, brown skin spots and acne marks. Barley flour can be used in homemade beauty recipes and it works wonderfully well.

Barley has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat everything from water retention to impotence. In recent years, green barley grass powder has become increasing popular among those looking to control several health issues such as cancer tumors and diabetes.

In addition to its medicinal and curative qualities, the remarkable skin rejuvenating benefits of barley work beautifully to lighten skin blemishes while keeping the skin luxuriously smooth and baby soft.

In fact, many people in Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan believed that there are many skin and health benefits of drinking barley tea regularly during the summer months. Barley tea not only helps to boost hydration and cleanse the body of unwanted toxins quickly, but it also protect the skin against free radical exposure and reduce premature skin aging and symptoms of photo-aging as it contains a boatload of phyto-nutrients and antioxidants.

Adding a splash of milk to barley flour and lemon juice mixture only increases the efficacy because the lactic acid in milk acts as a natural exfoliant to gently slough off dead layers of old and dull skin to make way for fresher, newer skin cells. Hence, your face complexion will appear radiantly fresh, smooth and alive. You can also use sour milk or plain yogurt in place of milk.

Below are some homemade whitening barley face mask recipes. With regular use (1-2 times a week), dull and rough skin texture is dramatically refined, leaving your skin fairer, clearer and naturally glowing. Always do a patch test first and stop using immediately if your skin becomes irritated. Organic barley flour is available in most local health food stores; you can also find barley flour in the baking aisle of some supermarkets.


FOUR Homemade Recipes for Whitening Face Masks with Barley Flour

Homemade Whitening Barley Flour Face Mask Recipe

1. Combine 1 tablespoon barley powder and 1 tablespoon milk in a small bowl. Add 1½ tablespoons lemon juice (or lime juice) and mix well until you get a thick paste.

2. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and then apply barley-milk-lemon paste, carefully avoiding your eyes and lips. Lie down and relax. Rinse off completely with lukewarm water after 10 minutes or so.

DIY Skin Tightening Barley Powder Honey Facial

This barley-honey face mask is especially good if you've ace-prone skin, or oily skin, or large pores on your face. Egg whites help draw out excess oil and grease from the pores while temporarily tightening and firming the skin so large pores appear smaller. Honey is known for its powerful antibacterial and inflammatory properties. It helps control and prevents future pimple and acne breakouts.

1. In a small bowl, mix ½ tablespoon barley flour with ½ tablespoon honey. Whip 1 egg white until frothy and add to barley/honey mixture. Mix all ingredients together to form a smooth paste.

2. Generously spread the paste all over your clean face, but make sure not to apply it around the eye and mouth areas. Wait for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water. Finish off with a splash of icy cold water to close the pores.

Face Brightening Barley Papaya Face Mask Recipe

Papayas not only offer great taste, but are an excellent source of potent antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, Vitamin C and E, all of which are essential for promoting healthy skin. In addition, papaya also contains the enzyme papain that helps remove dead skin cells to reveal brighter and softer skin naturally without harmful chemical peels.

1. Mash 1 small piece of fresh papaya (seeds removed) with the back of a fork until smooth, or place in a food processor and blend on high speed for about 1 minute.

2. Add 2 tablespoons barley powder and 1 tablespoon raw honey, and mix until well combined. If you're using the blender, blend on high for an extra minute.

3. Apply barley-papaya mask evenly and liberally to your face, and leave on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.

Skin Lightening Barley Cranberry Body and Face Scrub Recipe

This natural homemade barley cranberry face scrub is great for all skin types and is highly recommended for people prone to blackheads, those with lackluster, dry skin, or prematurely aged skin. Cranberries provides a host of significant anti-aging benefits mainly due to its high concentrations of antioxidants, Vitamins B3, B5 and C. Cranberries help increase cell turnover, and protect skin from environmental damage such as cold winter weather.

1. Place ½ cup frozen cranberries, ¼ cup virgin coconut oil, ¼ cup sugar and 2-3 tablespoons (or more) barley flour in a food processor.

2. Process all ingredients for approximately 20 seconds.

3. Wet your face with water and apply barley scrub. Gently massage with your fingertips in circular motions for 30 seconds, focusing on areas where you've blackheads. Wash off thoroughly with water. Pat your face dry with a soft towel. Then apply your favorite toner and face cream to lock in moisture.