D.I.Y. Bliss Spa Youth as We Know It facial tested by skeptical college kid

05 February 2010

Amie Ninh

As someone who was raised to steer clear of superfluous spending, spa-going is undoubtedly absent from my R&R list. Days at the spa can cost hundreds of dollars, and I’m by no means fancy enough for that. So, when confronted with a different alternative—D.I.Y. home remedies—a few things cross my mind. First of all, it’s clearly cost-effective. With simple, inexpensive ingredients, you can make treatments at the fraction of a cost. Of course, this appeals to me.

However, I am rather skeptical of anything involving “do it yourself” and “at home.” The combination inevitably spells disaster to me. So, before beginning this little adventure, I was apprehensive. Maybe it was something about the ingredients for a facial. I mean, the thought of smearing yogurt on my face evoked memories of elementary-school food fights. The thought of mashing up pineapples and olive oil made me cringe. The thought of smelling like a fruit basket simply did not resonate well.

Nevertheless, I set my uneasiness aside and decided to give the recipe for Bliss Spa’s Youth as We Know It facial the benefit of the doubt.

The ingredients required were plastic bags, washcloths, plain yogurt, a lemon, olive oil, canned pineapple, banana, cucumber and moisturizer. I purchased these items at a grocery store and spent less than $10 for the items I didn’t already have.

For the first step of the facial, I cleansed my face with a fourth cup of yogurt, a bit of honey and the juice from half of a lemon. Though the solution was a bit stingy at first, surprisingly, I started to feel refreshed. The combination of the acid from the lemon and the consistency of the yogurt was unexpectedly pleasant.

In the next step, I created my own exfoliant with a cup of mashed pineapple mixed with a tablespoon of olive oil. This mixture looks gross, but upon applying it to my skin, I was again surprised. The pineapple and the olive oil together created a cooling sensation. Once it was wiped off, my skin felt rejuvenated.

The final concoction was my favorite. In a small bowl, I mixed a smashed banana with a tablespoon of olive oil to create a firming mask. To my astonishment, it dried like a store-bought mask would but felt lighter and cleaner. While the mask dried, I used cucumbers to give my eyes a much-needed lift.

After wiping off the mask and applying oil-free moisturizer (for those with ultra-sensitive skin), I was astounded at how satisfying the treatment was. For skeptics, with whom I can completely identify, I suggest giving the facial home treatment a try. For economically minded folk, like me, you will get a bang for your buck. Now I can say that it’s actually possible to add spa treatments to my regular indulgences while still staying true to my personality and budget.