I had this crazy idea of creating a superfood mask using spirulina and/or chlorella. Instead of a mask that draws out impurities, I wanted to treat my skin with something that would infuse it with nourishing goodness. For the past several weeks, I've been enjoying the wonderful benefits of drinking green smoothies in the morning. Now I want to take it a up a notch and raise the level of benefits even higher.
I did some research online and learned that a spirulina & chlorella face mask could actually provide any benefits to the skin when applied topically . Spirulina, as a supplement can help speed up metabolism in the skin. The higher rate of skin metabolism allows for faster healing of acne and the scarring it leaves behind. I found this article which studies the effect of applying chlorella to the skin. According to the findings, a solutions with 1% chlorella increased collagen by as much as 333%. It also showed to improve the appearance of strech marks, increase elastin in the skin, improve the appearance of dark circles, and decrease pigmentation of the skin.
Knowing all this makes it a no-brainer for me. The potential benefits are too big to pass up. So I decided to whip up a little home made mask using these ingredients:
-Spirulina/Chlorella {superior nutrition for the skin}
-Manuka Honey {moisturizing}
-Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) {pH balance}
I chose to pair up the green super-algae with manuka honey because o f its anti bacterial, anti microbial properties which is great for acne prone skin. Plus whenever I use Mankua honey, my skin just seems to have a glow to it that I can't deny. By the way, Manuka honey is sourced from New Zealand and is harvested from bees who feast off the Manuka bush which creates a very stable antibacterial honey.
My mix came out a nice consistency and was a beautiful shade of the darkest green. Because of the honey the mask didn't fully dry onto my skin. I left the mask on for a couple of hours allowing it time to penetrate and work it's magic. I rinsed the mixture off my skin before heading to bed. When my hubby awoke this morning, he touched my face and said, "your skin is so soft." I liked it so much that I plan on doing it again tonight. Online, there are testimonies where people talk about the great results they experienced after applying a paste of chlorella/spirulina on stretch marks or acne scars. I'm going to experiment with applying small amounts as spot treatments using a paste of just powder and ACV.
My skin journey has come such a long way. Before, I was dealing with huge cystic breakouts and massive scarring as a side effect. I changed my diet, increased my water intake, tried a zillion products and, finally I come to a place where I consider my skin to be "normal." Breakouts are an occasional setback versus an everyday battle. I long for the day when the evidence of my troubled past (in the form of scars) are gone. There's already a tremendous improvement in my acne marks but I've come too far to stop now. Most of the scars that remain are deep and can be felt below the surface of my skin. I'll see if chlorella has the power to impact these deeper imperfections. If so, great! If not, don't worry, I already have a plan B....
