This week, I bring you a skincare remedy.

My skin was shot when I went to Asia. All that traveling – dehydration from being on the plane for hours at a time – and being in different environment and not doing my daily routine.

Keep in mind, I take birth control to help control my acne (my hormones be out of wack all the time) but even then some times it wasn’t working.

My routine changed when I went to Asia – I strongly believe it is because I forgot my Clarsonic – I wasn’t exfoliating as I usually do.

My skincare routine is as follows:

1. Cleanse using an oil – TonyMoly Wonder Apricot Seed Deep Cleansing Oil
2. Double clean with a cleanser with my Clarisonic – Murad Clarifying Cleanser
3. DIY Rice Aloe Mask
4. Tone – Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner – Rose Petal
5. Face sheet mask (I don’t have a set one I use, they’re all good)
6. Serum – I switch between a couple of serums but I mainly use a Tea Tree one to bring down the redness and the bumps
7. Hyaluronic Acid – The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
8. Moisturizer AM – GLAMGLOW VOLCASMIC Matte Moisturizer
   Moisturizer PM – CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer

You may be asking, “What the heck is step 3?” WELL, ladies and gents! Let me tell you.

My mom, and my aunts, SWEAR by this mask. Here’s what my mom taught me on how to make the mask:

1. You take the water from washing your rice and you save it. They both said, rinse it once and dump out the water. Rinse it the second time – using less water than usual – swirl the water and rice around and slowly start pouring the water into a bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes and you’ll start seeing everything the water become grainy.
2. Then you take an aloe leaf and you remove the outside skin. Now you’re left with the jelly inside. Start scrapping out the jelly into the rice water.
3. Mix it around, you’ll notice that it’s very clumpy and jelly-like. DON’T WORRY. After a day in the fridge, it’ll become more liquidity.
4. Spread it on your face covering acne spots and let it sit there for 30 minutes! You’ll feel as it is drying that your face will feel tight. Not to worry because that is supposed to happen.
5.  After 30 minutes, simply rinse your face and carry on with the rest of your skincare routine.

It’s that simple!

What I noticed after one week was that my skin was a lot smoother and the moisturizers were helping with the drying effect of the mask. The rice water will help brighten your skin and the aloe will help heal your skin.

I’ll have to continue using this for the next few weeks and update y’all on what’s going on with my skin and if the mask is or is not helping.