Recipes My Grandmother Gave Me

I’ve been thinking about my grandmother a lot. She taught me so much. I’ve never seen a more positive attitude in my life.

Gogo, as I called her – her real name was Josephine – lived to be 96 years old, and to the day she died she was as beautiful as she ever was, with the most gorgeous skin. Gogo was the person who taught me about skincare. Back when we lived in Texas we would make skincare potions in her kitchen. Here are some masks that we used to make:

For DRY SKIN

Avocado Mask: Mash an Avocado and apply to clean skin. The unsaturated fatty acids will soften your skin and stimulate your skin’s natural oil production. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

Banana Mask: Mash an overripe Banana and apply to clean skin. Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin A, which are great for dry skin. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

For OILY SKIN

Strawberry Mask: Mix in a blender or stir with a fork: ½ cup of fresh Strawberries, 1 Egg White, and 2 teaspoons of Honey. Strawberries are rich in Salicylic Acid which great for acne. The honey is very hydrating while being antibacterial. Leave on face and neck for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Cucumber Mask: Mix with a blender or fork ½ cup Plain, Organic Yogurt and ½ cup grated Cucumbers. Cucumbers are mildly astringent, calm redness, and reduce puffiness. Yogurt is full of protein, calcium and vitamins, and softens your skin amazingly. Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse of with cool water.

For NORMAL SKIN:

Oatmeal Mask: Mix all ingredients into a smooth paste: ½ cup cooked Oatmeal, 1 Egg, 1 tablespoon Almond Oil. Oatmeal is rich magnesium, protein, iron, and silicon. It is super softening and very gentle. Eggs are full of protein, and Almond Oil is a very light, penetrating oil, full of antioxidants. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Carrot Mask: Mix ¼ cup grated Carrot with 1½ teaspoons Organic Mayonnaise. Carrots are exfoliating, hydrating and full of pro-vitamin A and beta-carotene, while Mayonnaise has oil (hydrating), eggs (full of protein and lecithin), and Vinegar, which balances your skin’s pH. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Gogo is with me everyday. I remember her smile and her laugh, which reminded me of bells. She met the challenges in her life head-on. When she was 29 she contracted polio, while pregnant, and was hospitalized in an iron lung for a whole year. She learned to walk with only the use of a cane when they told her it was impossible. When she was 40 she was widowed. To make a living, she chaperoned groups of girls on trips to Europe. In the ‘70s she moved down to Mexico from Texas. She loved it there. Back then it was rather primitive compared to the United States. It was a long trip to visit her; a three-hour drive from Mexico City on roads frequented by bandits. She had no problem driving herself around. (I would pity any banditos who tried to mess with her). She was a lovable maverick. I miss her terribly.