Now, we all know the benefits of a good face mask – it’s effective for many things: from treating pesky acne breakouts to soothing redness and inflammation, and also just as amazing to reduce stress on crappy days! And while we love face masks in all forms (sheet masks, clay masks, peel off masks), and are guilty of shelling out tons of money for our beauty fix, this time we’re looking closer home. The grandma-approved secret to healthy, glowing skin can also be found in your kitchen, no burning holes in your pocket required!
Delve into your fridge and pantry to make these easy DIY face masks, ideal for when you want to give yourself a spa day without leaving your humble abode. We’ve got easy tutorials made with ingredients you definitely have in your kitchen. These budget-friendly face masks are quick to make, and a great way to uplift your mood while replenishing your skin. And if you’ve been making excuses or promises to yourself that you’ll “start taking care of your skin,” what better time for some TLC than now, when we have the luxury of time and are confined to our homes?
Keep reading for the best face masks addressing every type of skin concern, and get ready for a beautiful at-home glow!
The Acne Fighting Face Mask
Honey and Turmeric Face Mask
Acne is a major cause of frustration for a lot of us, but this easy 2-ingredient recipe is the holy grail of DIY face masks for acne prone skin. Turmeric is not only a superfood, it’s also anti-inflammatory – which means its great for raw, angry, acne-prone skin. Turmeric decreases sebum production that causes acne and when used over time, it brightens discoloration and makes your skin tone even and glowy. Honey is a natural hydroscopic, meaning it can aid in drawing moisture, helping to hydrate and make skin feel supple and elastic. This face mask can also help prevent future breakouts.
You will need:
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon honey (Manuka Honey if available)
Method:
Mix it well and apply on your face. Leave for 10 – 15 minutes. Gently rinse off with water and pat dry. Note: turmeric might cause some light staining.
The Nourishing Face Mask
Aloe, Almond and Banana Face Mask
With the goodness of Aloe Vera gel and potassium rich bananas, this mask helps to hydrate dry and damaged skin cells. Bananas contain vitamin E to protect from free radicals, and vitamin A that moisturizes and evens skin tone. Almond oil works as an emollient that soothes chapped skin. Together this forms a great blend for treating dry, flaky skin.
You will need:
1 mashed banana
2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
3 teaspoons of almond oil
Method:
Mix thoroughly and let it apply on cleansed skin. Leave for 15 minutes, rinse off and gently pat with towel.
The Get Your Glow On Face Mask
Papaya, Milk and Honey Face Mask
Papaya contains Vitamin A and Papain enzyme, which can help remove dead skin cells and inactive proteins, thus rejuvenating skin. It’s great for those who suffer from hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven skin tone as it helps to brighten and attain glow. The anti-microbial properties of milk and honey cleanse as well as moisturize the skin. This face mask is good for all skin types as it’s quite gentle, and is especially wonderful for dry and combination skin types.
You will need:
½ cup ripe papaya (mashed)
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon honey
Method:
Mix the ingredients till thoroughly combined and smooth; leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
The Breakfast Face Mask
Yogurt, Oatmeal and Honey Face Mask
Now you can have your breakfast and apply some on your face too! Yogurt contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that dissolves dead skin cells. The oatmeal helps with gentle exfoliation and removal of excess oil, as well as prevents premature ageing and relieves sunburn. A dash of honey sweetens the deal by nourishing and hydrating the skin. This one is great for all skin types, but specifically oily/combination skin.
You will need:
1 teaspoon plain cooked oatmeal
1 teaspoon plain full-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
Method:
Fold the ingredients in a bowl and evenly spread it on face, leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently rub to exfoliate and rinse off with warm water.
The Detoxifying Green Tea Face Mask
Bentonite Clay, Green Tea and Lemon Face Mask
The perfect blend for treating oily skin, bentonite clay (formed from aged volcanic ash), literally has the power to suck out excess oil from the skin. It removes toxins and dirt from your pores, while green tea lowers the sebum levels and flattens puffy eyes. A burst of Vitamin C, lemon, helps to shrink pores, brighten skin and fade any dark spots and acne scars. This one is great for oily skin and clogged pores (blackheads).
You will need:
2 tablespoon bentonite clay (if available)
1 teaspoon of green tea (brewed)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Method:
Brew a bag of green tea and leave it to cool. Combine with the clay and lemon juice to achieve a medium, smooth paste-like consistency, but not too thick. It’s advisable to use a wooden spoon as metal may affect the potency of clay. Apply the mask on face and leave for around 15 minutes. Rinse off gently with lots of warm water. Remember to moisturize your skin afterwards as it needs to be rehydrated.
Alternative: If you’re unable to source bentonite clay, then fuller’s earth (multani mitthi) with a few drops of rose water also serves as a great alternative to treat oily skin.
The Avocado Dream Hydrating Face Mask
Avocado, Honey and Olive Oil Face Mask
We can never have enough of avocados! Not only healthy to eat, it works wonders even when lathered on the skin. With goodness of vitamin A and E, it moisturizes skin as well as restores natural collagen, giving the skin a much younger and fresher look. Also like honey, olive oil is rich in antioxidants, which prevents premature aging and leaves skin feeling supple and soft. All in all, don’t waste your overripe avocados when you just apply them on your face. This face mask is great when you have dull dry skin, and want to insert a bit of moisture and hydration instantly.
You will need:
¼ avocado (mashed)
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of olive oil
Method:
Mix well and apple on face for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently rinse with warm water and pat dry. Remember the mask can get a little messy so you might want to change into something you don’t mind getting a little mucky.
Other tips to keep in mind when masking at home:
- Make sure to cleanse face properly before applying any mask so that the ingredients seep in well and yield maximum benefits.
- Moisturize your skin after rinsing the mask.
- Don’t discard overripe fruits as our grandma’s secret reveals that they yield more benefits when applied on the skin.
- A patch test is advisable before applying the ingredients to check for any allergies.
- If any ingredient causes irritation or redness then discontinue use.
- Always apply mask avoiding the eye and lip areas.
- Don’t keep the mask on for longer than the prescribed time as it might do more harm than good to the skin (case in point: unless you’re mimicking Ross after his fateful tan, you don’t want turmeric to stain your face bright yellow!).
- All these face masks are simple to whip up and will no doubt leave you feeling great, but remember skincare is more than a surface level concern: while you’re applying things topically, also be conscious of your diet, water intake, exercise, and sleep – as all of these factors can affect the quality of your skin. If you have any persistent skin issues, it could be an underlying health or hormonal concern best treated by a dermatologist.
If you liked this post, you might also like Food for Skin: Natural Beauty Alternatives for Everyday Skincare.
Image Source: Hello Glow
