From time to time, your skin needs some TLC. All of the repeated washing, drying and, let’s not forget, exfoliating leaves your tender exterior a bit worse for wear. A face mask is an easy and affordable way to renew and rejuvenate.
While there are lots of products commercially available, making your own face mask definitely has its benefits. Not only are homemade face masks more affordable than their store-bought counterparts, but they are also free of the unnatural additives that too frequently find their way into these mass-produced masks. When you next have some downtime, consider spending it with one of these natural and skin-soothing masks slathered on your face.
This mask is ideal for use on overly dry skin. Thanks to the simple yet effective combination of coconut oil and turmeric, this mask softens and moisturizes, making it a perfect choice for treating your winter wind-chapped cheeks or restoring your skin after you’ve healed from sunburn. While moisturizing, this mask also has an exfoliating property, helping to slough off some of the dead skin that’s preventing your natural beauty from truly shining through.
Ingredients:
1 tsp turmeric powder
½ tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
Mix turmeric powder and coconut oil in a small bowl to form a paste. Mix thoroughly so no chunks of turmeric remain. Spread on your face, avoiding contact with your eyes. Leave this mixture on your face for at least ten minutes to allow it to have the maximum effect. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. Once you’ve removed most of the mask, use your preferred gentle cleanser to clean the rest of the mask off your face. Dry your face with a towel. You may notice some yellow discoloration. Don’t worry about this; it will wash away during your next face wash. This natural mask is gentle enough to use nightly if you so choose.
Although some worry it will leave you smelling like a lightly dressed salad, vinegar has lots of applications as a skincare product. Strong and acidic, vinegar is predominantly used as a skin toner, tightening your skin with regular use. The use of this edible ingredient in this capacity dates back to ancient times and was purportedly a favorite of Helen of Troy.
Ingredients:
¼ c cider vinegar
¼ c water
Directions:
This face mask is about as simple as they come. Combine your cider vinegar and water, mixing well. Apply the resulting liquid to your face, using either your hands or, if you prefer, cotton balls. Allow the solution to dry. You do not need to wash this mixture off, as it won’t prove skin irritating. While you can use this remedy morning or night, it’s generally best to do this in the evening so you wash away any of the remaining mixture when you wash your face the next morning.
Oatmeal is more than just a tasty and nutritious breakfast option. This face mask offers lots of benefits, the most noticeable of which is exfoliation. Thanks to oatmeal’s grainy texture, this mixture is an effective way to scrub away the dead skin that just won’t give up its grip on your face. While this mask has more ingredients than some of the others, everything in it is typically found around the house, making it an easy one to whip up without a trip to the grocery store.
Ingredients:
½ c hot water (not boiling)
1/3 c oatmeal
2 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp honey
1 small egg white
Directions:
Pretend you’re preparing breakfast – combine the water and oatmeal and allow it to steep for two to three minutes. After the oatmeal has softened, add in the yogurt, honey and egg whites. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. After you’re satisfied with the mixture, slather onto your face, spreading until you produce a thin layer. Let the mask sit on your skin for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Place a strainer in your sink to catch the large particles, as you rinse this mask. Using a washcloth, carefully rinse away the mask over the prepared sink. If you feel it necessary, you can use a gentle cleanser to remove the last of the mask.
If your pores are larger than you’d like, turn to tasty and nutritious yogurt to help remedy the situation. This one-ingredient mask is about as simple as they come, making it a great spontaneous skin treatment. Thanks to the soothing properties of yogurt, it also feels sublime, ensuring that you enjoy the process from start to finish.
Ingredients:
1/8 c plain yogurt
Directions:
You’ve probably already figured this out, but all you need to do is spread this yogurt on your face. After you’ve covered your face, allow it to sit for 20 minutes. While it may feel jarring, spreading chilled yogurt over your face, it’s best to do this while the yogurt is still cold from the fridge, as your pores respond to this sudden change in temperature by clamping shut, producing the results you were seeking from this simple home treatment.
Do you have combination skin? If so, an egg face mask is the remedy you seek. Using the two components in one egg – the yolk and the white – you can effectively treat both dry and oily skin. Thanks to its dual-duty, this face mask is the perfect option for the person who knows exactly where his or her problem spots lie and wants to treat them both at the same time.
Ingredients:
1-2 eggs
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
1 tsp honey (optional)
Directions:
To treat oily skin, whip up the white of one egg. Combine this frothy white with lemon juice and/or honey if you would like, or use it alone if you would prefer not to add to it. If your skin is normal, simply whip the entire egg – yolk and white – until you have combined them thoroughly – just like you would if you were making scrambled eggs. Use one or both of these preparations, dep
ending on your skin. If you have generally normal skin with patches of oiliness, you can use both preparations to spot-treat and soothe. Whichever option you select, spread the mixture over your skin, and allow it to stay on your skin for 30 minutes. After this time has passed, rinse the mixture off.
Taking the time necessary to treat your skin well is critical. Correcting skin damage once you’ve sustained it is decidedly more difficult than preventing it in the first place. Instead of ignoring this only-skin-you’ll-ever-have, treat it tenderly. Add natural, homemade face masks to your regular skincare regimen. They’re undeniably easy and affordable, and your skin will almost certainly appreciate the extra effort.
