Who doesn’t love a good facial mask? Having one applied while you relax and let the ingredients do their magic is the epitome of luxury and feeling pampered. Replicate that spa feeling at home for a fraction of the cost with these simple DIY facial mask recipes at home.
Watermelon Yogurt Facial Mask
Mix 1 teaspoon watermelon juice with 1 teaspoon plain Greek Yogurt.
The lactic acid and enzymes in the yogurt will help gently exfoliate and purify while the watermelon hydrates and heals. Apply the mask to your face and neck for 10 minutes before rinsing off.
(Source: The Beauty Bean)
Pineapple Melon Cleansing Mask
50 g Pineapple
50 g Muskmelon (any melon for that matter, except for watermelon will do fine)
100 ml Water
8 g Cosmetic corn starch*
* If you don’t have cosmetic corn starch (or just do not want to use it), add as much cornmeal, oatmeal or any binder of your choice, as needed to produce a paste.
Combine pineapple, melon, water and cosmetic starch/cornmeal/oatmeal in a blender. Apply formed paste to face and let set for about 10-15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Source: Arctida’s Creations)
Homemade Green Tea Face Mask
- Green tea
- A tablespoon of granulated sugar
- Half a tablespoon of lemon juice
Green tea is famously good for problem skin. It can help with your acne, but it’s also great at soothing sensitive skin of all kinds. Make a cup of green tea (with lots of tea. Twice as much loose tea as you’d normally use to drink, or two teabags if you use tea bags). Leave the tea bags in for an hour, and if the tea is still warm (unlikely) chill it in the fridge until it’s cool. Take it out, mix in the sugar and lemon juice, pat it onto your face and either use it as a facewash or (better) leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash off and moisturise.
(Source: Mookychick)
Banana Face Mask
Bananas carry lots of vitamins that are beneficial to your skin, and their natural acids help slough off dead skin cells to brighten your complexion.
- 1 banana
- 1 tsp. honey
Mash up the banana with the honey and apply the mixture to your cleansed face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse.
(Source: Foam Magazine)
Papaya Skin Mask
- 2 Tbs raw papaya, mashed finely
- 1/2 tsp fresh pineapple juice
- 1 tsp powdered green algae (optional)
Pumpkin Facial
Pumpkin offers over 100 beneficial ingredients for the skin, including retinol (Vitamin A), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), beta-carotene, a natural form of salicylic acid, and more.
- 2 tsp pumpkin puree (see below for instructions, or substitute with canned pumpkin)
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp milk
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon spice (Note: while this can be nice astringent for some, it can also create a mild allergic reaction in others. To be safe, conduct a skin patch test — if it burns, leave the cinnamon out of this recipe.)
Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply to a freshly cleansed face. Let dry for about 15-20 minutes and rinse off with water.
For the puree: Cut pumpkin and reserve just the flesh — seeds, stringy matter and skin discarded. Steam pumpkin for about 15 minutes, or until a fork goes in smoothly. Puree in a food processor or blender until smooth, but not watery.
(Source: iVillage)
Nutmeg Honey Cinnamon Facial Mask
Nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories, which can reduce swelling and redness in skin. They’re also great for soothing acne scars and preventing infection. In addition, the nutmeg and cinnamon also work to exfoliate your skin when you wash this mask off.
Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation.
(Source: College Fashion)
Blueberry Lemon Face Mask
- 4 tablespoons fresh blueberries
- 3 teaspoons powdered oats
- 1 teaspoonfinely ground almonds
- 2 teaspoons distilled water
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 drop lemon essential oil
Put everything except the essential oil into a small food processor and process until combined evenly.
Transfer to a plastic container and add the essential oil. Stir to mix. To use, apply to freshly cleaned skin using upward sweeping motions to spread an even paste over the skin”s surface. For a thick application, use all of it. Or you can save some to treat yourself later in the week (keep refrigerated).
(Source: Make Your Cosmetics)
Cucumber Sensitive Skin Mask
- 1 tablespoon brewer’s yeast
- 1 tablespoon finely powdered oats
- 1 cucumber
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Mix together the yeast and oats in a small bowl and set aside.
Peel the cucumber slice and place in a small food processor and process until liquid and no chunks remain. Add the yogurt and honey and process further to mix. Add the brewer’s yeast and oats to the cucumber/honey mixture and process to combine fully.
To use, apply to clean face and neck skin and leave on for anywhere from 15 minutes to 1/2 hour. Rinse well and follow with toner and moisturizer.
The shelf life of this product is necessarily limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and refrigerated between uses.
(Source: Make Your Cosmetics)
