The beauty of making facial masks at home is that not only do they cost mere pennies, but they can also be made from everyday ingredients that have amazingly strong benefits for your skin. The facial masks that you will make contain thickly textured ingredients, like mashed avocados or bananas, as well as other fruits or vegetables.
These ingredients give the mask some heft, but they also provide a ton of skin-boosting nutrients.
Avocados have lots of vitamin E and are considered a great ingredient to include if you have dry skin. Carrots provide a good dose of beta-carotene, which has been shown to improve skin’s coloring. Both ingredients also work to help boost collagen production.
Facial masks are used occasionally (once or twice a week) to give the skin a deep cleaning and remove dirt, makeup, and toxins from the skin. This is why fruit like strawberries are often used, thanks to their astringent qualities. A vegetable like pumpkin will work as a gentle scrub that is not abrasive. However, it may cause some slight tingling. Masks with a clay base will also help to draw out impurities in the skin.
Some facial masks provide significant moisturizing for the skin with the use of light oils, such as almond, which absorb easily into the skin, softening and nourishing it. These oils are often paired with honey, which is a natural hydrator.
It is also ideal for oily skin types because it helps to retain moisture without having to worry about the mystery ingredients in store-bought products. Masks that include citrus fruits or apples may help to tone and lighten the skin if dark spots have occurred during the aging process.
To get the correct consistency in these masks, you may need to cook some of the ingredients and mash them. Be sure the ingredient has cooled completely before you apply it to your face. You can also store these masks for a few days in your refrigerator if you have leftovers. Do not use them after three or four days, as they will begin to spoil.
It is best to use a facial mask on clean skin so that the ingredients can be well absorbed. After you use and remove the mask, follow with a toner and moisturizer.
You can use a mask once or twice a week, but don’t use them on the same days that you use your exfoliating scrub as you may strip too many of the natural oils from your skin.
Occasional but regular use of both masks and scrubs will help to keep your pores free of dirt and dead skin cells and will reveal youthful skin that has a healthy glow to it. You may even start to notice that you have fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Don’t forget that these masks can also be applied to dry, or chapped, hands and feet, which may also need some extra attention, especially during the winter months.
Egg white face mask
Ingredients:
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Instructions:
Mix egg whites and yogurt well and apply to face. Rinse with warm water after 10 minutes.
Milk mask for dry skin
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon dry milk
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 drop essential oil of your choice
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well and apply to face for 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
Applesauce mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon wheat germ
- 1 tablespoon applesauce (unflavored)
Instructions: Blend ingredients together until they make a paste. Apply to freshly washed skin and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Avocado-carrot mask
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 mashed avocado
- 1 cooked and mashed carrot
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions: Combine all ingredients until well mixed. Spread the mixture on your face and neck and let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
Pumpkin mask
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 fresh papaya, mashed
Instructions:
Beat the egg until it is frothy, then add papaya and mix well. Mix in the pumpkin until well blended. Apply to cleansed skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Banana mask
Ingredients:
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon of your preferred oil (jojoba or grapeseed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon white clay
- 1 ripe mashed banana
Instructions:
Whisk the egg white, then add yogurt, oil, honey and clay. Mix until creamy. Add mashed banana and mix well. Massage into skin and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Kelp mask
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon powdered kelp
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions:
Mix yogurt and kelp until well blended, then mix in the honey. Apply to a clean face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing with a warm washcloth.
Rose-honey mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon almond oil
- 3 drops rose essential oil
- 1 drop vitamin E oil
Instructions: Mix all ingredients well and apply to clean face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes before removing it with a warm washcloth.
Yogurt-honey mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
Instructions: Mix honey and yogurt well. Apply right after cleansing your face. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Fruit and honey mask
Ingredients:
- 1 cup strawberries, mashed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 egg whites
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 2-3 drops of essential oil of your choice
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Apply a generous amount over face and neck and let set for 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
