I love to use a mask on my skin as part of my regular routine. I find them a great way to give skin an intense boost of what it needs on a particular day, and I find all skins can benefit from one. Of course you can buy ready made ones (I’ve got another blog to write in this area for sure) but you can also make your own DIY face mask from ingredients you have at home in your kitchen cupboard. I did an online session with Beauty Kitchen last month discussing just this.
By mixing your own mask you can be sure it is really fresh, it stops product being wasted and you can tailor the mask to exactly what your skin needs that day. Our skins change all the time; weather, diet, sleep for example all can affect our skin – so it will need different things at different times.
Here are some ideas from our workshop last month.
DIY face mask for dry skin
Dry skin is lacking oil so a mask rich in healthy oils will help to replenish and feed it. We made a Hydrating Avocado Mask – you will need –
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 teaspoon of organic honey (or moisturising agave syrup for a vegan alternative
- 1/2 teaspoon natural oil (olive/avocado/hemp/sunflower etc)
Mash the avocado and honey together, then blend in oil to your desired consistency. Spread evenly onto a clean face for 15-20 mins.
The avocado is packed full of natural oils and fats to soften and nourish. The honey is a humectant which means it attracts water so will help with hydration, it is also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
You could also add in cucumber to help with hydration and to calm, soothe and de-puff.
DIY face mask for combination skin
Combination skin is typically oily down the t-zone and drier on the cheeks – it can be a combination of any type though. We made a Creamy Banana, Strawberry and Oatmeal Mask.
- 2 tablespoons of oats (blitz them up a bit if needed)
- 1/2 ripe banana
- 1-2 mashed strawberries
- 1 teaspoon of organic honey (agave for vegan alternative)
Oats are wonderfully anti-inflammatory and contain amino acids to help heal blemishes and repair damaged skin. The honey as above but also to relieve tired, inflamed skin. Bananas are packed full of vitamins as are strawberries – these also contain antioxidants to help boost and brighten skin.
Mix it all up and apply to a clean skin. The oats help it to double up as a gentle scrub too.
DIY face mask for oily skin
Oily skin has an excess of sebum so can be prone to congestion and blemishes, using a clay based mask can help with this. We made a Detoxifying Green Clay Mask, this is also great at the moment for skin concerns such as maskne. Clays can also be used on other skin types just tweak the ingredients to suit.
- 2 tablespoons of green clay (look in health food stores)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon water for oily skin or a natural oil for drier skins.
Green clay will help to draw out oils and toxins whilst re-mineralising the skin. I actually used pink clay for mine which is slightly gentler. Honey is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial so brilliant for blemishes, it will also help to draw moisture into the skin too. Oily skins still need hydration. I mixed hemp oil into mine to help with nourishment too.
Mix and apply where needed. Don’t let the mask dry – I know this can feel like this is when it is doing its work, but actually at this point it will be sucking moisture out. Keep it damp by spritzing with a toner or remove when it starts to dry.
You can multi-mask – I like to use the clay mask on my t-zone but then something else on my cheeks for example.
If you’re unsure of your what mask would be right for you, here is a post that might help.
After your mask follow with a lovely plant oil and face massage.
Do you have any favourite recipes? Let me know how you get on!
Look out for another session with Beauty Kitchen coming at the end of this month!
