Natural DIY Facemasks With Things You Already Have at Home

July 5, 2021

We get why there’s sometimes resistance to committing to a skincare routine. The cost of skincare products can add up, and why should you have to choose between unhealthy skin and breaking the bank? We don’t think having great skin should be that hard, and nor do we think that it means you have to spend all of your savings.

In fact, you can make face masks from the comfort of your own home—and it’s as simple as putting together ingredients you already have in your fridge. Much of the food and the natural remedy products that you probably already have actually carry a number of benefits. With such an increase of interest in DIY projects, why not incorporate it into your skincare routine?

Before we get into the recipes, though, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to using natural ingredients.

First, make sure what you’re using isn’t expired! You never know how your skin is going to react to a product that’s no longer good. On that note, ensure that you do a patch test first, just in case you have an allergy to a certain ingredient. Third, certain ingredients shouldn’t be used alone and directly on your skin, like lemon and apple cider vinegar, which can irritate sensitive skin. Finally, make sure you use the mask on the day that you made it, since some ingredients deteriorate faster when it’s oxidized. Fresh ingredients are always the way to go.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are some all-natural face masks that you can make with items you likely already have at home.

Soothe Your Skin

Your skin is your largest organ, and it goes through a lot. Between the sun, allergies, and daily pollution, your skin needs some TLC to reduce potential irritation and redness. This recipe for a soothing face mask will both moisturize your skin and calm it, too.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon coconut oil
¼ ripe avocado
2 drops of lavender oil

Method:

Mix the honey, coconut oil, avocado, and lavender oil in a bowl, and apply to your face. Coconut oil and avocado provide moisture, honey provides antioxidants, and lavender oil helps to soothe redness.

Hydrate And Nourish Your Skin

As we know, hydrating and moisturizing are two different things. If your regular moisturizer is failing to quench dry skin (since all moisturizer does is help prevent moisture from escaping), then this hydrating face mask that features avocado and honey is the answer for you.

Humectants, if you recall, are naturally occurring substances that help pull moisture from the deep layers of the skin, and may help with the appearance of wrinkles and improve elasticity. Honey is a terrific one, and it can even increase healing of your skin and tissue regeneration.

Oats, a product that’s popular in drugstore skincare products, are also moisturizing and help to nourish, calm, and soothe your skin. Avocado, just like in the mask above, helps to leave your skin soft and supple.

Ingredients:

½ an avocado
1 tablespoon of honey
A handful of oats

Method:

Mix all ingredients together and gently apply to your face. Rinse with warm water.

Combat Hyperpigmentation

Acids can be intimidating to those who are new to skincare, but it’s great for a lot of things, like combating hyperpigmentation. This mask is a great alternative if you struggle with hyperpigmentation. Turmeric is a darling of the food world, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, but it’s also clinically proven to combat hyperpigmentation and reduce skin irritation.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of fresh turmeric/turmeric powder (juiced or pressed)
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
Water
1 tablespoon of honey or ½ a beaten avocado if you've used juiced turmeric

Method:

Mix turmeric, lemon, honey (or avocado), and water until it turns into a paste. Apply to areas affected by pigmentation (be sure to use gloves!) and leave on for 3 minutes. Rinse off.

Improve Uneven Skin Texture and Tone

Yogurt is packed with lactic acid, which, as you may know, is a popular item in the world of skincare. Lactic acid helps to lift rough skin cells that lay on the surface and allow the newer ones to surface. Honey and turmeric, we’ve discussed in length above, but when paired with yogurt, your skin will feel softer than ever.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of natural, plain yogurt
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder

Method:

Mix all three ingredients together and apply with a clean brush. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.

Fight Acne

Acne can be hard to get rid of, but this mask, featuring honey, turmeric, and sea salt, can help mitigate some of its trademark annoyances, like redness and irritation. Manuka honey is an incredible secret ingredient thanks to its healing and anti-bacterial properties. Turmeric will also help reduce redness, so if your acne is feeling particularly angry, try this acne-fighting DIY mask that targets infection, irritation, and excess sebum.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of manuka honey
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Method:

Mix manuka honey, turmeric powder, and sea salt together and apply with a clean brush. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.

Get Glowing Skin

This mask will help you achieve glowing skin and it’s great for those with sensitive skin, too! Aloe vera is filled with vitamins A, C, E, and B vitamins, and helps to soothe skin and hydrate. Papaya features exfoliating enzymes that help to dissolve dead skin cells. Cocoa isn’t only delicious, but it also brightens and increases blood circulation, plumping up your skin.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of cacao powder
¼ of a small papaya
Aloe vera gel

Method:

Combine and mix all three ingredients in a bowl, then brush onto skin. Leave on for 10 minutes and wipe off your face with a soft cloth.

Combat Oily Skin

Excess sebum can clog pores and ultimately yield acne. This mask helps hydrate, cool, and calm your skin, while also helping to regulate oil production. Your skin may overcompensate its dryness by producing extra oil. Since cucumber is mostly water and helps to hydrate your skin and also contains vitamin C, which will reduce breakouts.

The only other ingredient in this mask, avocado, is rich in oleic acid, which helps to reduce inflammation.

Ingredients:

½ of an avocado
¼ of a cucumber, blended

Method:

Mix ingredients in a bowl and brush onto skin. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse off.

Reduce the Look of Enlarged Pores

Pores, unfortunately, are genetic. The size of them is determined by your DNA and not what products you use. With that said, you can reduce the look of them. Egg whites and lemon juice have astringent properties, which help to tighten the skin. Honey balances out the egg whites and lemon juice by providing moisture.

Ingredients:

1 egg white
1 tablespoon of honey
A splash of lemon juice

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and spread over affected areas. Rinse off with warm water.

These DIY masks make maintaining a healthy skincare routine a lot easier to manage, and gives you the chance to save a few bucks. It can be a great way to reduce your food waste, too, helping you work through that giant bag of avocados you impulsively bought.

Do you make face masks at home? Which one of these DIY masks will you try first?