I’m sure by now you have caught up on all the series you wanted to watch, had numerous movie marathons, reorganized your surroundings, spring cleaned whatever was possible to clean and devoured all your lockdown snacks. The question is, have you made your own DIY face masks yet? Well, there’s no time like the present!
Despite popular belief, face masks do actually play an important role in your skincare regime. There are numerous mask ingredients for various skin conditions and concerns, the sky is the limit. You would actually be pleasantly surprised at the amount of ingredients you have at home to easily make your own weekly face masks. And the best part, it’s all-natural!
What types of masks are there?
Setting mask – With this mask type you add any type of clay ingredient with a liquid. This combination is then mixed into a paste and placed onto the skin to set. The paste then dries causing the mask to shrink, leaving the skin feeling fresh and toned. One amazing quality of this type of mask it that they absorb both water and oil. There is definitely a trick in finding the perfect paste consistency, but that will just take practise. An example would be Kaolin Clay.
Peel-off mask – This type of mask can be either gel, latex, plastic or paraffin-based. These masks actually insulate the skin which causes an increase in temperature. This, in turn, will help to stimulate all chemical and biological processes of the skin. Because the skin is covered with this type of mask, perspiration cannot escape, therefore the moisture created is forced into the top layer of the skin (stratum corneum). This temporary hydration is what gives you that glow effect once you remove your mask.
Non-setting mask – So this is where we are going to get creative, this is the perfect mask type for DIY. These masks have nutritional, regenerating, refining, rejuvenating and hydrating benefits. The most well-known ingredients to use are fruit, vegetables, raw plants, creams, emulsions and spices.
When should I not apply a face mask?
I wouldn’t recommend applying a face mask to open cuts or abrasions, skin allergies, reactive skin, severe sensitivity or sunburn.
Now for the fun part, what mask should I make for my skin?
Breakout blaster!
Half a tsp coconut oil
Half a tsp apple cider vinegar
Half a tsp raw honey
Half a tsp cinnamon
Half a tsp turmeric
Half a tsp lemon juice
Half a tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tbs ground oats/ normal oats
Half a tsp paprika
This is a phenomenal combination of ingredients as it focuses on reducing the inflammation of breakouts, reduces the appearance of blemishes on the skin from breakouts, helps to remove superficial dead skin cells, it’s antibacterial, it’s antifungal, it’s great for wound healing, its moisturizing, it contains antioxidants and promotes clearer skin.
Mix all the ingredients together and pop your mixing bowl into the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir and let stand for 1 hour. Then apply to your skin and leave to set on the skin for 15 minutes. Just note that turmeric is known to stain so just watch out your clothes, your mask brush etc. Once you’ve removed your mask with warm water, just do a quick cleanse with your cleanser to help remove the excess mask as well as the yellow tint on your skin from the turmeric. I do this mask at night before bed so that by the next morning the yellow hue has subsided and your skin is back to normal after your morning cleanse.
Honestly, this mask is magical. My boyfriend and I tested this out to get two different perspectives and wow we were impressed. On applying the mask we both felt a slight tingling sensation but also an instant soothing effect. The smell is off the charts with all the aromas from the ingredients coming together. Once we removed the mask both of our faces were glowing and felt so smooth and soft. Our cheeks were a little bit flushed, but that is to be expected from the acidity of the lemon and the effects of the bicarbonate of soda. The redness subsided after about an hour and we went to bed without any pm product application in order to see the full effect of the mask. The next morning, all the breakouts we had on our skin had reduced in redness as well as dried out. Our skin felt firm, soft and glowy. This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Get your glow back!
Half a tsp lemon
Half a tsp honey
Half a tsp Turmeric
Half a tsp green tea
Half a tsp coconut oil
1 tbs ground oats/ normal oats
Half a banana
Half a tsp paprika
Half a tsp plain yoghurt
You glow girl! This blend of ingredients will turn the light back on under your skin. This mask is packed with antioxidants, exfoliating benefits, helps reduce imperfections, provides antiaging benefits, heals damaged skin, regenerates cells, anti-inflammatory, moisturising and antiseptic. Mix all the ingredients together and apply to your skin and leave to set on the skin for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water. Once you’ve removed your mask with warm water, just do a quick cleanse with your cleanser to help remove the excess mask as well as the yellow tint on your skin from the turmeric. I do this mask at night before bed so that by the next morning the yellow hue has subsided and your skin is back to normal after your morning cleanse.
This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Line refining!
Half a banana
Half a tsp green tea
Half a tsp olive oil
Half a tsp grapeseed oil
1 quarter of an Avocado
1 tbsp ground oats
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Half a tsp turmeric
Half a tsp paprika
1 tbsp plain yoghurt
1 egg
This mask is packed with an antiageing punch. Mix all the ingredients together and apply to your skin and then leave to set on the skin for 15 minutes. Once you’ve removed your mask with warm water, just do a quick cleanse with your cleanser to help remove the excess mask as well as the yellow tint on your skin from the turmeric. I do this mask at night before bed so that by the next morning the yellow hue has subsided and your skin is back to normal after your morning cleanse. This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Dry skin, buh bye!
Half a tsp coconut oil
Half a tsp olive oil
Half an Avocado
1 tbsp oat milk/milk
Half a tsp paprika
Half a tsp raw honey
Half a tsp grapeseed oil
1 tbsp plain yoghurt
This will put hydration back into the skin, help remove the dead skin cells off the skin, regenerate cells and treat dryness. Mix all the ingredients together and apply to your skin and then leave to set on the skin for 15 minutes. This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Sensitive sally!
Half a tsp coconut oil
Half a tsp honey
1 tbsp oats normal or ground
Half a tsp parsley
1 tbsp mashed cucumber
Soothe away sensitivity with this mask. It’s super anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, reduces redness and hydrates. This is also great for eczema and psoriasis. Apply to the skin and let it set on the skin for 15 minutes. This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Pigmentation station
1 tsp turmeric
2bsp plain yoghurt
1tsp olive oil
This mask will help to improve the appearance of pigmentation. Just note that turmeric is known to stain so just watch out your clothes, your mask brush etc. Once you’ve removed your mask with warm water, just do a quick cleanse with your cleanser to help remove the excess mask as well as the yellow tint on your skin from the turmeric. I do this mask at night before bed so that by the next morning the yellow hue has subsided and your skin is back to normal after your morning cleanse. This recipe yields about two mask applications, if you have leftovers, keep your mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
