Treat Acne, Dull Skin, & More with These DIY At-Home Facial Recipes
Photo: Wasanajai/Shutterstock
Healthy skin doesn’t always need to come at the expense of pricey luxury products. Whether you’re on a budget or looking to switch up your routine, giving yourself a facial at home is a rejuvenating experience that you will want to have every week.
Especially with the continued stay-at-home orders in L.A., carving out some “me time” has been essential for my own holistic well-being. That’s why I’m sharing some of my favorite at-home DIY facial recipes so that anyone can enjoy a self-care day. The best part? You can whip these organic face masks up using ingredients that you probably already have in your own kitchen.
In addition to nourishing you on the inside, the vitamins and minerals in raw and organic foods have incredible benefits when used on our skin. That’s why you’ll find them as ingredients in skincare and in many traditional skin care remedies.
Whether you’re looking for a great homemade moisturizing face mask or a DIY treatment for acne, Keep reading below for some of the best at-home face masks that are good enough to eat!
How to Prepare
1. Take off all jewelry, including earrings. Some of the chemicals in natural substances do not blend well with metals, so you are better safe than sorry.
2. Use a hairband to keep your hair from getting messy.
3. Wash your face with warm water and face wash or cleanser. If you’re wearing makeup, make sure you remove it all before applying a mask.
4. Use organic options whenever possible.
5. Apply your mask, sit back, and relax — and don’t forget to set a timer!
Brightening Banana & Honey Face Mask
Best for: Dull, dry skin
Ingredients:
1/2 organic banana, mashed
1 tbsp. organic local honey
2 tbsp. organic sour cream
Directions: Combine all ingredients. Apply to face and leave on for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with damp wash cloth.
Benefits: Bananas contain vitamin A, which helps to smooth rough skin and diminish dark spots and blemishes; vitamin B, which reduces dryness; vitamin E, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and potassium, which is great for hydration.
Hydrating Cucumber & Yogurt Face Mask
Best for: Dry or sunburned skin
Ingredients:
1/2 organic cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 tbsp. organic yogurt
Directions: Puree the cucumber and yogurt in a blender or food processer. Apply to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.
Benefits: The protein-rich yogurt contains lactic acid which helps to repair, strengthen, and hydrate your skin, while the cucumber helps to reduce puffiness and swelling.
Detoxifying Chocolate Truffle Mask
Best for: Oily or acne-prone skin
Ingredients:
1 tsp. organic cocoa powder
1 tsp. organic honey
1 tsp. organic yogurt
Directions: Mix all the ingredients together until it looks like pudding; note that cocoa powder may take a while to blend. Apply to your face for 10 minutes for normal skin or 20 minutes for oily/ acne-prone skin.
Benefits: The cocoa powder detoxifies and softens your skin and helps boost elasticity, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and blemishes. The honey has anti-bacterial properties and helps prevent and treat acne, while the yogurt helps to strengthen, nourish, and hydrate the skin.
Soothing & Sweet Strawberry Facial
Best for: Oily or blemished skin
Ingredients:
1/2 c. ripe organic strawberries
1/4 c. organic cornstarch
Directions: Mash together ingredients until it forms into a paste. Apply to face and leave on for 30 minutes. Avoid the eye area! Rinse off with cool water.
Benefits: Strawberries are naturally acidic and help to remove excess sebum. The juice also has lightening properties and can also help decrease the visibility of scars and blemishes. Cornstarch also helps soothe irritated skin and tighten pores.
Acne-Fighting Facial Mask
Best for: Dry, irritated, and itchy skin; oily skin
Ingredients:
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. instant oatmeal or rolled oats
Directions: Puree all ingredients in a blender or food processor. If the mixture seems too runny, add more oats. Apply to skin for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Benefits: Oatmeal is packed with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe dry and irritated skin. It also helps absorb oil. The lemon juice acts as an astringent and can help brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of blemishes.