Self-care is all about being independent, and one practice you can try this year is DIY skin care. You can make your own skincare staples, such as your face masks. You can customize them to suit your skin type and include only ingredients or products that work for you—ultimately, you do you.
How do you make a homemade face mask?
For starters, you will need a bowl—a small one for single-use masks and one with a large diameter for sheet masks. You’ll need a tool to mix your mask (like a mixer, blender, or simply a spoon or fork) and an applicator, such as a synthetic cosmetic brush (which are preferred for liquids and cream products over natural brushes).
If you’re planning to make a big batch, make sure you have clean, sealable, airtight containers. Glass and lead-free plastic jars or pots would work. You'll be needing space in your fridge, too, to chill your mask and make it more soothing upon application. You can also use your refrigerator to store excess face masks to be used within the week or your freezer if you plan to keep the mask longer.
What are the best homemade face masks?
There are a handful of different types of face masks you can do at home. You can try wash-off face masks, which you put on, leave on for around 20 minutes, and rinse off. They can be created with mashed fruits mixed with honey, milk, coconut oil, olive oil, or yogurt. They can also be made with bentonite clay mixed with apple cider vinegar or water if your skin is sensitive to ACV.
You can make peel-off face masks by mixing activated charcoal with gelatin. Instead of washing it off like clay masks, a film will form as it dries, and you'll peel it off your face.
You can also try the simpler and low-maintenance leave-on masks, which you apply and let your skin absorb. This could be made just one or two ingredients. For example, you can use honey alone on your face to soothe and heal breakouts while nourishing the skin.
DIY exfoliating face masks can be made by mixing instant oatmeal with honey and milk, which you can use like a facial scrub.
Of course, we can’t forget sheet masks, which are staples in the trendy Korean skincare routines. You can make your own sheet masks by buying the cloth in Korean or Japanese novelty item stores (like MINISO or Daiso) or cotton pads. Soak them in your favorite serums and essences to create your very own sheet mask.
Is making my own face mask safer for my skin?
A word of caution: It would be better to consult your dermatologist to find out the best ingredients that suit your skin. You’d be wise to do a skin test before applying the homemade face mask, too. This way, you’ll know right away if your skin will react to the ingredients. Always use clean or sterilized materials, too. Lastly, make sure not to use mixtures that seem spoiled already. It’s best to prepare these face masks right before applying them, or store them securely to avoid contamination in your fridge or freezer.
How do you make a face mask for glowing skin?
To bring out your natural glow, you can make a wash-off face mask from natural ingredients like fruits. This can help exfoliate your skin, moisturize it, and feed it with antioxidants that will help manage dull and dry skin.
What you need:
- Around five to eight pieces of fresh strawberries (can’t use frozen or canned kinds for this, sorry!)
- A teaspoon of honey
- A bowl or airtight container, and
- Either a mixer or blender
Directions:
- Combine the washed strawberries and honey in a mixer or blender.
- Place the concoction in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate before using for a more soothing effect on your face. Store it in the fridge for up to one week if you don’t intend to use the face mask right away.
How to use:
Place all over your face using your hands and leave it on for up to 20 minutes. Rinse off the face mask with lukewarm water, and wash with cold water after. Use it two or three times a week to maintain your ~*glow-up*~.
How do you make a face mask for sensitive skin?
If you have sensitive skin, you have to be extra picky when it comes to choosing what you use. Steer clear of lemon juice, baking soda, and other harsh ingredients. Consider making a face pack similar to the glow-up mask mentioned above, but replace the strawberries with one or two bananas, which nourish virtually all skin types. Another mask you can try making at home is a soothing aloe and cucumber wash-off mask.
What you need:
- A tablespoon of aloe vera gel
- Half a cucumber
- Half a cup of yogurt (Make a snack of the remaining halves of cucumber and yogurt!)
- A bowl or airtight container
- Either a mixer, a blender, or a fork, and
- A cosmetic brush
Directions:
- Mash the cucumber with a fork for a lumpy texture, or use a mixer or blender for a finer paste.
- Combine the aloe and yogurt with the cucumber paste, and mix well.
- Place the aloe and cucumber mask in an airtight tub, and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before using.
How to use:
Apply the mask onto your face with a cosmetic brush, and leave it on for 15 minutes (or until the mask dries out). Wash it off with warm water after. Use the face mask a couple of times a week or as needed.
How do you make a face mask for brighter skin?
To naturally brighten your complexion, you can turn to an ingredient that you can easily buy in markets or grocery stores: papaya. The fruit has powerful enzymes that give you smoother, clearer skin. It’s perfect for almost all skin types, but if you have sensitive skin, do a test on a small patch of your skin first to make sure your skin won’t get irritated.
What you need:
- A cup of ripe papaya cubes
- Half a cup of yogurt or two tablespoons of honey
- A bowl or airtight container
- Either a mixer, a blender, or a fork, and
- A cosmetic brush
Directions:
- Mash the papaya with a fork for a lumpy texture. Alternatively, use a mixer or blender for a finer paste.
- Mix it with yogurt or honey in a bowl. Store leftover in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator to preserve it for the next day.
How to use:
Brush on a generous amount on your face. Leave on the face pack for three to 20 minutes (keep it on shorter or longer, depending on how sensitive your skin is). Rinse it off with warm water. Repeat this two to three times a week and use it together with a brightening toner and moisturizer for best results.
How do you make a face mask for dry skin?
For parched skin, use deeply hydrating ingredients like coconut oil. Take your cue from the Duchess of Sussex on this one. In an interview with Refinery 29, Meghan Markle’s go-to facialist recommends a simple mixture to quench your skin’s thirst.
What you need:
- Two tablespoons of coconut oil
- Two teaspoons of turmeric
- A bowl or airtight container
- A spoon for mixing, and
- A cosmetic brush
Directions:
- Make sure the coconut oil is in room temperature. If it’s pasty rather than oily in consistency, you can melt it by popping it in the microwave for a few seconds.
- Mix the oil and turmeric well in your bowl or container with a spoon. You’ll get a rich paste that you can use as a face pack, and you can add more turmeric or coconut oil if you prefer a different texture.
How to use:
Apply a generous amount of the face mask all over your face with a brush. After 15 minutes, rinse off the oily mask with warm water. You may use a face cloth if you want to get rid of the oil much faster, but the turmeric might stain the cloth yellow, FYI. Repeat this two or three times a week.
P.S. You’ll get brighter skin on top of the moisture from coconut oil, too, thanks to turmeric’s ability to unclog pores.
How do you make a face mask for acne-prone skin?
Wanna know how to get rid of acne? One great ingredient to combat blemishes (and oiliness that can lead to pimples) could already be in your fridge: eggs—specifically egg whites. The protein-rich liquid tightens and tones the skin, and you can make a wash-off mask with them quickly and easily.
What you need:
- One egg
- A few drops of lemon juice
- A whisk or electric mixer
- A mixing bowl, and
- A cosmetic brush
Directions:
- Separate the egg white from the yolk (you can use that for cooking or baking).
- Whisk the egg white in a bowl, then beat in the lemon juice.
How to use:
Use a cosmetic brush to apply it on your face, and leave it on for 15 minutes. You’ll feel as if your face is getting a gentle lift (PSA: This mask can help combat fine lines and wrinkles, too!). Rinse off the mask with warm water. Use it once or twice a week only to avoid irritation.
How do you make a face mask for blackheads?
When you find yourself constantly battling with blackheads, a good scrub sometimes just won’t cut it. A peel-off face mask that will draw out the dirt and keep your skin clear will be a godsend, and finding the ingredients would be worth the results. And please, for the love of the skincare gods, do NOT use glue, since it’s made of chemicals that could harm your skin.
What you need:
- Half a teaspoon of bentonite clay (such as the internet-famous Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask, which you can mix with ACV or water and use as is, BTW)
- One teaspoon of activated charcoal
- One tablespoon of unflavored gelatin
- Two tablespoons of distilled water
- A non-metal mixing bowl (bentonite clay reacts with metal things), and
- A cosmetic brush
Directions:
- Mix the dry ingredients together in your non-metal bowl.
- Heat the water and add it to the mixture.
- Combine the ingredients well to form a thick paste, and make sure to cool it before applying it on your face.
How to use:
Cleanse your face using warm water to open up your pores. Brush on the face mask, and leave it on until it completely dries. This could take somewhere between 15 to 45 minutes (so pop on a K-drama episode or something). Peel of the mask, and wash off the remaining dried out flakes with cold water. Do this once a week or once every two weeks.
How do you make a homemade facial scrub?
Although a lot of sources might tell you that sugar and salt are great physical exfoliants, they might be too harsh on your face, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. Instead, try using gentle ingredients like instant oats to cleanse your face.
What you need:
- Two teaspoons of instant oats (Note: If you have raw or quick-cook oats instead of instant ones, you can cook then cool them prior to making this face mask.)
- One teaspoon of honey
- Two to three teaspoons of milk
- A bowl or airtight container, and
- A spoon for mixing
Directions:
- Mix the oats, honey, and milk with a spoon.
- Make sure you combine the ingredients well and let them sit for around ten minutes to soften the oats.
How to use:
Use your hands to apply the facial scrub, and cleanse your face with it through gentle, circular motions. You may leave it on for up to 20 minutes to maximize the benefits of oats, honey, and milk. Rinse off the facial scrub with water after. Do this once or twice a week, since too much exfoliation can irritate or strip your skin of its natural oils.
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Tell us! Are you into creating your own skincare concoctions? Let us know your recipes at the Cosmo Beauty Group. See you there!
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