by Steve Jacob
Some people visit spas to maintain a healthy, youthful appearance, yet these trips can be costly over time. The benefits are undeniable, but what if you can get the same results with a homemade face mask?
Well, you can.
Using many ingredients in your kitchen — like avocado, oatmeal, honey, turmeric, or banana— you can mix up a DIY face mask. From blemishes to dull skin, here’s a look at simple recipes to solve common skin problems.
Acne is considered the most common skin problem in the United States.
Zits develop when oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria clog pores, and acne includes blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, nodules, and cysts.
The protein in egg whites, however, may help kill bacteria on the skin and help stop blemishes.
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 egg whites
Instructions:
- Separate egg whites from the yolk, and place the egg whites in a bowl.
- Dip a cotton swab into the bowl and dab the egg whites over your face.
- Let the mask sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Wash off with a damp cloth and apply a moisturizer.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentationrefers to darkened areas of skin often due to acne, age, or sun damage.
Dermatological treatments can help reduce hyperpigmentation, but they tend to be expensive. You can save money and even out your skin tone with a DIY turmeric mask, which also lessens inflammation.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
- 1 to 2 tbsp. raw honey
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl to create a paste.
- Gently massage the paste over your face.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.
Oatmeal and baking soda have exfoliating properties, which can remove dead skin cells and unclog pores.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. oatmeal
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Instructions:
- Combine the oatmeal and baking soda in a bowl. Slowly add a few drops of water to create a paste.
- Gently massage the paste over your face and let it dry.
- Wash off with warm water and apply a moisturizer.
Oily skinoccurs when your pores produce too much sebum, a natural skin oil.
Oils can clog pores, triggering acne and inflammation. Bananas can help absorb oil on the skin, while lemons help cleanse pores.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 10 drops lemon juice
- 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Mash the banana in a bowl. Add the lemon juice and olive oil to create a liquid paste.
- Apply the mask over your face. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
A hydrating facial mask can help your skin retain moisture and alleviate dullness and itching.
Ingredients:
- half a cucumber
- 2 tbsp. aloe vera gel
Instructions:
- Blend the cucumber and combine with the aloe vera gel.
- Gently massage the paste over your face.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes and then wash off with water.
Regular facial treatments can reduce the appearance of fine line and wreakles, and promote tighter, firmer skin.
Use avocados and cocoa powder to stimulate collagen production, and honey to moisturize and soften skin.
Ingredients:
- 2 avocados
- 1 tbsp. raw honey
- 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
Instructions:
- Mash the avocados in a bowl and then add the cocoa powder and honey.
- Gently massage the mask over your face.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
How do face masks benefit the skin?
A facial maskcan replenish and moisturize your skin. These are effective treatments because the ingredients are able to sit on your skin for about 10 to 30 minutes.
The nutrients and vitamins penetrate your skin, deep cleaning your pores and removing the outermost layer of dead skin. Facial masks can cleanse, tighten, exfoliate, soften, and brighten the skin.
If you don’t have ingredients (or the time) to whip up a homemade mask, an over-the-counter rinse-off or peel-off mask is cheaper than visiting a spa, too.
A rinse-off mask involves removal with a warm or cool cloth once the mask dries. Peel-off masks are gel-based for deep cleansing and exfoliating. You’ll apply the mask, wait for it to harden, and then peel it off.
There’s also the option of a sheet mask. Rather than applying a cream or gel, you’ll place a facial sheet (containing nutrients and minerals) over your face.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts to maximize the effectiveness of a facial mask.
DO’S:
- Leave the mask on for 10 to 30 minutes. This allows ingredients to penetrate your skin. One option: Apply before getting in the shower or tub.
- Wash your facewith water and a gentle cleanser before applying a mask. This helps the mask penetrate the skin better.
- Apply a moisturizer after washing off the mask.
- Choose an over-the-counter facial mask that’s specific to your skin type. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, choose an oil-free mask that won’t clog pores.
- Splash cold water on your face after removing the mask to close your pores.
DON’TS:
- Don’t use a mask if you experience skin irritation or an allergic reaction (redness, itching, or rash).
- Don’t apply a mask every night. Only apply once or twice a week.
- Don’t leave the mask on for too long, or else you could irritate your skin.
- Don’t scrub your skin when washing off the mask. This can cause irritation and redness.
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