Simple, easy to make homemade face masks can be an important step in good skin care. There is a mask for every skin type and every skin need and the ingredients are often as close as your kitchen.

Need to moisturize try a mask. Oily skin problems try a mask. Dull, tired looking skin try a mask. A good facial mask can help these and many other skin care issues. With just a little know how about different ingredients choices you will find yourself putting together a face mask from healthy natural ingredients in no time at all.

Benefits of Face Masks

They can be used to:

• Exfoliate
• Moisturize
• Deep Clean
• Firm and Tighten
• Brighten and Freshen
• Fight Acne
• Help Aging Skin

It all depends on what ingredients you put together. Fresh natural ingredients from your kitchen work as well as for facial care as fancy formulations you can buy and you have control of the ingredients. No worries about unwanted synthetic chemicals.

If possible choose organic ingredients and wash everything just as you would if you were going to eat it. If you are allergic to eating any of these or other ingredients do not use them on your skin either. Sensitive skin also need extra precautions. Try doing a patch test to be sure.

Ingredients for Homemade Face Masks for Dry Skin

The below ingredients work well for homemade face masks that are moisturizing.

 

• Apricot

 

High in Vitamin A and C. Moisturizing and tightening. Puree or mash and combine with other ingredients.

 

• Avocado

 

Contains vitamins A and E and antioxidants. Very beneficial when either the oil or mashed up fruit (yes, it is considered a fruit) is used.

 

• Coconut Milk

 

High in fat and fatty acids. Deep cleaning without drying or feeling oily.

 

• Honey

 

Soothing and nourishing. Honey provides moisturizing and anti bacterial benefits.

 

• Oatmeal

 

Exfoliates, soothing and moisturizing. Grind up or use whole

 

• Olive Oil

 

High in antioxidants and Vitamin E. Choose extra virgin olive oil. Very moisturizing and healing.

 

• Peaches

 

High in Vitamin C and A. Helps tighten and firm skin and unclog pores without drying. Puree or mash.

 

• Sunflower Seed Oil

 

High in Vitamin A, E and D plus high in unsaturated fatty acids. Excellent for aging skin and damaged skin.

 

• Sweet Almond Oil

 

High in essential fatty acids. Very soothing, healing oil that absorbs easily to fight inflamation and help restore moisture to dry, damaged and aging skin.

Ingredients For Homemade Face Masks for Oily Skin

 

• Apple

 

Vitamin A and C. Fruit acids aid in exfoliation. Use Pureed or grated.

 

• Citrus FruitsVitamin C. Fruit acids for exfoliation. Use whole as in picture or juice.
• Cucumber

 

Naturally astringent and toning. Use whole or puree.

 

• Tomatoes

 

Mildly acidic and cleansing. Good for removing excess oils from skin. Use juice or pureed pulp in your recipes.

 

• Egg White

 

Helps pull oils from the skin and tones and tightens at least temporarily. Beat slightly then apply.

 

• Clay

 

Deep cleans while drawing excess oils from skin. While not a kitchen ingredient, clay can be mixed with juices or apple cider vinegar to create excellent homemade face masks for oily skin.

Ingredients For Homemade Face Masks for Other Skin Types

 

• Bananas

 

Great addition to dry skin masks but also good for all skin types. Mashed.

 

• Buttermilk, Yogurt, Milk etc.

 

Contains lactic acid an alpha hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates while the fat buttermilk provides hydration. Especially good for aging skin. Used alone or combined with other ingredients for homemade face masks that are good for all skin types.

 

• Carrots

 

Rich in antioxidants. Has antiseptic qualities making it good for blemished skin but when mixed with oil can be used on dry skin. Pureed or juice.

 

• Cocoa Powder

 

Rich in antioxidants and vitamins. The best form to use is the unsweetened dark cocoa powder. Good for all skin types.

 

• Herbs

 

Fennel, rosemary and sage are just a few herbs that can be pureed and added to other ingredients to make masks that tone and cleanse.

 

• Papaya

 

Contains an enzyme called papain. Like most fruit enzymes works well as a mile exfoliant but also contains some antibacterial qualities. Good for acne prone skin. Pureed.

 

• Pumpkin

 

Vitamins A, C and E. Provides softening and renewing. Depending on additional ingredients used good for all skin types. Pureed.

 

• Strawberries

 

Contains salicylic acid commonly found in acne treatments which helps the skin to exfoliate dead skin cells. Deep cleaning and toning. Use for acne prone skin. Mash or puree.

 

• Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Very healing to blemished skin. Helps to decrease redness. Combine with clays for an excellent healing mask.

Homemade Face Masks Recipes

Making a homemade face mask is very easy when you know what different ingredients can do. A mask could be as simple as one ingredient like buttermilk or honey patted on the skin and left on for 20 minutes or so but for the best results try combining several ingredients that provide the benefits you are looking for. Experimenting is half the fun but there are hundreds of recipes that can be found on-line for any skin need.

Apply masks to clean skin on face, neck and hands. A fan brush makes for easy application but your fingertips work just fine. It’s a healthy, beauty treatment so sit down or stretch out somewhere and relax.

Below are just a few homemade face masks I’ve collected to get you started.

For Dry Skin

1/2 mashed banana

1 tsp. olive oil

Mash the banana with fork and add oil. Mix well. Spread on clean skin and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize as usual. Discard any leftover mask.

Avocados are one of the best for dry skin. Try mashing a medium avocado and combining it with 1 tsp of either honey or coconut oil. Apply and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse well with warm water and pat dry.

For Oily Skin

Egg whites are a good starting point to masks for oily skin. Experiment with other additions to find a mask you like.

Also try this Pumpkin Mask

1 cup pumpkin, carrot or papaya pureed

1 egg white beaten until soft peaks form

1 tsp honey

Combine all ingredients. Apply to skin and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm and then cool water.

For All Skin Types

These masks will help exfoliate and soften.

1 Tbs. cocoa powder

1 Tbs. honey

1 Tbs. corn meal or ground oatmeal

Enough water for a smooth consistency.

Mix first three ingredients and add water a little at a time to get a spreadable consistency. Apply to skin by gently scrubbing. Leave on for 10 -15 minutes and rinse off.

Also try this mask. Combine 1/2 cup pureed fruits with 1 tbs of yogurt. Leave on skin for about 20 minutes and rinse.

Have beautiful skin and save money. Try making your own homemade face masks.

 

 

Related Pages

Homemade Exfoliant

Favorite Skin Exfoliant Recipes

Skin Brushing – a simple technique for healthy skin