Facial care for all pockets.
Skin care prevents accelerated aging.
In these times it is common to be exposed to large amounts of stress due to our frenetic pace of life, which aggravates the effects of biological aging. There are products on the market that can make caring for our skin easier, but sometimes they are too expensive or have components that can cause us problems in the long run .
Homemade face masks can offer us the same benefits as a commercial product, at a fraction of the price. There are many recipes for face masks that you can put into practice very easily, with a simple trip to your pantry.
12 homemade face masks
In this article we list several recipes for facial masks that you can easily make from home. They require very common ingredients that you will surely find in your kitchen or can get in any supermarket.
In addition, we will comment on some of the benefits related to the different masks, so that it is easier for you to choose which one is the most suitable for your situation and skin type.
1. Hydrating and anti-acne banana mask
The banana is a fruit with high nutritional value, but it also has certain qualities for your skin that translate into greater hydration and softness, if we use it as a facial mask. Additionally, bananas have certain antimicrobial properties that could help control acne .
To make a banana mask, you simply need to mash one or two ripe bananas until they form a smooth paste. You can add a couple of tablespoons of yogurt and honey to make your mask not only more delicious, but it will definitely have a greater effect on acne and hydration of your skin. The lactic acid in yogurt will also help remove dead skin.
To use it, simply apply the paste you have made and leave it on your face for 10-20 minutes. After this time, remove it with cold water making gentle movements on the face. Hydrated skin with less tendency to acne guaranteed.
2. Exfoliating lemon mask
The acid in the lemon serves as an exfoliant. Using too many masks with lemon can cause irritation, especially if we are exposed to sunlight after applying it . These types of masks should be used less frequently and at night, but they are really effective.
An example of a lemon mask would be a simple mask that contains the juice of a lemon and about 3 or 4 tablespoons of oil. The oil can be olive or almond oil, but any light essential oil will do. We let it act between 5 and 10 minutes on the skin before removing it with cold water. You will notice the difference in the texture of the skin.
3. Toning mask with vinegar
Many homemade masks rely on a slightly acidic ingredient to do their work . An example is vinegar, which has been used for millennia as a toner, to close the pores of your skin and give it a more even appearance.
To make a vinegar mask we recommend using apple cider vinegar, but any kind would work. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar in about two cups of water, mix it well and apply it on your clean face. Let it dry and you will quickly notice how your pores contract and your skin is toned.
- It might interest you: “Acne on the back: why does it appear and how to eliminate it?”
4. Simple mask with milk
Milk also has a certain acidic character, in addition to proteins and vitamins that can be beneficial for the care of your face. If you want to use milk as a mask, we recommend a very simple recipe, you only need water and powdered milk .
The trick to making this mask is to mix the powdered milk with just the right amount of water so that instead of being liquid, it forms a light paste that you can comfortably apply to your face. After about 10 minutes you can remove it with cold water.
5. Revitalizing oatmeal mask
Oatmeal is a cereal that, if used topically in masks, has several benefits for the skin. It improves its hydration, color and texture, as well as being able to add it to other simple masks to add the benefits of oatmeal.
A simple oatmeal recipe calls for about a half cup of water and a third of a cup of oatmeal. After letting the oatmeal hydrate for a few minutes, add a couple of tablespoons of yogurt, a couple of tablespoons of honey and the white of a small egg . This mask has to be removed with hot water, after spending about 15 minutes on your face.
All the ingredients in this mask have positive effects on the skin and once you try it you will think twice before buying a commercial mask.
6. Exfoliating and toning yogurt mask
If you have paid attention to the rest of the masks, you will see that yogurt is used as a component in many of them. The properties of yogurt on the skin are mainly exfoliating and toning , to the point where if we find ourselves with a facial emergency and very lacking in ingredients, simply applying plain yogurt directly to our face and leaving it there for about 20 minutes is a great option for a quick emergency mask.
Even so, we can also make more elaborate masks (or add yogurt to other recipes). For example, we can mix a tablespoon of yogurt with a tablespoon of juice and some grated orange peel to obtain a revitalizing mask that will leave a pleasant aroma on the face.
7. Egg masks
The egg is loaded with lipids, vitamins and proteins that can help us in the care of our skin. Not all parts of the egg are the same, so depending on your skin type and the purpose of your mask you will need to use different parts of the egg .
If we seek to improve the dryness of our skin, we can use a mask made from the beaten yolk of an egg. Let it dry for about 30 minutes before removing it with water. You will quickly notice an improvement in the hydration of your facial skin.
For people with oily or combination skin, we can use the egg yolk together with a tablespoon of lemon and another of honey. Thus, in addition to moisturizing our skin, we will obtain an improvement in the elasticity and uniformity of our skin.
8. Honey and turmeric mask
Honey has a powerful moisturizing and antiseptic effect, in addition to various vitamins and natural compounds that help improve skin tone. We can use it in conjunction with turmeric, which has a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in a face mask that will greatly improve skin texture.
To make it, we need a tablespoon of natural yogurt, a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of turmeric. It will give you incredible results, as the effects of turmeric are multiplied when it is used topically instead of orally.
9. Tomato Whitening Mask
Tomato is an amazing ingredient for facial care masks. The acidity of the tomato gives it exfoliating effects , in addition to its astringent effects that give the skin greater firmness, hiding minor wrinkles. In addition, it contains salicylic acid, which is also used as an exfoliant and blackhead remover.
To make your own tomato mask we recommend this simple recipe that works for all skin types. You need to extract the juice from the tomato, cutting it in half and squeezing it over a bowl, until there is enough liquid left. You can add a tablespoon of honey and another of lemon juice, or even a couple of tablespoons of oatmeal.
We recommend applying it using a cotton ball soaked in the mixture, to gently apply it to the face . After 15 minutes, your skin will be brighter, hydrated, exfoliated and slightly whiter, as well as more resistant to acne.
10. Lemon and honey mask for skin blemishes.
All masks that contain lemon must be applied with care , since the acids of this fruit can cause itching and irritation in the most sensitive skin. Even so, the properties of lemon make this fruit ideal for use in masks, despite the risks involved.
This mask simply takes about three tablespoons of lemon juice along with one and a half tablespoons of honey (you can use more honey to vary the texture of the mask). If you leave it on your skin for 15 minutes before removing it, you will be helping to reduce skin blemishes and reduce their appearance.
11. Papaya mask for delicate skin
Many homemade masks are not suitable for people with very delicate skin. Luckily, this is not the case with the papaya mask that we present to you today. It does not have strong acids, but its exfoliating effect is very pronounced .
To make this papaya mask you need to mix a quarter of the pulp of a papaya, a tablespoon of cocoa powder (which has astringent and antioxidant properties) plus a little bit of the stem of the Aloe vera plant, which has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. that will avoid any adverse reaction that your skin may have.
12. Exfoliating Baking Soda Mask
Bicarbonate is a substance that we will easily find in our kitchen. The alkaline properties of baking soda will help us reduce acne as well as exfoliate our skin, leaving it soft and radiant.
To make a baking soda mask, we can mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of honey . We apply it with circular movements, especially in the fattest parts of the face. Be careful not to leave this mask on your skin for more than fifteen minutes, as it could seriously irritate you.
Bibliographic references
- Neill US (2012). Skin care in the aging female: myths and truths. The Journal of clinical investigation, 122(2), 473–477. doi:10.1172/JCI61978.
- Ganceviciene, R., Liakou, AI, Theodoridis, A., Makrantonaki, E., & Zouboulis, CC (2012). Skin antiaging strategies. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 308–319. doi:10.4161/derm.22804.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.