How To Make A Homemade Facial Mask

If your skin has been screaming for a little extra TLC lately, give it the attention it deserves with a soothing facial mask. But you don’t have to go to the spa or to the store to buy a good facial mask. You can make one right in your own home, with ingredients from your pantry. Just follow this simple step-by-step guide on how to make a homemade facial mask.

STEP 1: Select A Facial Mask

You’ll want to choose a face mask that’s suitable for your skin type. Is your skin oily or dry? Do you need to exfoliate or firm your skin? The answers to these questions will help to determine the type of mask you want to make. Here are some of the types of facial masks that you can make:

• Dry skin facial mask
• Oily skin facial mask
• Firming/anti-aging mask
• Sensitive skin facial mask
• Exfoliating facial mask

STEP 2: Gather Your Ingredients

Facial mask recipes usually include a list of ingredients that you’ll need. Here are some of the more common ingredients used in facial masks along with the type of mask in which they’re usually used:

• Egg whites, milk, honey, yogurt, avocado – Dry skin facial mask
• Bananas, citrus fruits – Oily skin facial mask
• Teas – Firming/anti-aging mask
• Cucumbers, yogurt, oatmeal – Sensitive skin facial mask
• Oatmeal, sea salt, sugar, coffee grounds – Exfoliating facial mask

STEP 3: Making The Mask

After you’ve assembled the necessary ingredients for the recipe, it’s time to make the mask. Here are some sample recipes that you can follow:

Milk and Honey Mask for Dry Skin

Honey is a humectant, which means that it will help your skin retain moisture, and the milk will soothe your skin. Mix two tablespoons each of honey and warm water and add four tablespoons of powdered milk.

Lemon and Strawberry Mask for Oily Skin

Both fruits are natural astringents, so they should dry up the excess oils on your skin in no time. In a bowl, blend one egg, one half-cup of strawberries and one half-teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey.

Green Tea Mask for Firmer Skin

Teas are great for the skin because they contain a lot of antioxidants that can combat the effects of UV rays and environmental toxins. Although teas can’t stop the aging process or rid your face of wrinkles, they can help to prevent fine lines. To make this mask, mix one teaspoon of green tea powder with a half teaspoon of water. Combine until the mixture becomes a paste.

Yogurt and Oatmeal Mask for Sensitive Skin

This mask is also excellent for irritated or sunburned skin. Just mix one cup of yogurt with one half-cup of oatmeal.

Tomato and Oatmeal Exfoliating Mask

Oatmeal is a good exfoliant, especially for sensitive skin, because it isn’t as rough as salt or sugar. To make this mask, combined one pureed tomato with one teaspoon of oatmeal and one teaspoon of lemon juice.

STEP 4: Apply The Facial Mask

No matter what type of mask you use, the application process is the same. Here’s how to properly apply a facial:

• Massage the mask onto your skin – Using your fingertips, massage the face mask onto your skin, starting at the jawline and working your way up to the forehead. Massaging is not only relaxing, it can increase blood flow and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well.
• Leave the mask on for the appropriate time – For most recipes, this means 10-15 minutes, but some recipes call for 20 minutes. All of the recipes provided should be left on for 10 minutes except for the exfoliating mask, which should be left on for 20 minutes. Although the ingredients in these masks are natural, you don’t want to end up with curdled milk or rotten eggs on your face. If you think you might lose track of time or fall asleep with your mask on, set an alarm or timer so you don’t leave the mask on for too long.
• Wash the face mask off – Take a washcloth and run it under hot water. Ring the excess water out and then use the washcloth to wipe the mask off of your face. Work the washcloth around your face in a circular motion, massaging your skin as you go. If the mask contains eggs or oatmeal, you may want to use lukewarm water so you don’t end up with cooked oatmeal or scrambled eggs on your face.

Why Make Your Own Facial Mask?

If you’ve never made your own facial mask before, you may be wondering what the benefits are. Sure, those store-bought facial masks are fun to peel off and who wouldn’t want to get a facial at a spa? But homemade masks can be just as fun and relaxing and they offer these benefits as well:

• They don’t contain harsh chemicals – Some store-bought facial masks contain harmful chemicals that can irritate your skin, especially if they’re left on for too long.
• They’re cheap – Homemade masks can save you quite a bit of money since you can use your own ingredients to make them.
• They’re better for your skin – Facial masks can restore moisture, remove excess oils and can even tighten your skin. But what makes homemade masks better is the fact that they’re made with natural ingredients that will only help your skin, not harm it.

Making your own facial masks also allows you to be creative. You can experiment with different recipes and different ingredients until you find a mask that you really love. You can also enhance the experience with candles, music and a warm bath for a true spa day.

Sources:

• About.com
• Discovery Fit & Health