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A Classic Self-Care Routine
There are few self-care symbols as well known as the classic face-mask. Whether you’re looking to brighten your skin, moisturize dry spots, or treat blackheads, there’s a variety of masks out there to choose from. But why spend money at the store when you can make your own masks in the comfort of your own home?
To help you save while looking your best, I’m here to share a one-stop guide to face mask mastery!
Step 1. Choosing The Base.
To begin your face mask journey, you’ll need to choose the base for the mask. I’ll be dividing my ingredients by skin type to help you narrow down the options – remember, all beauty routines start with knowing your own skin and its individual needs.
For Dry Skin
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Coconut Milk
- Plain Mayonnaise
- Almond Oil
For Oily Skin
- Clay (research the different varieties, first!)
- Plain Cooked Oatmeal
- Hemp Oil
- Aloe Vera
- Egg Whites
Step 2: Choose Target Ingredients.
You will have different skincare needs at different times in your life, whether you’re aiming to treat acne and blackheads, firm up skin that is beginning to wrinkle, treat dark spots, brighten skin tone, or something else entirely.
Choosing the right targeted ingredients is important for another reason, too – using the wrong one can damage your skin’s health!
For Clogged Pores (Acne, Blackheads, etc.)
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- Lemon Zest
- Lemon Juice
- Matcha Green Tea
- Rosemary – Oil or Powdered
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Activated Charcoal
For Anti-Aging Effects
- Mashed Banana
- Curds
- Buttermilk
- Red Lentil Paste/ Dal
- Apples (cooked down and mashed into a paste)
- Milk/Cream
- Powdered Yeast
For Skin-Brightening
- Lemon Juice
- Lime Juice
- Orange Juice
- Mashed Ripe Papaya
- Rice Water
- Coffee
- Green Tea
For Dry Patches
- Cucumbers or Cucumber Water
- Grapes
- Shea Butter
- Vitamin E (you can buy and break open capsules)
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
Step 3: Choose Add-Ins (Such As Essential Oils)
To finish your mask, pick another ingredient or two to do even more for your skin. It’s important not to use too many options, however – you don’t want to overdo it and end up with breakouts or some other issue.
Non-Oil Add-Ins
- Rose Water
- Aloe Water
- Coconut Water
- Rice Milk
- Flour (good for thickening the mask)
- Chamomile Tea
- Black Teas
- Vanilla Extract
Exfoliating Agents
- Epsom Salts
- Brown Sugar
- Regular Sugar
- Charcoal
- Cocoa Powder
- Uncooked Oats
Essential Oils (Always Dilute!)
- Lavender Oil
- Sage Oil
- Argan Oil
- Sandalwood Oil
- Geranium Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Tea Tree Oil (use with caution – very astringent)
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Rose Oil
- Jojoba Oil
More Resources, Advice, and Info:
These lists don’t cover every available ingredient out there, just the more common ones that are easy to purchase. Make sure that you always use organic fruits and vegetables and well-sourced oils when purchasing your materials.
There are lots of resources you can utilize on your quest to become a true aficionado in the DIY mask arts. I’ve enjoyed having “101 DIY Face Masks” by Jennifer McCartney on hand, and I also read through “The Little Book of Skincare” by Charlotte Cho (who also happens to be one of the cofounders of Soko Glam, which I adore).
As far as sourcing goes, for essential oils I prefer Plant Therapy – mostly because they aren’t an MLM based company. They have a lot of sets and oil available in the Plant Therapy Amazon shop, so you can compare prices to other brands easily (the link I posted is a larger and therefore more pricey option, but I wanted to display the variety they offer).
Rocky Mountain Oils is another good company that doesn’t use MLM schemes to sell their products, and RMO’s Amazon Store has plenty of reviews. Make sure you do price and reputation comparisons before buying any kind of oil!
The other ingredients are generally easy to find in your kitchen or at your local grocer.
You can make your own sheet masks by purchasing pre-made blank masks or by creating an eco-friendly, reusable option with cotton or muslin cloth.
I enjoyed reading through Body Unburdened’s DIY mask master-post, as well as the amazing DIY mask guide on The Organic Esthetician’s blog. These are good sources for skincare advice in general, if you’d like to learn more.
In Conclusion… Get Creative!
DIY face masks are a wonderful way to relax, and they’re especially fun to do with friends and family! With all of the other posts and resources out there, you can find plenty of material for your own personalized recipe list.
If you have any masks you’ve tried and loved, please share your recipe with us in the comments! Stay lovely, lovelies – I’ll see you soon.
