Face masks are an essential part of any skincare routine. They can be nourishing, hydrating, and a great way to target any major skin concern you may have. Not to mention they're a deeply relaxing way to boost your wellness routine while also caring for your complexion. That said, face masks aren't always the cheapest. Even though they're often worth every penny, you can reach or exceed your beauty budget very quickly if you’re not careful. So what's someone who's on the quest for perfect skin to do? DIY it, duh!
DIY face masks can often work just as well as (if not better than) some of the most sought-after face masks on the market. Not only are they often incredibly easy to make, chances are you already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen ready and waiting to help you get rid of hyperpigmentation, acne, and more. Below, we rounded up some of the best expert-approved DIY face mask recipes. See which recipes they recommend now!
About the Experts:
The all-natural ingredients in this mask have multiple healing properties, including brightening, rejuvenating, moisturizing, and exfoliating. You may already be aware that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory benefits, but it also works as a gentle exfoliator, according to Cynthia Rivas, an esthetician based in New York City. According to Rivas, it’s even antimicrobial and helps kill bacteria. The other ingredients in this powerful recipe include nutmeg, which, like cinnamon, helps gently exfoliate and acts as an anti-inflammatory for irritated skin. Just in case you were debating whether to bake with this recipe or slather it on your face, yes, this recipe also uses cocoa, so the jury’s still out on that one. Cocoa, Rivas says, is a “powerful antioxidant that protects and rejuvenates the skin.” Finally, this recipe calls for honey, which promotes hydration and smooths the skin. We don’t officially recommend eating it but we do recommend sitting with it on your skin for at least 10 minutes.
The holy grail of DIY masks for purification? Clay. It absorbs excess sebum (which can lead to breakouts), lifts away dirt and debris, and calms redness—all without stripping your skin of its essential moisture. Named for its “kaolinite” mineral content, kaolin clay has a neutral pH and is considered the gentlest clay, making it a great choice for dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types. Plus, it acts like a blank canvas when used as a mask. Keep it simple and mix with water, milk, or apple cider vinegar, and customize it by adding in honey, yogurt, or green tea!
As it turns out, your breakfast can also double as a soothing skin treatment. Chock full of antioxidants known as avenanthramides, oatmeal is well known for its ability to relieve redness and calm itchy, irritated skin. So if your complexion is on the fritz from cold winds, allergies, or reactive, consider making an extra batch of oats for your face. Bonus: This homemade face mask can be made with plain instant oatmeal (so easy!), but just make sure it’s free from added sugars or flavors.
Have you noticed that caffeine tends to be a star ingredient in eye creams? That’s because it can help constrict blood vessels, giving a temporarily tightened effect to puffy under eyes. So if you’re looking for a morning quick-fix to help perk up tired eyes, this two-ingredient eye mask with ground coffee and honey is a no-brainer. And don’t worry, no extra jitters involved here.
If you’ve ever dealt with a gnarly breakout, you know the battle doesn’t end when the pimples heal—the dark spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH for short) left behind can take their sweet time to fade. Thankfully, a simple DIY mask with fresh papaya and honey can help speed up that process. A natural source of alpha hydroxy acids and a brightening enzyme known as papain, papaya acts as a gentle exfoliator to dissolve dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, softer complexion.
Modern Dermatology co-founder Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson highly recommends using turmeric and lemon juice as another great way to treat hyperpigmentation, as they "are both fantastic ingredients for lightening" dark marks. She shares it can be used all over the face or as a spot treatment to really target darker patches of skin.
Flaky, dry skin can be a pain to deal with. Give it an extra blast of hydration with this cocoa powder DIY face mask recommended by Dr. Robinson. She shares that cocoa powder, when mixed with milk and honey, "is moisturizing, plumping, gently exfoliating, and the cocoa provides the skin with antioxidants."
Looking for a face mask that requires the fewest ingredients possible with the most efficacy in banishing blemishes and breakouts? Congratulations, you've found it. Holistic facialist and esthetician Leah Avigdori is a huge fan of honey, specifically raw Manuka honey. "Manuka honey is a wound healer, a humectant, an anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial," she raves. This makes it a fantastic option for those with acne-prone skin, because the honey can really clear up your complexion. Those with dry or sensitive skin can also benefit from slathering on this sweet solution.
Avigdori recommends the powerful combination of matcha and aloe vera for all skin types, especially given how well it softens and soothes the skin. "The combination of matcha powder and pure aloe creates a calming and replenishing action on the skin," she points out. "The green tea leaves in matcha contain high levels of antioxidants which are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and protect against environmental pollutants. Together with aloe, this mask delivers a soothing, softening, and healing effect on all skin types."
Who would've thought the secret to brightening your complexion was pumpkin? Not us, but Dr. Zeichner loves a pumpkin mask for exactly that. "To help brighten the skin, you can create a pumpkin mask at home. Pumpkin is used in skincare because it’s loaded with alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate dead skin cells. It also has antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene to brighten and protect the skin," he shares.
Want the very best skincare products like face masks and more delivered directly to you in our IPSY Glam Bag? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.
Like this article? Share it with your friends by clicking the icons below!