We all know what it’s like to baulk at your own bank account balance, but if you’re anything like me, that doesn’t stop you from needing to look after your skin. There are actually a lot of reasons and benefits to DIY face masks – you use all-natural ingredients, you can formulate them to do exactly what you want, and yes, they are much cheaper to source. Beyond that, it’s actually pretty fun! Glopping your latest concoction onto your face and then leaving it there harks back to childhood times, and I for one enjoy every second of it.
Quick tip: remember to cleanse your face before applying any of these masks! You want to make sure that your skin is clean and ready to be worked on, and that you’re not working any dirt or sweat deeper into your pores with the masks.
The Vanquisher: Detoxifying and Acne-Fighting
This is a personal favourite of mine, as I’ve struggled with acne and pimples for much of my life. And you know what? Sometimes you just want to relax and put some honey on your face.
Ingredients:
- 1tbsp green tea (loose-leaf)
- 1tbsp honey
- A few drops of water
Simply mix these all together in a bowl and massage the mixture onto your face in upward, circular motions. You want to utilise the rougher texture of the tea leaves to exfoliate your skin and allow the detoxifying properties to work deep into your pores. Green tea contains antioxidants and honey is a natural combatant to bacteria, so any scars or pimples will meet their maker with this mask.
Leave the mask on your face for a solid ten minutes, rinse off with warm water, and moisturise very lightly (only if you think you need it). You’re good as new!
The Enlivener: Rejuvenating and Invigorating
This mask is perfect for when you have a spare twenty minutes in the morning, and you really need a jump-start. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, maybe the neighbour’s kids wouldn’t stop yelling this morning, or maybe you have a presentation that you need to kick butt in today. Regardless, this is the pick for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp of ground coffee beans
- 1tbsp of softened coconut oil
Yep, you heard me, straight up coffee on your face. Hear me out! The coffee grounds act as an exfoliant to wake up your skin, and coffee is a natural antioxidant. The coconut oil helps to turn the coffee into a paste, but it also plays its part as a fantastic moisturiser. In combination, these ingredients tighten and moisturise your skin, relieve puffiness under the eyes, and wake you the heck up!
Rub into your face in circular motions, then leave it on for ten minutes while you go about the rest of your morning. Rinse off, dry, and head out to slay the day.
The Super Soaker: Hydrating and Enriching
Finally, if you’ve got the dry-skin blues brought on by the cold winter air, there is no better face mask for you than the Super Soaker. I’m not going back on that name, so here we go!
Ingredients:
- 1tbsp yoghurt
- 1tbsp honey
- A couple of mashed up strawberries
I know, it sounds like you slipped and now your breakfast is on your face, but the benefits to this particular mask are almost too many to count. We’ve talked about the antibacterial properties of honey, but the addition of the multitude of vitamins hiding in yoghurt is insane! B-complex vitamins, calcium and lactic acid all work to moisturise and heal dry skin while protecting it from free radical damage. Strawberries are also unexpectedly useful, as they’re rich in vitamin C to make your skin healthy and happy.
Lather on with (say it with me) circular movements, leave to dry for about 15 minutes and then rinse off. Boom! Moisturised!
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