Make a Homemade Face Mask for Dry Skin
Dry skin can be itchy, rough, and irritated, but when the skin on your face is dry, it can be unsightly too. Using a facial mask is an ideal way to deliver intense moisture to the your face to soothe the skin -- and you don't even have to go out and buy an expensive option from the store. With items that you may already have in your kitchen, such as an avocado, a banana, canned pumpkin, or strawberries, you can whip up several different hydrating masks that can treat your dry skin.
Contents
Steps
Mixing Up A Creamy Avocado Mask
- Mash up an avocado. Use a sharp knife to cut an avocado in half, and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh from one half of the fruit, and place it in a bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork until it’s fairly smooth.
- If the avocado is small, you may want to scoop out the flesh from both halves to use for your mask. You should have enough for a mask that you can spread all over your face.
- Mix the avocado with the yogurt, olive oil, and honey. Once you’ve mashed the avocado, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of organic honey to the bowl. Use a spoon to fully combine all of the ingredients in a smooth paste.
- If the mask seems runny and you’ve only added half of the avocado, mix in some more of the flesh to thicken it up.
- The omega fatty acids in the avocado and olive oil help heal cracks between the skin cells that can occur when your skin is dehydrated.
- Honey and yogurt are soothing ingredients that help moisturize and soften the skin.
- Apply the mask and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. When the mask is fully mixed, use your fingers to carefully spread it all over your face. Allow the mask to sit on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes so the omega fatty acids in the avocado and olive oil have time to penetrate.
- Be careful when you’re applying the mask around your hairline. The honey can be very sticky if it gets in your hair.
- Wash the mask off with warm water. When you’ve let the mask sit on your skin for at least 15 minutes, rinse it off with warm water from the sink. Because the mask can be fairly sticky, you may want to use a washcloth to help remove it.
- Be sure to rinse especially well along your hairline.
Making a Banana Moisturizing Mask
- Mash the banana. Peel a banana and cut it in half horizontally. Place half of the banana in a bowl, and use a fork to mash it until it’s mostly smooth.
- Banana is rich in vitamin A, which helps promote cell turnover to keep skin soft and flake-free.
- Mix in honey and ground oats. Once you’ve mashed the banana, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of honey and 4 tablespoons (23 g) of ground oats to the bowl. Use a spoon to mix the ingredients until the mask has a uniform consistency.
- If the mask is too thick, you can mix in 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of milk to thin it out a bit.
- Honey helps moisturize the skin, and has natural antibacterial properties to help soothe dry, itchy skin.
- Ground oats are a natural exfoliant that can help remove dry, dead skin cells from your face.
- Spread the mask over your skin and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. When the mask is fully mixed, use your fingers to carefully apply it to your face and neck. Let it sit on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes so the ingredients have time to work.
- Using a circular motion as you spread the mask over your skin can help the oats exfoliate more effectively.
- Rinse off with warm water. When your 15 to 20 minutes are up, wash the mask off with warm water. Use a washcloth to remove the mask if it won’t rinse easily, but be gentle to avoid irritating your skin.
- To maximize the benefits of your mask, apply your moisturizer right after you rinse it off.
Whipping Up a Hydrating Pumpkin Spice Mask
- Combine the pumpkin, yogurt, honey, and spice in a food processor. In a food processor or blender, mix together 2 cups (450 g) of canned pumpkin, 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of low-fat vanilla yogurt, 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of honey, and 1 teaspoon (5 g) of pumpkin pie spice. Puree until the mixture is smooth.
- Pumpkin is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which help to moisturize and soften the skin.
- If you aren’t a fan of the scent, you can omit the pumpkin pie spice.
- Massage the mask into your skin and let it sit. When the mask ingredients are fully combined, use your fingers to gently massage it into your skin. Make sure to coat your entire face in a fairly thick layer, and let it sit on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes.
- If you don’t want to apply the mask with your hands, you can use a flat makeup brush, such as a foundation brush, to smooth it over your face.
- Wash the mask off with warm water. After the mask has sat on your face for at least 10 minutes, rinse it off with warm water. Use a gentle microfiber cloth to help remove the mask if you’re having trouble.
Creating a Moisturizing Strawberry Facial Mask
- Mix the strawberries, bee pollen, raw honey, mayonnaise, and lavender essential oil. In a large bowl, combine 10 fresh strawberries, ¼ cup (85 g) of bee pollen, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of raw honey, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil mayonnaise, and several drops of lavender essential oil. Combine the ingredients with a whisk until they’re all fully incorporated.
- Strawberries contain vitamin C and are rich in alpha hydroxy acids, which help exfoliate dry, dead skin cells.
- Bee pollen granules, which you can find at health food stores, also help exfoliate dry skin, so the moisturizing honey can more easily penetrate the skin.
- The olive oil mayo helps moisturize and soften the skin, while also delivering powerful antioxidants.
- The lavender essential oil gives the mask an aromatherapy component. If you don’t like the scent of lavender, use your favorite essential oil to scent the mask.
- Apply the mask to your face and relax for 20 minutes. When the ingredients are fully mixed, use your fingers to carefully smooth it over your face. Once it’s applied, lie down and relax for approximately 20 minutes so you can get the maximum benefits from the mask.
- When you’re applying the mask, be careful to avoid the eye area.
- Rinse the mask off with warm water. When your 20 minutes are up, use a washcloth dampened with warm water to gently remove the mask. Rinse your face with lukewarm water, and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
Tips
- Before applying any mask, make sure to wash your face. It’s also a good idea to exfoliate with a facial scrub so the mask can penetrate the skin more easily.
- For the best results, use a hydrating mask once or twice a week to help soothe your dry skin.
- There may be a medical reason behind your dry skin. If the home remedies don’t provide the relief you are looking for, consult a physician to determine if there is an underlying cause that may require treatment to clear up.
- Winter is one of the most common times to encounter dry skin because of the low humidity and the dry wind. Consider running a humidifier in your home to battle the dry air before it affects your skin.
Things You'll Need
Creamy Avocado Mask
- 1 avocado
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) organic honey
- A bowl
- A fork
- A spoon
Banana Moisturizing Mask
- ½ banana
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey
- 4 tablespoons (23 g) ground oats
- A bowl
- A fork
- A spoon
Hydrating Pumpkin Spice Mask
- 2 cups (450 g) canned pumpkin
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) honey
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) pumpkin pie spice
- A blender or food processor
Moisturizing Strawberry Facial Mask
- 10 fresh strawberries
- ¼ cup (85 g) bee pollen
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) raw honey
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil mayonnaise
- Several drops lavender essential oil.
- A large bowl
- A whisk
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