Who doesn’t love a glow-up? Face masks are all the rave these days but who has the money to keep buying them from the big-name brands? Take matters into your own hands with these 5 DIY face masks that can be achieved by simply using ingredients from your pantry.
Check these out for the ultimate melanin glow-up:
Charcoal Cleansing Mask
This mask balances and cleanses to leave you feeling smooth and confident with the help of Vitamin C, lifting agents, humectants, antibacterials, and antifungals.
Ingredients:
– 1 tbsp. charcoal
– 1 tbsp. rosehip powder
– 3-4 tbsp. rosewater
– 2-3 tbsp. honey
– 1/4 tsp. jojoba oil
– 3-4 drops of lavender or tea tree oil
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Method: Use a brush or your fingers to spread the mask evenly across your dry face. For extra impact, add 1/2 tsp. of bentonite clay to a dab of the mixture and brush it onto the problem areas. Allow the mask to dry for 10 to 15 minutes, then place a warm wet towel on your face to soften and rinse off. End with cold water to seal pores and a moisturizer.
Masa Exfoliating Scrub
This scrub provides the perfect combination of exfoliating and moisturizing properties. The cornflour acts as a gentle polisher and stimulator.
Ingredients:
– 1 tbsp. masa cornmeal
– 1 1/4 tsp. olive oil
– 1 1/2 tsp. lavender essential oil
Method: To use, simply take about a half a’ teaspoon of the scrub rub in your fingertips to spread and massage into your face. If you are in the shower, apply the scrub and leave it on to let the steam open your pores. Then rinse off with water and towel pat your face dry. I’ve found I need less face cream to hydrate after my shower. In the summer, I don’t even need a moisturizer.
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Bentonite Healing Mask
This mask basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the 5-20 minutes it’s on. The 100% natural calcium bentonite clay draws out all the impurities deep in your skin, improving overall texture and feel.
Ingredients:
– 2-3 tbsp. Aztec Healing Clay or Bentonite Clay
– 2-3 tbsp. Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the ‘Mother’
Method: After mixing the two ingredients together apply an ample amount of the mask to your entire face. Avoid the eye area and make sure all hair is up and out of the way. Let the face mask sit for 10-15 minutes until it is completely dry. To remove, apply a warm washcloth to the face and press it into your face as the clay starts to soften. Wipe and rinse the remainder of the clay off with lukewarm water and towel pat your face dry. Follow up with a great moisturizer.
Please note: When mixing make sure to use a plastic or wooden spoon because bentonite clay causes metals to leach from the spoon into the clay, making the clay not as effective.
Turmeric Glow Mask
This bright turmeric mask exfoliates and hydrates to give your natural glow a boost.
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 tbsp. turmeric powder
– 1 1/4 tsp. hemp oil
– 1 tbsp. raw honey
Method: Using two fingers, scoop up the mask and gently apply it all over your dry face in a circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Keep on for 2-3 minutes and follow up with your choice of toner and moisturizer.
Honey Moisture DIY Face Mask
Raw honey is full of antioxidants to help fight wrinkles and aging skin. Honey is also a natural antibacterial, which helps to prevent and fight acne, purifier, and moisturizer.
Ingredients:
– 2 tsp. raw (unpasteurized) honey
– 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Method: Mix honey and cinnamon together and apply to your face. Leave the mask on for 10-30 minutes. The antibacterial properties of both honey and cinnamon make this honey mask perfect for acne-prone skin. If you’re trying to rid acne scars, add 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice to the mixture to exfoliate your skin, brighten dark spots and fade scars.
READ: DIY Pumpkin Face Mask
TikTok Frozen Cucumber Hack
@alexaraeloebel Reply to @its.me.debra 💕💕💕 #fyp #skincaretiktok #skincareroutine ♬ Levitating (feat. DaBaby) – Dua Lipa
The frozen cucumber hack has been making waves on TikTok for the past few months as a DIY alternative to using gua shas or cryotherapy after one user, Alexa Rae Loebel, shared a video to the app icing her skin with a frozen cucumber.
“This is a really interesting hack because the frozen cucumber, or really any frozen item, will give some relief to things like redness, puffiness, or skin that feels irritated, dry or rough,” Jennifer Wener, P&G senior skin-care scientist for GoodSkin MD, tells InStyle.
Because cucumbers are 90% water, they can eliminate puffiness and provide immediate relief to skin that could be dry or flaking.
Chilled cucumbers can also constrict blood vessels, which can decrease circulation to a certain area.
“It is thought that cucumbers may inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes like COX-2. (Side note, inhibition of COX-2 is the mechanism of action of several prescription medications used to decrease inflammation and pain,)” Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York and clinical instructor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College says. “They can also soothe sunburns and can reduce swelling under the eyes.”
Method: To do this TikTok beauty hack at home, you’ll need to buy a cucumber, wash and dry it, cut one end off and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Then you’ll apply the cut end of the chilled cucumber onto skin and gently massage to de-puff, Dr. Murphy-Rose adds.
“The best way to incorporate this into your routine would be to first cleanse your face, then apply the frozen cucumber,” says Wener. “Once the immediate benefits of feeling cool on your skin have gone away, you’ll want to wash again (to get rid of any residual stickiness) and then complete your skincare routine.”
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
