Beauty

DIY face masks you can make with simple ingredients

DIY face masks you can make with simple ingredients

DIY Face Masks Image by: Getty Images

Beauty

DIY face masks you can make with simple ingredients

We asked a trio of women who lead some of the best natural skin-care brands in Canada for some great masking recipes for us to create at home.

One of our favourite ways to practice a little “me” time is to indulge in a face mask. In fact, it’s something that we like to do at least once a week—if not more. Regular face masking can do wonders for your skin, giving you an extra dose of hydration, aiding with decongestion and helping you capture that elusive glow.

But we know face masking isn’t just an indulgence of time, it can also be a financial indulgence too. Luckily, there are plenty of brands making great face masks at affordable prices. But we’ve got a soft spot for the homemade variety too.

We asked three Canadian skin-care entrepreneurs, who just so happen to love all things natural and sustainable, to share their homemade face mask recipes. So if you don’t have your favourite skin-care mask on hand, perhaps you can make one of these, with ingredients that you may already have in your fridge.

Here, three DIY face masks each focusing on a different issue—dehydration, acne and dullness, respectively.

A hydrating mask from Rocky Mountain Soap Co.’s Karina Birch

The reasoning

This mask has only two ingredients and promises to hydrate your skin until it’s dewy. “Unpasteurized honey is naturally anti-fungal, antiseptic and super hydrating,” says Birch. “It’s a humectant and will pull moisture out of the air and into your skin.” Add to that powerhouse ingredient a dose of aloe vera—yes, your go-to sunburn remedy—which is packed with vitamins and is super soothing, and you’ve got a great hydrating recipe.

The recipe
1 tablespoon raw honey
3 inches of aloe vera leaf or 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

The method

If you are using the leaf, slice it open lengthwise and use a spoon to scape out all of the juice.

Blend the aloe together with the honey. You can do this in the palm of your (clean) hand or in a small bowl.

Apply to your face in a thin coat, keeping it out of your eyebrows, eyes and nostrils. If you have extra, apply it to your chest and neck area or the backs of your hands.

Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Be careful, as the mask may begin to drip as it warms up on your skin.

Rinse it off with warm water and follow up with your favourite moisturizer.

If you’re not into DIY, try the Hydrating Face Mask from the brand instead. $13.50, rockymountainsoapco.ca.

A mask that’s great for acne prone skin from Province Apothecary’s Julie Clark

The reasoning

Honey is a super skin-care ingredient, which is why it makes multiple appearances on this list, while clay will draw oil and impurities out of the skin, helping to get rid of any sebum buildup. Avocado helps to balance the drying properties of clay and can make sure your skin feels balanced, post-mask.

The recipe
2 teaspoons clay (if you don’t have clay, you can grind up oats to make oat flour instead)
1 teaspoon raw honey
2 teaspoons of avocado, mashed
a few drops of water, as needed

The method

Mix all the ingredients together to form a paste. Add a few drops of water if you want the mask to be a bit runnier.

Apply to your skin and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes.

If the mask feels tight or dry on your skin, spray it with toner throughout your wait time.

Remove the mask with a hot towel. Press the towel into your skin to loosen the mask and steam your face, then gently wipe it off.

Follow up with toner and moisturizer.

If you’re not into DIY, try the Detoxifying and Clarifying mask from the brand instead. Simply mix it with a bit of water and apply. $58, provinceapothecary.ca.

A brightening mask from Graydon Skincare’s Graydon Moffat

The reasoning

“Pineapple and papaya are loaded with enzymes that help to break down and loosen dead skin cells, resulting in exfoliation and a brighter complexion,” says Moffat. The addition of avocado helps with inflammation and hydration, while natural, unsweetened yogurt offers a probiotic punch.

The recipe
½ cup pineapple
½ cup papaya
2 tablespoons unsweetened yogurt (if you have sensitive skin, look for a non-dairy yogurt)
half an avocado

The method

Blend the pineapple, papaya and avocado together in a blender until the ingredients are partly liquefied.

Add the yogurt and continue to blend until the mixture is smooth.

Put about 90% of the mixture into a glass with ice cubes for a tasty treat!

Put the remaining 10% of the mixture onto a clean, dry face with your fingers.

Let sit on your face at least five minutes, and up to ten minutes.

Rinse with warm water and follow up with your go-to serum or moisturizer.

If you’re not into DIY, try the Superfood Mask + Scrub from the brand instead. $51, graydonskincare.com.

 

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DIY face masks you can make with simple ingredients

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