Have you been wondering how to perfect your daily skin care routine for glowing skin? Many people know that it is important to wash your face, moisturize and use SPF every day. It’s also a great practice to adjust your hair and skin care routines seasonally to help you look your best. Personally, I find that one of the best additions to my skincare routine are homemade face masks. Facial masks, also known as facial packs, are great ways to take some time out for yourself and relax while giving your skin a little extra care. You will be sure to achieve a beautiful face and body glow in no time!
While sheet masks have become very popular in recent years, they are single-use products and often cost anywhere from $5-10 per mask. That’s not bad for a one time treat, but I love finding reusable, sustainable and natural ways to create beauty treatments that I can use regularly. Not only does it save a lot of money and prevent extra packaging waste from being sent to landfill, but you can get results just as good or even better than ready-made products from simple, clean ingredients that are easily accessible.
Why natural, homemade skin treatments?
- Natural remedies do not contain extra filler ingredients that can be irritating to your skin and body. Irritated skin can occur all at once or slowly over time.
- Homemade recipes are easy to use for skin care because they are often very few ingredients that are perfect for almost any skin type.
- Natural remedies are gentle! This is an essential part of a beauty routine because it helps keep your skin healthy.
- They contain nutrients that are often removed from conventional, ready-made or fixed beauty products. These nutrients help your skin rebuild and stay healthy.
I personally believe that natural homemade products are some of the best products for glowing skin.
Popular ingredients for homemade face masks
I’ve picked out a few ingredients I’d like to highlight today. It’s a combination of tried and true ingredients and classic mask ingredients that have gone viral and trending in recent years.
Bentonite clay
When you think of masks, you might think of the classic green clay mask! This mask is still around for a great reason: it cleans the skin like no other. Bentonite clay is highly cleansing and readily available. We like to use food grade bentonite for masks. Not only does it absorb impurities from the skin, it helps calm irritations and allows the skin to heal itself with its natural minerals.
Rice water
This beauty ingredient has recently gained popularity in recent years for its use as an incredible hair rinse. Did you know you can also use it to condition and repair your skin barrier? This is simple to make, start with organic rice that has been washed and drained. Then add it to a bowl with 1-3 cups of water. Soak the rice for at least 30 minutes or until the water becomes cloudy. You can also gently stir the rice to help release the nutrients. Drain the rice water into a clean jar or bowl. You then store this cloudy water and use the rice for cooking as normal. Rice is a grain that contains many vitamins and minerals that help the skin to calm down and repair itself naturally. Frequent use of rice water also helps skin retain more moisture over time.
Calendula
The beautiful calendula marigold flower is used for healing and soothing products and is especially popular for baby skin care. This flower contains a natural oil that helps heal skin irritations and protect the skin from environmental damage. Its bright yellow and orange color is due to its high concentration of antioxidants, which remove harmful free radicals from the skin.
Aloe Vera juice
Probably one of the most hydrating and soothing substances out there due to its vitamins, minerals and plant sugars. Aloe juice is not only good for your skin topically, but is available as an oral supplement. For skin care and topical treatment purposes, you can either use bottled 100% aloe vera juice or purchase a whole aloe leaf from the produce section of your local grocery store. If you want to buy a fresh leaf, you can refer to a tutorial like this to properly cut the inner gel fillet for use as a beauty treatment. Aloe vera plant nutrients powerfully soothe your skin and even skin tone.
Watermelon
Watermelon has been very popular as a skin care ingredient lately. The red fruit part is excellent as a moisturizing, cooling and soothing pack. The peel also contains plant nutrients that are very popular actives in modern skin care serums and moisturizers. It’s full of antioxidants and electrolytes that help replenish hydration and also have skin-soothing properties. It’s an especially great summer treat both inside and out!
Rose petals
Rose petals are a classic beauty ingredient for a reason. They hydrate, cool and smell heavenly. They have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin and draw moisture to the skin, which is moisturizer property. They are also excellent exfoliators and contain protective antioxidants.
Here are some of my favorite homemade face mask recipes.
Recipe 1: Face mask with rice and bentonite clay
Get this skin brightening treatment for polished, exfoliated and fresh skin.
Components
- 1 cup of your favorite organic rice
- 1 cup clean water, room temperature
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay (food grade preferred)
Equipment required
- Bowl and Spatula (or optional mask application kit, such as this)
- Optional reusable silicone mask such as this
- Optional facial treatment ice stick
- Sieve
Instructions
- Soak your rice in clean water for about 5 minutes. You can swirl the rice with your fingers to mix the sediment
- Using the sieve, drain the rice water into the bowl. You can keep the rice aside for cooking.
- Add ½ cup of bentonite clay to the rice water and stir
- At this point, you can either freeze this mixture on your facial ice stick or apply it to the face using an optional mask kit or your fingers.
- Leave it on your face for about 20 minutes
- Rinse the clay off your face using a towel and moisturize as usual
Be sure to use this recipe within 3 days and refrigerate if not using right away.
Recipe 2: Calendula and Aloe Face Mask
This gentle mask is one of the best cooling products you can make at home!
Components
- 1 cup calendula
- 1 cup clean water, room temperature
- ½ cup aloe vera juice
Equipment required
- Bowl and Spatula (or optional mask application kit, such as this)
- Optional reusable silicone mask such as this
- Optional facial treatment ice stick
Instructions
- Make a tea with your calendula flowers and water. Save the flowers to add to soups or stews (they’re edible!) or throw them away
- When the tea has cooled, add ½ cup of aloe vera juice to this mixture.
- At this point, you can freeze the mixture on your facial ice stick or apply directly to your face with a cotton ball or an optional mask application kit. You can also cover your face with the optional reusable silicone mask.
- Leave it on for half an hour, rinse and moisturize as usual. You can optionally leave this mixture on your face as a toner and layer under your moisturizer.
This mixture should keep in your fridge for up to a week. Refrigerate if not using the whole mixture right away.
Recipe 3: Mask with watermelon and rose
With moisturizing watermelon and soothing rose petals it creates a nice refreshing facial pack.
Components
- 1/4 cup fresh watermelon, cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup dried rose petals
Equipment required
- Mixer
- Bowl and spatula (or optional mask application kit, such as this found on Amazon)
- Optional reusable silicone mask such as this
- Optional facial treatment ice stick
Instructions
- Place your watermelon chunks and rose petals in a blender and blend for 15 seconds
- Apply this smooth liquid paste to your face as is or under a reusable silicone mask
- Wait 20 minutes
- Wash your face (and optional reusable mask) and apply moisturizer to lock in hydration
This recipe should be good for just one mask, but if you have any left over, be sure to refrigerate and use within 3 days. Optionally, you can freeze your mixture in it ice stick and keep it in your freezer for an extra cool DIY hydrating face mask. It is perfect as one of the fastest acting home remedies for dark circles or puffy eyes.
I hope our blog post helped you create some refreshing, refreshing beauty creations from nature’s best offerings! Whether you’re looking for a glow booster or the perfect treatment for dull skin, there are plenty of ways to create soothing natural treatments that bring out the best in your skin.
As always, please leave any questions or comments you may have below in the comments section.
Author: Natalie, DIY Skincare Enthusiast
