You may be looking for alternatives to commercial products because the price of a face mask or toner has skyrocketed in recent months, or maybe you just feel like going all-natural.
In any case, we've got you covered. Check out these seven DIY facial treatments made from ingredients found in your kitchen:
Brighten & Tighten Mask
Ingredients: 1 egg white, 1/2 a tablespoon of honey, 1/2 a tablespoon of lemon juice
Egg whites, honey, and lemon juice are DIY face-mask essentials for good reason; lemon juice helps to lighten dark spots and scars, egg whites tighten the skin and shrink pores, and honey helps seal in moisture and heal damaged skin.
Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until the mixture is foamy. Rinse face with cold water to cleanse, then spread the mask on with a brush. Let sit for 30 minutes, or until completely dry. Rinse with warm water until entire mask is dissolved/removed, then splash face with cold water to seal pores.
*If you have sensitive skin, make sure to do a patch test before applying lemon juice.
Invigorating Coffee Mask
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (softened, but not in liquid form), 1/2 a tablespoon of used coffee grounds
A lot of commercial beauty products include caffeine on that ingredient label, because of its brightening effects. However, you don't need to break the bank to beat blemishes-- this easy 2-ingredient mask will do the trick, and it smells amazing!
Blend the two ingredients together in a bowl until a relatively thick and smooth texture is achieved. Rub onto face in soft, circular motions. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Don't worry about the 'oily' residue that remains-- it's from the coconut oil, and will be absorbed within 20-30 minutes.
The Sunburn Saviour
Ingredients: 2-3 kale leaves (can be omitted if not available), 1 small cucumber, 2/3 cup of chamomile tea (cooled), 7 mint leaves, 2 pea-sized drops of aloe gel, 1 tablespoon of baking soda
Summertime is fast approaching, and that means two things: beach time and the resulting bad sunburn. Save your salary for souvenirs and make your own simple remedy! The cucumber will help cool the skin, the aloe and baking soda have soothing properties, while the kale, chamomile tea and mint help heal by combating the UV damage and free radicals.
Brew the chamomile tea and allow enough time to cool completely. Grind the kale leaves and blend the cucumber. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, except for the baking soda, which is stirred in after a gel-like texture is achieved. Rub gently onto affected area(s) and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and softly pat skin dry with a towel.
Extra tip: Apply calamine lotion every 1-2hrs to keep skin from flaking/peeling.
Oily Skin Scrub
Ingredients: 1 small cucumber, 2 tablespoons of dry oatmeal , 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of sugar
Cucumbers are a natural astringent that cleanses and soothes the skin while also reducing sebum (the skin's natural oil). Both oatmeal and sugar are great exfoliants, so altogether this makes for an excellent DIY scrub!
Chop up the cucumber and combine with the oatmeal and lemon juice in a blender. Once a smooth, not not-too-watery consistency is achieved, add the sugar (be careful not to let it melt). Gently scrub onto face in circular motions and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off completely with cold water to seal pores.
*If you have sensitive skin, make sure to do a patch test before applying lemon juice.
Perky Pumpkin Paste
Ingredients: 1/4 cup pf pureed pumpkin, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of milk
The thought of putting pumpkin on your face and not in pie might sound odd, but pumpkins are actually rich in all kinds of vitaminutes, minerals, and nutrients that your skin needs (vitaminutes C, E, and A; zinc; beta carotene; antioxidants; and potassium). Plus, they also are a natural exfoliant. This paste works wonder when it comes to soothing irritation and redness, and calms breakouts!
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until a paste-like texture is achieved. Apply on face with a brush and let sit for 20 minutes, or until completely dry. Rinse off with warm water. No, it will not turn your skin orange....
Acne-Alleviating Turmeric Mask
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of almond oil, 1 tablespoon of chickpea flour (can be omitted if not available), 3 tablespoons of plain yoghurt
Turmeric is not just wonderful on chicken, but also on your skin! The spice possesses many antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties, and can assist in combating acne, aging signs and uneven skin tone.
Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix until a creamy texture is achieved. Rinse face with cold water to cleanse. Apply mask with a brush and let sit for 15-20 minutes, or until completely dry. Rinse well with cold water, until all turmeric residue is removed (as it can temporarily stain lighter skin tones).
Tamarind Toner & Skin Peel
Ingredients: 3 tamarind pods, 1/2 cup of water
Fancy acid peels and toners are pricier than ever, but tamarind (aka tamr hindy) is a fraction of the cost and will drastically improve the texture of your complexion!
Peel the tamarind, remove the 'veins' and boil with the water for 5-7 minutes until the fruit turns light brown. Let cool, then remove seeds and create a paste with them. Apply to face and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse off completely with cold water.
Extra tip: Save the boiled tamarind-infused water in a bottle to use as toner!
Got any great DIY beauty treatments of your own? Let us know in the comments!
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By Salma Thanatos Rizk
