6 Best DIY Face Masks for Every Skin Type in 2019 – Homemade Mask Recipes – Cosmopolitan.com
Long before I was a beauty editor with access to all of the world’s ~coolest~ beauty products (I’m sorry, I know, I suck), I was a very poor, very scrappy human who only exclusively used DIY face masks most nights of the week. Sudden breakout? Slap a turmeric and honey mask on it. Flare up of rosacea and irritation? Get thee face to the yogurt and aloe. If you’re already a DIY devotee, you know the power of a good face mask recipe. But if you’re new to the whole at-home business? Welp, that’s where I come in.
Below, I’ve broken down the six best DIY face mask tutorials for oily skin, acne, blackheads, sensitive skin, and more—with none of the dangerous, skin-destroying ingredients (lookin’ at you, baking soda and lemon juice) you might find on your own. Keep reading (and watching!) to find the next concoction to test tonight.
1. DIY Face Mask for Acne
Vlogger Nicoletta Xo breaks down four different DIY face masks for acne-prone skin, including a soothing, dark-spot-busting formula that uses nutmeg, honey, and milk, along with a brightening, anti-inflammatory mask with turmeric, yogurt, and honey. But my favorite? This tea tree oil spot-treatment mask.
The ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
- a drop of tea tree oil
Okay, so on its own, tea tree oil—which is a natural antibacterial and acne-fighter—is way too harsh to slather over your skin (even as a spot treatment, it can quite literally burn your skin if it isn’t diluted with enough water). But this mask uses hydrating, calming aloe to negate the potentially irritating effects, while calming irritated, broken-out skin. Keep it on clean, dry skin for 10 minutes, then rinse it off, making sure to moisturize afterward.
2. DIY Face Mask for Blackheads
In this tutorial, vlogger Ava Jules shows us her favorite DIY face masks, scrubs, and peels, using everything from egg whites (a natural astringent) to, my favorite, charcoal powder (an oil absorber), in this DIY mask, below.
The ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons water
- 6 activated charcoal capsules (broken open)
Mix all the ingredients together, then dab a relatively thick layer over your nose, basically making your own DIY pore strip (don’t worry—this one’s significantly more gentle. As a PSA, pore strips can hardcore irritate your skin barrier and actually cause more breakouts and blackheads over time, so skip them and try this instead).
Charcoal works as a natural “magnet” to help draw out and absorb excess oils from your skin, making it excellent for naturally oil, blackhead-prone areas. Just be warned: This mask does dry down into a peel-off mask, so only use it on your nose where your skin is a bit less sensitive.
3. DIY Face Mask for Inflammation
Vlogger SweetPotatoSoul (um, cute) has legit excellent skin, so I’ll pretty much try whatever she’s suggesting. In this tutorial, she breaks down three different anti-inflammatory masks, my favorite of which uses aloe vera and matcha powder.
The ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh aloe (or, in a pinch, aloe vera gel)
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
Aloe vera is naturally soothing and lightly moisturizing (it’s honestly killer for itching and inflamed skin—what up, my rosacea brethren), while matcha powder is believed to have redness-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties. Blend ‘em up, slather the mixture on your face (you can stick the mix in the freezer first for 10 minutes for extra cooling powers), leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off and moisturize.
4. DIY Face Mask for Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, you know that the majority of dry-skin remedies involve heavy oils that can also be hella pore-clogging if you’re acne prone. Which is why I’m all for this avocado and honey DIY face mask from vlogger Iamvenessae. It’s legit only two ingredients and super-easy to recreate at home.
The ingredients:
- Half an avocado, mashed
- 1 tablespoon honey
Avocados are full of fatty acids, which help soothe and moisturize your dry skin barrier, while honey is a natural hydrator and astringent (it’s been used to treat acne and inflammatory skin conditions without drying out or irritating your skin). Mix and mash the two together, slather all over your face, then wash off after 10 minutes (or 15! Or 20! What a magical life).
5. DIY Face Mask for Dark Spots and Acne Scars
Okay, so technically this isn’t your classic tutorial video, but it’s still really convincing for anyone who deals with hyperpigmentation and acne scars. Vlogger Supa Natural experimented with applying a straight turmeric mask to her skin every day for three days. And, in her words, after three days, “I can see my skin is really calm—the redness is almost gone, and it just feels so smooth, and I’m just happy I did this.”
The magical ingredient here is turmeric, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that’s been studied to gently brighten discoloration while killing microorganisms on your skin. Cool, right?
The (altered) ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (or olive oil, or your favorite face oil)
Although she uses just turmeric and water in the video, I know from experience that applying straight turmeric without a “buffer” can temporarily stain your skin bright yellow. So add a bit of yogurt or oil to create a barrier and prevent any jaundice-lookin’ vibes, keep the mixture on your skin for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off, followed by your usual face wash.
6. DIY Face Mask for Oily Skin
The thing about DIY face masks for oily skin? Then tend to be filled with ultra-stripping, ultra-harsh ingredients that end up doing more damage than good. But this gentle tutorial from Khichi Beauty uses just two ingredients—egg whites and aloe—to help absorb excess oil without destroying your skin.
The ingredients:
- Egg whites from 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh aloe (or, in a pinch, aloe vera gel)
I know—it sounds super sketch to put raw eggs on your face, but egg whites actually contain a natural antibacterial than can help prevent clogged pores while absorbing excess oil (no, they won’t be as effective as clinically tested and formulated acne treatments, but they also can’t hurt, unless you’re allergic to eggs).
And aloe, of course, is an MVP in the calming, soothing, and hydrating department. So if your skin is overproducing oil as a result of irritation, this two-in-one face mask can help calm it down. Mix the ingredients, spoon them onto your face, hang out for 10 minutes, then rinse them off.
