Throughout the ages, women have strived for beauty and invented various ways to emphasize their natural attractiveness. For a long time, face masks were the mainstay of personal care. They are made by themselves from herbs and other natural ingredients.
Many girls still prefer to make natural face masks at home. After all, this is the only way to know exactly what you are applying to the skin and not to worry about possible allergies or cosmetics tested on animals.
And in this article, we want to tell you how to make homemade face masks from improvised products and cheap ingredients.
How to decide on a composition
Before you start directly preparing the recipes, you should know which ingredients to choose for the homemade face mask to be the most effective.
And for this you need to determine your skin type. You can do it at a beauty salon or by yourself. First of all, you need to remove the makeup and leave your face for a few hours. Then examine the face in daylight with a magnifying mirror.
If the skin is transparent, there is a feeling of tightness and peeling - this is a dry type. It can be both congenital and acquired. It is especially negatively affected by external factors: regular ultraviolet radiation, low relative humidity, wind. Such a dermis needs constant abundant hydration and nutrition. Homemade face masks can help here.
If the dermis looks oily, thickens and large pores appear, it is an oily type. In this type of skin, the production of sebum increases, which, when combined with dust and dead particles of the epidermis, forms plugs - the familiar "black dots".
Acne and rashes often appear on oily skin, followed by inflammation. Possible causes of oily skin:
- heredity;
- hormonal disorders;
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- improper hygiene care;
If there is a feeling of tightness in the cheeks and enlarged pores appear in the nose, this is a combined type. Such skin combines normal and dry or oily skin types in different areas of the face. Therefore, black dots may appear on the forehead, nose and chin, peeling on the temples or cheeks after washing. To identify this type of dermis, you need to wash yourself thoroughly and blot your face with a napkin after two hours. If there is an oily residue on the tissue in the T-zone, then the skin is confused.
It looks fatter in summer, more flaky in winter. The reason for the increased fat content is often the excess of the testosterone hormone at a young age, heredity, bad habits, unbalanced nutrition.
And the last type is normal. Such skin does not peel and does not have excessive oiliness. It has almost no rash and looks smooth. Such a face needs regular cleaning and moisturizing.
After determining your skin type, it's time to start choosing the composition of your future face mask from homemade ingredients. They are of three types:
- Nourishing, moisturizing, toning and cleansing - designed for constant care and maintenance of the skin in perfect condition. Such masks are used for all skin types, the differences are only in the compositions, because each type needs its own active ingredients.
- Anti-inflammatory, whitening, anti-couperosis - this group of masks successfully fights with obvious skin defects. They are used to treat various inflammations and rashes.
- Anti-aging, lifting masks belong to the anti-aging group and help to tighten the skin of the face. But soon you won't need them.
It is best to first contact a beautician to know exactly which masks you need.
The best face masks at home
Cleaning and toning
With gelatin and activated charcoal
Mixed:
- 1 tablespoon of gelatin;
- 2-3 activated charcoal tablets;
- 2 tablespoons of water.
This is the best ingredient for a mask that will help you get rid of blackheads and oily fibers. Before you start kneading the composition and applying it to your face, you must first clean it properly and steam it. If everything is done correctly, the effect will be maximum.
Once your face is ready for the mask after washing and steaming, start mixing the ingredients. First, combine the gelatin with water, mix and leave it on the base for 2-3 minutes for the gelatin to swell. While this is happening, grind the activated charcoal into a powder. Now you need to add it to the gelatin, mix it again and put it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Be sure to check whether the temperature of the composition is comfortable before applying it to your face.
As soon as the mask begins to tighten the skin and move away from the edges, remove it from top to bottom. You will see how all the deep dirt remains in the film.
At the end, don't forget to apply a nourishing cream to the skin to restore its balance!
Use 1-2 times a week for oily or combination skin.
Clay
This is a great alternative to the previous mask. It not only cleans the skin, but also has an additional beneficial effect. After that, you will not need another tool.
Mixed:
- black clay;
- lemon juice;
- tea tree essential oil.
In the same way, prepare the skin for the mask - remove the makeup and steam your face. Then mix the clay as directed on the package. Now add a teaspoon of lemon juice and 5-7 drops of essential oil to the mixture.
Apply the finished composition on the face and wait for it to dry a little. After 10-20 minutes you can go to wash.
Such a mask will not only cleanse the skin of impurities, but also shrink pores thanks to lemon juice and clay, and tea tree essential oil will make the skin soft and velvety. Regular use of the mask also helps to fight age-related changes and improve the shape of the face thanks to its lifting effect.
Suitable for all skin types except dry. You can use it once a week.
A classic herbal cleansing mask
Cleansing masks can be useful and as natural as possible. In the pharmacy, you can choose medicinal plants that can be used in facial care. These were the tools that the girls used to use because herbs were everywhere.
Different herbs are suitable for different skin types:
- for oily and combined - calendula, string, oak bark, lingonberry leaf;
- for dry - wild rose, linden, rose petals, mint, St. John's wort, coltsfoot;
- for sensitive and problematic - chamomile, aloe, celandine, burdock root, horsetail.
You don't need to limit yourself to one component - you can make a mixture of herbs. Make sure you are not allergic to them first!
How to make a mask:
Grind the dry plant mixture into powder, pour boiling water over it, and let it brew for 20-30 minutes. Then the liquid should be drained and the remaining warm herbal oats should be wrapped in a thin gauze and applied to the cleansed skin of the face.
Such a mixture will very carefully, quickly and effectively remove impurities from the pores, and its useful properties will actively tone the skin and give pleasant bonuses in the form of brightness and freshness. Herbs will help fight acne and inflammation. And the herbs will soothe odors and turn cleansing into a true spa treatment!
This mask can be done 1-2 times a week.
Homemade moisturizing face masks
For dry skin
Quick oatmeal mask recipe
Ingredients:
- the yolk of one egg;
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil;
- a spoonful of oatmeal;
- a teaspoon of honey;
- a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Oatmeal is the best natural ingredient in home care.
Wash your face and prepare your skin for the mask. Mix all the ingredients until you get a semi-liquid slurry. Apply the mixture on your face and wait 15-20 minutes. Then rinse with cool water.
Such a composition will help restore the structure of the skin and nourish it, as it contains many useful substances. Honey and yolk normalize metabolic processes, lemon increases tone and stimulates the skin, helps to get rid of age spots, oatmeal will give the face the necessary collagen and fill bumps. If you use it as a scrub, you get a very gentle cleanser and moisturizer at the same time.
Quick cottage cheese recipe
Mixed:
- 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese;
- 1 tablespoon of heavy cream;
- 1-2 drops of B vitamins.
Clean the skin, mix all the ingredients until smooth, apply on the face and wait 10-15 minutes. Then - wash thoroughly.
Vitamin B and protein will give the face instant natural hydration and proper nutrition. The best time to use this mask is winter. Farm products are best for making compositions, but if they aren't available, store-bought will do just fine.
For oily skin
A light moisturizer, normalization of sebaceous glands and narrowing of pores are relevant for oily dermis. By the way, the cause of excessive oil content can be the use of improper care and drying agents. Simple toners with alcohol can aggravate oily skin. Be sure to read the ingredients of your care products before applying the mask!
Excess oil can be removed fairly quickly by providing sufficient hydration and avoiding procedures that cause dryness. The main ingredient for oily skin is honey. In addition, you can use various effective cosmetic oils.
Protein-oat mask
Mixed:
- a teaspoon of honey;
- a protein;
- a spoonful of oatmeal;
- rosemary ether.
We mix everything and apply to the face with a brush. Then dry the mixture a little and add a second layer, after which we keep it for at least 15-20 minutes and wash it off.
Oatmeal will help to clean and fill the skin with useful substances, protein will give vitamins, honey and rosemary will soften the skin and moisturize it at the right time.
honey mask
This mask is incredibly easy to make. Just take a spoonful of honey and mix everything in a glass of hot water. Apply the resulting composition to a cotton napkin and put it on your face. Wait 5 minutes and repeat the procedure. Two or three times is enough. Honey perfectly nourishes and moisturizes the skin of the face and normalizes sebum production.
The same masks can be used for combination and normal dermis. But first check the composition for allergies! For this, apply the mixture to the inside of the wrist or the fold of the arm and keep it for 15 minutes. If there is no redness or burning sensation, do not hesitate to use it on your face.
For normal skin
Moisturizing halva mask
To prepare such a mask, you should have some halva and water at home. Finely grind the halwa and mix it with water to make an ointment. Apply the composition to the cleansed facial skin and keep it for 10-15 minutes. To increase the effect, you can cover your face with a plastic bag, then the useful components will penetrate deeper into the dermis.
This mask perfectly nourishes and moisturizes dry and normal skin, promotes instant cell regeneration and collagen synthesis, because halva contains a lot of healthy fats and oils. It also has a rejuvenating effect. But don't forget to check that you are not allergic to nuts before using!
Simple nourishing face masks at home
For dry skin
Avocado mask
Mixed:
- one ripe avocado;
- olive, peach or almond oil - two tablespoons.
Mash the pulp of the avocado, add oil heated to no more than forty degrees, mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to cleansed skin. Keep the mask on your face for 15-20 minutes.
Avocado pulp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and contains many vitamins (A, C, E, K, B groups, folic and pantothenic acids) and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium). This mask will make the skin smooth and elastic, provide moisture and proper nutrition thanks to natural ingredients.
For oily skin
Strong starch mask
Mixed:
- a spoonful of potato starch;
- a spoonful of cranberry juice;
- a chicken protein.
Mix all the ingredients and mix until it becomes a slurry. Then, spread it on a pre-steamed face with a brush or fingers. Keep the composition on your face for 20-25 minutes and wash it off with warm water.
Starch helps regulate the sebaceous glands and natural protein provides proper nutrition. Cranberry juice tightens pores and tones the skin.
For normal skin
Rub the mask with banana and oatmeal
Mixed:
- a spoonful of oatmeal;
- a spoonful of chopped banana pulp;
- three tablespoons of water.
Pour boiling water over the flakes and leave to swell. Mash the banana until it becomes a puree. Mix the prepared ingredients until a homogeneous sour cream is obtained. Now use a brush or fingers to spread the mixture on your face. Leave for 10-15, massage your face to exfoliate dead skin particles and wash.
Such a mask will give your face a gentle and effective cleansing, moisturize and nourish it with the necessary micro and macro elements, and improve the complexion.
For combination skin
Mask with sour cream
- Mixed:
- two tablespoons of oatmeal;
- a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar;
- a spoonful of sour cream;
- five drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Mix all the ingredients together to get a homogeneous mixture. Apply the mixture to the skin with your fingers or a special brush. Keep for 15-20 minutes and wash with warm water.
Flakes will clean the skin and even out the structure, vinegar will normalize the production of sebum in the T zone and tone the skin, lemon will lighten pigmentation, and sour cream will give the face the necessary vitamins and minerals. All components of the mask will give an instant effect and give elasticity. This mask is perfect as an evening treatment.
Light folk anti-aging face masks
After the age of 30, the aging process begins and the first wrinkles appear on the face. You should not be discouraged, just include rejuvenating masks in your regular face care. Regular use of rejuvenating collagen masks will delay the appearance of new age-related changes on the face and keep youth longer. Cosmetics and folk recipes together will help you in this.
Rejuvenating Aloe Face Mask
The recipe is very simple. Combine one tablespoon of plant juice with the same amount of cosmetic nourishing face cream and the highest grade vegetable oil (preferably olive oil). Mix and apply the mask a little warm, keep it on your face for 10 minutes.
Aloe juice is a long-established folk remedy that is used everywhere. After all, its strengthening and tonic properties are universal for the health of the body.
Plantain mask
In summer, you can make a mask from fresh plantain leaves. This plant is not only famous for its healing and strengthening properties - its leaves have rejuvenating properties.
Pulp the leaves and mix with honey in equal parts. If the mixture is too thick, thin it a little with water. Keep this paste on your face for at least 15 minutes. First, remove with a wet pad, then wash your face with cool water. Suitable for any skin type.
Rules for applying masks at home
A big part of facial skin care is the evening ritual. And for everything to go well and you will not only benefit, but also enjoy, follow simple rules.
Begin your preparations by cleansing your face of decorative cosmetics with a gentle makeup remover.
The initial exfoliation of dead cells is desirable so that all useful firming substances penetrate well into the skin of the face, which will ensure its greatest effectiveness. The scrub can also be used at home.
- The evening procedure for applying the mask cannot be done on the run. Put aside household chores and spend half an hour just for yourself.
- It is important to prepare any face mask immediately before using it. The rest of the mass is not subject to storage.
- All components of the mask must be of good quality, sour cream, fruit, kefir, etc. Ingredients such as shallots should be fresh unless stored for more than a day.
- Before applying the mask, it should be cleaned as usual. Owners of oily and combination skin will probably need initial peeling. After cleaning the skin, open the pores as much as possible, they can be steamed over the bath or a warm wet compress. This will allow all substances to be better absorbed and have a maximum effect.
- So that the hair does not interfere with the face, collect it in a bun and fix it with something.
- Depending on the consistency of the mask, it should be applied with clean hands, a brush, gauze or a cotton swab.
- Most masks should be applied not only to the face, but also to the neck and décolleté. The exception will be drying masks for oily facial skin, because the dermis on the décolleté is drier and more sensitive.
- Apply a homemade mask along the massage lines, making movements from the middle of the face to the temples. The exception is the area directly around the eyes - it is not necessary to apply a mask on it.
- Wash off the mask with plenty of clean water. It is better not to take it from the tap, but to prepare boiled water in a container cooled to body temperature beforehand.
- After washing off the mask, do not wipe your face, gently wipe off excess moisture with a clean towel. Apply a cream suitable for your skin type on a wet face.
- Do not expect an immediate effect from the first procedure, because this is not possible in all cases.