- Oatmeal facial mask—from the experts at Spagnolo Day Spa on WebMD
How it helps: The wintry weather can worsen already sensitive skin. Even if you have a fairly normal complexion, you might still feel like you need a gentle treatment to get your skin back in shape. This mask helps skin look radiant and healthier overall. Plus, oatmeal is a great skin-soother.
Skin types: All skin types, especially dry or sensitive.
What you need: Oatmeal and boiling water – that’s it!
How to make it: After the water has boiled, put in the oatmeal, and prepare it according to directions. Let it sit for several minutes until the oatmeal has cooled. Then apply the oatmeal, leaving it on your face for 15 minutes. After that, just rinse with water.
- Avocado oil blend—from Body + Soul magazine
How it helps: In addition to making skin more sensitive, the cool, windy weather can also dry out your face. Using an avocado oil-based blend is a fantastic way to boost dry, sensitive skin, because avocado oil contains fatty acids that balance skin’s moisture, according to Body + Soul. Plus, avocado oil includes antioxidants, like vitamins A, C and E, which protect skin from future damage.
Skin types: Dry or normal skin that’s not prone to acne or clogged pores.
What you need: Avocado oil, evening primrose oil and a bottle with a tight seal.
How to make it: In your bottle, mix in the same amounts of avocado oil and evening primrose oil, and shake. To clean skin, apply five to six drops of the mixture. Then, place a warm washcloth over your face to let the oils sink in. A minute should do.
- Cucumber concoction— from Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity on Yahoo! Health
How it helps: Temperature extremes can exacerbate skin conditions like rosacea. Anti-aging expert and doctor of Chinese medicine Dr. Maoshing Ni suggests creating a cucumber mask to ease symptoms.
Skin types: All skin types, including problem-prone skin and anyone with rosacea.
What you need: 1 peeled cucumber, 1 egg white and a blender.
How to make it: In a blender, combine the peeled cucumber and egg white to create a puree. Then, apply the mask to your face for 30 minutes. Dr. Mao suggests applying the treatment every day. He says that you should see improvement within the first month.
- Honey yogurt mask—from esthetician Andrea Stotsky in Redbook
How it helps: Stotsky, also a national trainer for Decléor, uses this treatment to rejuvenate her own skin. That’s because this mask brightens and hydrates the skin. Specifically, the honey takes out impurities while the yogurt moisturizes.
Skin types: Normal to dry; avoid if your skin is oily or acne-prone.
What you need: 2 tablespoons honey, ½ plain yogurt (the regular stuff, not low-fat), 1 teaspoon grapefruit zest, and 1 cup of iced black tea for rinsing.
How to make it: Combine the honey, plain yogurt and grapefruit zest. Apply the concoction to clean skin (including your face and neck), and leave on for 15 minutes minimum. Use the tea to rinse your face and then apply your regular moisturizer.
- Banana blend—from Julyne Derrick, About’s beauty guide
How it helps: This mask helps to soothe oily complexions, which becomes especially important when the weather warms up and your skin starts churning out the grease. Another bonus is that you need to use ripe bananas, which as we all know usually end up getting tossed anyway.
Skin types: Best for oily, acne-prone or combination skin types.
What you need: 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 orange or lemon.
How to make it: Combine the banana and honey. Next, squeeze the orange or lemon to add a few drops into the mixture. Then, it’s ready to apply to your face for about 15 minutes. To rinse, apply a cool or steaming warm washcloth.
- The breakfast mask—from Sharōn Ronen, founder/owner, Skin Haven Spa Studio & WellSpa, in Marie Claire
How it helps: This is another great option for soothing and treating oily skin.
Skin types: Oily, acne-prone or normal/combination.
What you need: 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon olive oil and ½ cup oatmeal.
How to make it: Mix the ingredients together in the order they appear. Leave on the face for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with your regular moisturizer.
- Honey and papaya lightening mask—also from Ronen in Marie Claire
How it helps: This lightening mask is a natural way to treat skin discoloration, including hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and sun spots.
Skin types: Any skin type with discoloration.
What you need: 2 tablespoons honey, ½ ripe and mashed papaya.
How to make it: Mix the two ingredients, and apply to your face for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse, and follow with moisturizer.
- Cucumber-carrot mask—from dermatologist Doris Day in Natural Health
How it helps: This homemade treatment helps to de-stress the skin. According to Dr. Day, “Aloe, oat, cucumber, and milk proteins are good for soothing.”
Skin types: Irritated skin.
What you need: ½ peeled and pureed cucumber, 1 tablespoon plain whole-milk yogurt, 1 cooked carrot, 1/2 mashed avocado, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel, 2 teaspoons witch hazel, 1 cup warm water.
How to make it: Mix all the ingredients together, except for the witch hazel and warm water. Apply the mixture to clean skin, leaving it on for 10 minutes. In the meantime, combine the witch hazel and warm water. Then, use the solution to rinse your face.
- Fruit mask—from Cait Johnson, author of Witch in the Kitchen, at Care2
How it helps: A fruit mask helps give skin a radiant glow. Fruit acids exfoliate the skin, revealing a newer, healthier complexion. So there’s no buildup of dead skin cells on the surface.
Skin types: All skin types.
What you need: About 1/8 th cup honey, ¼ apple, ¼ peeled orange, 6 grapes, 3 strawberries and a blender or food processor.
How to make it: In your blender – or processor – mix all the ingredients, with the exception of the honey, until the mixture becomes smooth. After washing your face, apply a coat of honey to your face, followed by the fruit mixture. Keep the mask on for at least 15 minutes. Then, rinse with warm water.
- Zesty apple rub—from Julie Gabriel in her book The Green Beauty Guide
How it helps: According to Gabriel, this is a very strong exfoliating mask, so it’s perfect for rough areas like your elbows and feet. However, if you’d like to use it on other areas, you can dilute the mixture with aloe vera juice or honey.
Skin types: All skin types, unless you have very sensitive skin (if you do, you can try the diluting trick Gabriel suggests).
What you need: ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ½ cup fine Dead Sea salt or plain sea salt, ½ cup almond meal, 3 tablespoons apple sauce, 2 drops rosemary essential oil, 1 drop lemon essential oil, 3 drops grapefruit seed essential oil and a bowl.
How to make it: Blend all ingredients in a bowl. Rub the scrub onto thoroughly wet skin and rub in gentle circles. You can keep leftovers in a tightly sealed bottle for up to one month.
Creating star skin care at home doesn’t have to be complicated. You’ve got 10 great options for whipping up brighter, healthier skin, from head to toe.