Homemade Face Masks

Applying face masks is a part of a complete facial treatment. It is a creamy base formulated with various skin care ingredients and is applied for giving a smooth skin. The expected benefits of face masks are hydration, rejuvenation, pore cleaning and lightening skin tone. You can use commercial products or masks made at home for the purpose. Making homemade face masks leaves you with a choice of natural ingredients and usage amounts, which can be decided in accordance to your skin type.

Homemade Recipes for Face Masks

Selecting the required ingredients that are appropriate for your skin is the first step towards making face mask at home. What seems great for oily skin will have the opposite effect in dry skin type. Like for instance, applying a clay based mask help in controlling excess oil production, while using the same in dry skin causes increased dryness. Hence, first try to identify your skin type, before you start making face masks at home. You can use the following homemade face mask recipes for your reference.

Homemade Face Masks for Oily Skin
Clay or mud derived masks are best for oily skin. Accordingly, you should select homemade facial masks ingredients to absorb maximum oil from the glands, thereby retaining the skin moisture. Some homemade masks for oily skin are:

Yogurt and Cucumber Mask: Both ingredients available in your kitchen counter, you can make these homemade facial masks anytime. Make a puree of half cucumber (peeled) and 1 tablespoon yogurt in a food mixer. Cover face with this cucumber mask, leave for 15 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

Oatmeal and Honey Mask: Take one serving of unsweetened oatmeal (excellent for cleaning pores) and mix it well with ¼ cup honey. Apply this to the face, giving more emphasis on the affected areas. Leave for 10-12 minutes and wash thoroughly.

Baking Soda and Water Mask: Whether you say homemade face masks for pimples or for acne, they are similar to each other. This recipe is best for medium pimple breakouts. Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Apply this and retain mask for 20 minutes, the rinse with water. Use 2 times a week for best results.

Lemon and Egg White Mask: Use a concoction of egg white and lemon juice. Whisk together albumen from 2 eggs with 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Apply it to face and leave for 15 minutes. Wash thoroughly with slightly warm water.

Homemade Face Masks for Dry Skin
Coming to facial masks for dry skin, hydrating ingredients form the base ingredients. You can consider using honey, glycerin and essential oils for moisturizing skin. Explained below are dry skin masks, which are ideal for winter skin care:

Avocado and Olive Oil Mask: Avocado is one of the miracle fruits, loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Provide these benefits to your skin by using an avocado face mask. Mash flesh of a ripe avocado with a few drops of olive oil (or almond oil). Cover face with this mask and leave for a long period before washing.

Plain Flaxseed Mask: For dry skin, flaxseed is an ideal ingredient for natural skin care. To prepare mask, boil 1 tablespoon flaxseed in 1 cup of water over a low heat setting. Allow it to thicken, till you get a paste form. Leave it for cooling down and apply it evenly over face. It will help soothe dry, irritating skin.

Aloe vera and Milk Mask: Some of the classic homemade face masks for dry skin are prepared with aloe vera gel. In a small bowl, combine 4 drops of essential oil, 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel, 2 teaspoons powdered milk and 1 ½ tablespoons thin honey. Use this mask over face and leave for 15 minutes. Wash thoroughly with warm water.

Almond and Honey Mask: Both these ingredients add skin moisture and make the face smooth. Mix together 1 tablespoon ground almond, 1 teaspoon honey and enough water to make a consistently thick paste. Apply this moisturizing face mask and keep like that for 10-15 minutes. Wash with water and apply a good skin moisturizer.

Thus, if you are ready with the supplies for homemade face masks, more than half of your work is done. After applying masks, you are expected to leave them on the skin for some time, about 10 minutes or more. Use these natural face masks and see the radiance in your skin after washing off the masks.