Have you ever woken up on the day of an important event only to find a huge pimple on your face? Have you tried all sorts of drugstore products for your face, yet nothing seems to work? Is clear, smooth skin on your wish list?
Skin issues can creep up when you least expect it and inevitably turn your day around. With an array of products in stores and online, it can seem quite overwhelming to figure out what to use. But what if you have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now to make a healthy, non-toxic, and delicious, face mask?
These four DIY vegan face masks all combine commonly used ingredients into a powerhouse potion for your skin. What’s awesome is that you can eat the masks too! All the ingredients are not only healthy for your body, but great for your skin. Try these masks and get lost in staring at your glowing skin the mirror. And with the summer heat increasing, these masks will not only nourish and hydrate your skin, but protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. What a win!
Mask for irritated skin
Ingredients:
1 mashed ripe banana
½ cup cooked oats (or uncooked if you want the mask to be more abrasive)
½ cup blueberries (you can use cold blueberries, especially on warm summer days)
Combine all ingredients and apply to your face.
Bananas have vitamin A which promotes skin cell turnover. Their B vitamins also protect the skin against free radicals, and help prevent premature aging of the skin. Oats soothe any irritation and inflammation. It also helps with the appearance of scarring and dryness. Blueberries contain the most antioxidants out of any fruit, which helps increase the elasticity of the skin. Blueberries also balance out oils and can help even out skin tone.
Mask for dehydrated and uneven skin tone
Ingredients:
½ of an avocado
½ of a mashed ripe banana
Squeeze of lemon
Combine all ingredients and apply to your face.
Lemons are high in Vitamin C, which is necessary for the production of collagen. This keeps skin firm and supple as we age. Avocados are very moisturizing for the skin, and help with the regeneration of cells. Bananas also act as a natural hydrator for the skin.
Mask for inflamed and red skin
Ingredients:
2 tbsp cacao powder
¼ tsp cinnamon
2-3 tbsp water (depending on the consistency you like)
Combine all ingredients and apply to your face.
Cacao is a superfood and contains many health benefits. The benefits, when used topically, are reduced redness, smoother fine lines, and a boost in blood circulation. Both cinnamon and cacao contain antioxidants, which helps make the skin look more youthful. The antioxidants can also help reduce acne and fix discoloration of the skin.
Mask for cleansing and soothing the skin
Ingredients:
1 ½ tbsp plain coconut yogurt
1 tbsp turmeric powder (or less if your skin is super sensitive to turmeric)
1 tsp maple syrup
Combine all ingredients and apply to your face.
Coconut yogurt is not only hydrating and soothing to the face, but it has antioxidant and antibacterial benefits that help to fade the appearance of scars. Turmeric is a powerhouse spice that is packed with antioxidants and free radical-fighting polyphenols. It’s great at reducing acne and dark circles. Maple syrup is soothing and moisturizing to the skin, but also helps to cleanse the skin.
Notes: All these masks can be left on for 10–15 minutes. If any burning occurs, wash the mask off with warm water sooner rather than later. Turmeric can also cause slight yellow discoloration of the skin, but it’s temporary, so don’t worry! Any of these masks can be turned into body scrubs if you add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Try to buy organic ingredients so as to protect the skin from any harmful pesticides.
Get more like this—Sign up for our daily inspirational newsletter for exclusive content!
__
Photo: Vanesa conunaese, Tina Witherspoon, and Kimia Zarifi on Unsplash
