You might find it a bit odd to be rubbing foods that you’d usually eat on your face but if they can nourish you from the inside, they can most definitely nourish you from the outside too! They might not come with the entertainment of a sheet mask selfie (we’ve all done it) but these natural DIY face mask recipes will give your skin the TLC it deserves in a completely natural way.

We’ve pulled together some of our favourite natural face masks for you to make at home. Cucumber eye covers are optional but highly recommended and oh so chic.

1. Calming Honey Mask

Great for fighting acne and calming other skin irritations with its anti-bacterial properties, this honey mask is best for those with sensitive skin. Just be sure to buy raw honey, the cheap stuff from the supermarket just won’t cut it here, sorry!

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon of Manuka or Raw Honey

1 Teaspoon of Nutritional Yeast

2 Chamomile Teabags

Method:

Brew one cup of chamomile tea using both teabags, let this cool completely.

Mix together the honey and nutritional yeast.

Add the chamomile tea, bit by bit until the consistency of a thick paste, runny enough to spread on your face but not too watery that it’ll slide off.

Leave on for 20 minutes and feel to soothing benefits immediately.

Wipe off and pat dry!

(Adapted from: Lily Kunin, Clean Food Dirty City)

 

2. Anti-Wrinkle Turmeric Mask

You’ve probably seen everywhere that turmeric is the latest celebrity super food, but this is one fad we can get on board with. The cur-cumin in turmeric holds some amazing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers which are great, not only for wrinkles but for stretch marks and burns too, meaning you can use this mask anywhere on your body! We recommend not wearing white clothes while applying this one…

Ingredients:

1 Teaspoon of Gram Flour

½ Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder

2 Drops of Argan Oil

2 Drops of Lemon Juice

Method:

Mix the turmeric powder and chickpea flour together.

Add the argan oil and lemon juice and mix to form a thick paste. If necessary, add more to form the correct consistency.

Apply to face and leave for 20 minutes.

Remove with warm water and you’re instantly 10 years younger!

(Adapted from: Lilla Bessenyei, FitLife.com)

3. Nourishing Avocado Mask

Victoria Beckham swears by it, apparently, and she hasn’t aged at all since her leopard print clad, scary spice days. So, why are avocados so good for the skin? The fruit is full of skin friendly minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium, as well as unsaturated fats- great for even the driest skin! The best thing about this mask is you can put those over ripe avo’s to good use, rather than in the bin (damn, this happens way too often).

Ingredients:

½ Ripe Avocado

½ Cup of Oatmeal

Method:

Cook the oatmeal as usual.

Peel and remove the stone of your avocado and mash in a bowl.

Combine the oatmeal and avocado.

Apply to skin and leave for 10-15 minutes, until the mask has set.

Wash with warm water and pat skin dry, now admire your glowing skin!

(Adapted from: Natural Beauty Tips)

4. Cleansing Coconut Oil Mask

Coconut oil might seem like an obvious choice when it comes to skin care but combine it with the more surprising ingredient, baking soda, and you’ve got yourself a potent exfoliater perfect for balancing skins pH. Baking soda is one of the most under valued and under used ingredients out there, it can clean not only your skin but also your teeth and even your house! This mask is sure to fight blackheads and leave you with that just washed fresh feeling, all day long.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil

1 Teaspoon of Baking soda

Method:

Mix together the coconut oil and baking soda, add more baking soda, pinch by pinch, until the consistency is correct.

Apply to face and leave to sit for 5 minutes.

Gently rub your skin in small circular motions around any problem areas, particularly your T-zone where blackheads are most common.

Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry. Repeat three times weekly.

(Adapted from: Sio Beauty)

There are many other skin friendly ingredients most likely hidden away in your food cupboards including:

• Bananas:As your probably aware, bananas contain high levels of potassium. Great for hydrating and moisturizing dry skin.
• Olive Oil: Contains vitamin E which is great for revitalising your skin
• Cinnamon: Has antimicrobial properties, great for cleansing blackheads and other impurities

So, get raiding your cupboards and create your own natural skin mask, your skin will thank you for it, especially during the cold winter months!