3 DIY Face Mask Recipes to Brighten, Hydrate, and Tone

Jun 22, 2021Karen Wang, PhDLife

Ditch the harsh chemicals, plastic packaging and make your own!

Whether it’s too much sun in the summer or much needed hydration in the winter, a sheet face mask is a great way to give nutrients and an extra boost to your skin. Plus face masks are basically the definition of self care. But as fun as store-bought face masks are, they do have some downsides. Many commercially available sheet masks contain harsh preservatives like parabens and potentially harmful chemicals because there isn’t enough regulation on what can actually go in beauty products. And they aren’t really that great for the environment because of the plastic packaging and every face mask just gets thrown away, creating more garbage.

Luckily you can save money, give your skin some much needed pampering, and help the environment by making your own DIY face mask! Win, win, win! Our favorite DIY face mask recipes feature ingredients like citrus, honey, yogurt, avocado, matcha, and turmeric. Each of the ingredients are favorites among skin care experts and we’ve tested all of them ourselves. All three of our favorite recipes have only 2 simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand, so you can definitely try one of these tonight!

We suggest buying a reusable washable sheet face mask to get the same spa-ish feel as a single-use sheet face mask. Here are some silicone face mask covers, and another cloth one that are both reusable and washable.

Honey Orange Brightening Face Mask Recipe

Orange juice is full of vitamin C, which is a natural skin brightener and has many anti-aging properties (1). Honey is a natural exfoliator and raw honey especially provides great balancing and soothing properties (2). These ingredients in combination make for a great brightening mask that’s great for skin that appears dull and damaged. It’s especially great during the summer, when UV rays can wreak havoc on your skin.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Orange Juice
2 Tbsp Honey

Instructions:

Mix the orange juice and honey in a small bowl and then apply and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a lukewarm washcloth.

Super Green Hydration Face Mask

The creamy healthy fats in avocado provide some hydration super powers. Avocado is also an excellent source of Vitamin E and Vitamin C (3). Matcha green tea is packed with anti-aging and anti-inflammatory antioxidants (4, 5). When combined into a face mask, the texture is luxurious and provides a cooling and moisturizing effect that is addicting.

Ingredients:

½ avocado, smashed until smooth
1 tsp matcha

Instructions:

Mix the matcha into the avocado puree. You can also use an immersion blender if you want a smoother and fluffier texture. Apply the face mask and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a lukewarm washcloth.

Turmeric Yogurt Toning Face Mask

Yogurt is a natural source of lactic acid that can gently help tone, brighten, and exfoliate your skin (6). Turmeric is antiinflammatory and the active compound, curcumin, has been shown to improve a multitude of skin conditions (7). This simple mask will help clarify your skin, while also increasing hydration and preparing your skin for the moisturizers or serums in your usual skincare routine.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp plain yogurt
¼ tsp turmeric

Instructions:

Stir the turmeric into the plain yogurt. Apply the mask and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a lukewarm washcloth.

Sources

Your Health