20 DIY face masks using ingredients found in your kitchen – recommendations for every skin type and concern

Some of us may have started using sheet masks daily and our sheet masks supply are just getting low. While you’re waiting for your Korean sheet masks haul to arrive, consider what many are also embarking on: DIY masks using ingredients that can be found in your kitchen.

From easy DIY mask recipes that take only five minutes to prepare to potent concoctions that require ingredients like egg whites and aspirin tablets, here are 20 DIY all-natural face mask recipes for glowing and healthy skin at home.

We have recommendations for every skin type and concern; if you have normal skin, you can try any of them listed here, and if you have combination skin, consider multi-masking by using a recipe for oily skin on your T-zone and a different one for your U-zone.

DIY mask recipes for dry skin

1. Yogurt face mask

This is a popular and easy, three ingredient recipe that will soften, exfoliate, and moisturise your skin all at once. All you need to do is to mix yogurt, honey, and oatmeal together to form a thick paste, and apply it to your face! You may know honey as a great anti-inflammatory ingredient, but yogurt actually has plenty of skin-friendly properties too, including exfoliating dead skin cells with its lactic acid, and calming acne or irritation.

Ingredients:

• One tablespoon yogurt
• One teaspoon honey
• One teaspoon oatmeal

Leave on for 10-15 minutes.

2. Avocado and honey face mask

Want something more decadent? Ditch the oatmeal and yogurt and reach for the avocados instead. When ingested, this delicious fruit has healthy fat to boost skin health and hair shine, and also calms, softens, and moisturises when applied to the skin. Just don’t be tempted to lick it all off!

Ingredients:

• Half of an avocado
• About one teaspoon of honey

Leave on for 10-15 minutes.

3. Brown sugar mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGe0hFjDPF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A popular ingredient in baking and skincare alike, brown sugar helps decongest pores and remove dead skin cells to remove fresher skin underneath. While this recipe calls for coconut oil, it’s known to cause severe breakouts in some, so remember to test the ingredient on a patch of skin before, or switch it out for other types of oils like sweet almond, or use honey instead.

Tip: although scrubs are one of the most effective ways to get glowing skin fast, sensitive types should stay away from physical exfoliators as they can be too harsh for your skin.

Ingredients:

• Brown sugar
• Enough coconut oil or a substitute to form a thick paste

4. Banana orange mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0O3DdWHiRv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Gentle enough for all skin types, this three-ingredient mask hydrates, brightens, and energises tired complexions, and is good enough to eat! The abundance of potassium in the banana moisturises, while the vitamin C rich orange brightens your skin for that post-workout glow, even if you skipped leg day.

Tip: Use masks that contain citrus fruits (like orange, pineapple, or limes) only at night, and apply generous layers of sunscreen the next day- although vitamin C promotes that enviable glow, it makes your skin more photosensitive and irritable when in sunlight!

Ingredients:

• Half a banana, mashed
• One tablespoon of orange juice
• One tablespoon of honey

Leave on for 15 minutes, and moisturise.

5. Cocoa mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/i9_nVbBlSz/

Save some cocoa powder for this hydrating and anti-oxidant mask! The mix plumping and hydrating avocado, anti-oxidant cocoa powder, and anti-inflammatory honey not only sounds (and tastes) like a smoothie, it’ll give you an illuminated complexion, sans highlighter.

Ingredients:

• A quarter of an avocado, mashed
• One tablespoon honey
• One tablespoon cocoa powder

Leave on for 10 minutes.

6. Cucumber and aloe mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CACuEzpiHJs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It’s as refreshing and as light as it sounds! Use this hydrating, cooling, and calming one as a quick pick me up on hot afternoons, or as a relaxing treat before bedtime.

Ingredients:

• Half a cucumber, blended
• Two tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel

Steps:

Add the Aloe Vera to the blended cucumber and mix still smooth. Massage into face and leave on for half an hour.

DIY mask recipes for dull skin

7. Honey and orange mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-lN1Nnnw2B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Oranges contain natural AHAs like citric acid to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and brighten skin without causing harm, while honey protects and nourishes skin, so you can wave goodbye to dull and tired skin.

Ingredients:

• Three tablespoons of orange juice
• Four tablespoons of honey

Leave on for 15 minutes and follow with moisturiser.

8. Rice paper and green tea mask

This well-loved tutorial by beauty YouTuber Michelle Phan features a simple two-ingredient mask made of rice paper and green tea to brighten and hydrate skin. Rice is known to have lots of nutrients and brightening properties, so stock up on affordable rice paper the next time you order groceries for a cheap and easy way to care for your skin!

Ingredients:

• One sheet of rice paper
• Enough green tea to soak the rice paper in

Steps:

• Using clean scissors, cut the rice paper into smaller shapes to fit each part of your face. Phan cut one for each of her cheeks, under eyes, forehead, chin, and nose areas.
• Dip each piece into the green tea for about 30 seconds, and put each piece onto your face.

9. Papaya mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_KVQi-KKbG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

If you have an uneven skin tone, sun spots or pigmentation, this one may help! Like oranges, this enzyme-rich fruit isn’t only tasty, it has AHA to effectively yet gently remove dead skin cells and reveal the lighter skin beneath.

Ingredients:

• Two tablespoons of honey
• Eight tablespoons of papaya, mashed

Leave on for 15-20 minutes, and moisturise.

DIY mask recipes for oily and acne-prone skin

10. Aloe Vera and Tea Tree spot mask

Opt for this light, gel mask if you don’t like a heavy feeling. The refreshing Aloe Vera soothes and cools angry acne, while the Tea Tree fights any bacteria causing it, and brings down redness. Just apply it on areas that are particularly irritated and remove for calmer skin!

Ingredients:

• One tablespoon of Aloe Vera
• One drop of Tea Tree oil

11. Egg, oat, and honey mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGMMsEHvuG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Originally featured on Huda’s blog, this mask uses egg whites to tighten unsightly enlarged pores, while the oat calms and exfoliates, and the honey protects your skin for a toned and softer skin.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon ground oats

Steps:

• Whisk honey and egg white until frothy.
• Stir in the oats until they form a paste.

Leave on for 10-15 minutes.

12. Aspirin and lemon juice spot treatment

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9NH6imhMYh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While this isn’t technically a mask for your whole face, this one does shrink pimples within minutes. Containing only two ingredients, the anti-inflammatory properties of the aspirin heals pimples faster so red, angry spots are a thing of the past.

Ingredients:

• A few aspirin tablets, crushed into powder
• A few drops of lemon juice

Steps:

• Mix both ingredients to form a thick paste, and apply a little to each spot.

Remove once dry. Take note to stay away from sunlight after this treatment or apply generous amounts of sunscreen.

13. Strawberry mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHx6NgAWh6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Your skin deserves a sweet treat once in a while! Save a few strawberries for this mask- the salicylic acid naturally found in them are great for healing and reducing acne, while the sugar gives you smoother skin.

See more face mask recipes using strawberries here.

Ingredients:

• Six fresh strawberries, de-stemmed
• One tablespoon honey
• One tablespoon brown sugar
• One teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Steps:

• Blend the strawberries by hand, or with a food processor.
• Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. If it’s too watery to apply, try adding a spoonful of flour at a time!

Leave on for 10 minutes.

14. Baking soda mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGw2JbJpSn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While baking soda is usually used in baking, it can also be used to decongest clogged pores of impurities and dirt alike for a cleaner complexion!

Ingredients:

• One teaspoon baking soda
• Two teaspoon oatmeal

Steps:

• Combine both ingredients with a few drops of water or lemon juice at a time until it forms a thick paste.
• Apply onto face and wait for it to dry before washing it off with warm water.

15. Turmeric mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHqurLB8DP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This popular health food often comes in larger packets, so why not try some on your face? Used in India for centuries, this yellow powder not only has anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties, it also brightens and boosts skin’s glow.

Tip: despite its endless benefits, turmeric can stain most fabrics and may temporarily give your skin a yellow colour that should fade after a few hours. If you have very fair skin, try a patch test first to ensure it doesn’t stain your skin!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Two tablespoons flour or cornstarch (to thicken the paste)
• Two or three drops runny honey
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt, plus three to four drops lemon juice

19. Cocoa and honey mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAChHAfIIMn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

If you have real cocoa powder (not hot chocolate powder!) sitting around from your baking endeavours, add it to your masks! You’d be surprised that the flavanols in it calms skin and soothes redness for a more even complexion.

Ingredients:

• One tablespoon yogurt
• One teaspoon honey
• One teaspoon cocoa powder

Leave on for 20 minutes.

20. Carrot and honey mask

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHzIqPjE28/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The vitamin A and C in carrots will help your skin heal itself faster from external irritation like sunlight or pollution, so use this protective mask whenever you can!

Ingredients:

• 2/3 of a carrot, cooked and mashed
• One or two tablespoons of honey

Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then wash off.