Often we simply head to the beauty isle at the supermarket to get products that are supposed to protect and heal our skin. But the problem is, when you read the ingredients of these products, you’re lucky if you know what even ¼ of them are, and the pretty product names tend to mask the rather dubious chemical ingredients even more.
To avoid all of this and know exactly what you’re putting on your skin, there’s nothing better than creating your own beauty mixture. In the space of 2 minutes tops with simple ingredients you can make a homemade face mask.
Even if you’re one of those lucky few who has almost perfect skin, face masks are still beneficial. Our skin is assaulted on a daily basis by the environment around us (pollution, cold, tiredness, stress, extreme heat) and even if you think this doesn’t affect you, eventually your skin will start to age quicker.
There are numerous different masks which help you to take care of your skin, and all of them can be adapted to different skin types (oily, dry, mixed).
Give your face the deep clean it needs – clean out impurities, lessen the signs of stress, tiredness and anti-aging and restore the hydrolipidic film to the skin. Here we have gone for dairy free face masks (which also happen to be vegan) as the properties of milk and egg can irritate the skin.
Oatmeal + Soy Yoghurt Face Mask
Super simple – boil some oats in water and mix with a couple of spoons of soy yoghurt. Apply to the face for 15 mins. The oats are anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, whereas the soy contains lactic acid which helps to exfoliate the skin.
Avocado, Lemon Juice and Olive Oil Face Mask
Lemon juice is not only antibacterial but its citric acid helps to exfoliate discoloured skin (from acne or scarring). As well as this, avocado’s omega 3 helps the skin to repair and get rid of acne, and olive oil deeply moisturises the skin. Mix a few drops of oil and lemon juice with half a mashed avocado and apply to the face for 15 mins. Only do this mask at night time because lemon juice doesn’t agree with UV rays from the sun and could give you a reaction.
Oatmeal, Papaya, Agave and Tea Tree Oil Face Mask
Similar to lemon, papaya has skin lightening properties and papain which helps to dissolve dead skin cells. Tea tree oil soothes the skin by reducing itching and irritation. Oats have the same anti-inflammatory effect mentioned above and agave helps it to all stick together. Mix a quarter of a mashed papaya with 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and drops of agave and tea tree and leave on the face for 15 minutes.
Cocoa and Coffee Face Mask
The caffeine in coffee and cocoa helps to decrease puffiness and brighten the complexion. Coffee is also an astringent so it will help the pores to close and reduce oiliness. Cacao has omega 6 fatty acids that help wounds to heal and skin elasticity. It’s best to use this mask in the morning as it helps to wake you up. The fresher the coffee grounds the better. Mix 2 tablespoons coffee, 2 tablespoons cacao and 2 tablespoons of agave or olive oil to make the mixture stick. Optionally add orange zest for a jaffa cake smell. Leave on the face for 15 minutes.
Liked these vegan face mask recipes or have any suggestions of further face masks to try? Comment below.
If you’d like more natural beauty tips, have a read of our page on Ayurvedic medicine, where you can learn all about natural products to help the skin. We hope you’ll now enjoy healthier and more nourished skin, and wish you a happy #WellnessWednesday. Take care of yourself.
