Ever been stuck with turmeric stained skin from a face mask gone wrong or greasy hair for days from that coconut oil mask that just won’t wash out? I have to admit, as much as I love experimenting with natural skincare, I’ve always been a little hesitant towards DIY beauty. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m never quite sure if I can actually trust the homemade treatments to deliver quite as well as their professional-grade counterparts, or the fact that the shopper in me loves ordering a beautifully packaged new bottle of face oil.
image: kristen kilpatrick
Recently though, I had a low-key girls night with my mom and sisters, and we made a face mask and a hair mask that actually worked! Since then, I’ve dived into the potential of at-home beauty and have been loving some of my discoveries. I recently made a super simple body oil blend and I’m happy to report, I’m eight months pregnant with zero stretch marks so far.
DIY beauty treatments are a fun group activity, inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about scanning the ingredients list for toxic sulfates or poly-this and hydro-that.
When it comes to DIY’ing things that go on your face, avoid some of the harsher ingredients and instead, go for ingredients that are less likely to leave you with a bad reaction. Ones to skip? Acids (lemon, limes), spices like turmeric and cinnamon (can stain and be too harsh) and raw eggs (hello salmonella). Instead opt for ingredients like honey, sugar, oatmeal, milk, and yogurt, as they’re all less likely to harm the skin.
So, if you’re ready to get your hands a little dirty, grab a friend and try out one of these beginner-friendly and trusty DIY masks and treatments that’ll leave you feeling smoother, softer and more refreshed!
featured image: loillife
image: barefootblonde
Hydrating Honey Avocado Face Mask
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of avocado
- 2 tablespoon of olive or jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon oatmeal
- Directions: Mix all the ingredients together (use a blender for an extra smooth mask!). Leave on for 15 minutes and then remove with a warm cloth and rinse.
Benefits: Super boost of hydration that works for even the most sensitive skin. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins that help restore your skin’s lipid layer to reveal a brighter, plumper face, avocado is the key ingredient in this green mask. The oil works as an anti-inflammatory to gently calm the skin, the oats are extra soothing, and the honey is a great humectant that hydrates the skin and locks in moisture.
Exfoliating & Plumping Pumpkin Face Mask
- 1 tablespoon cooked or canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil or sweet almond oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Directions: Mix the ingredients until smooth. Apply to the face, and rinse after 15 minutes.
Benefits: Great for dull, dehydrated skin and perfect for fall! This mask has a soothing, cooling sensation and will leave skin plumper, smoother and soft to the touch. Pumpkin is full of enzymes and AHAs, or alpha hydroxy acids, that help increase cell turnover to reveal bright and smooth skin. It also boasts vitamin A and C that helps soften skin and boost collagen production. The oils diminish the appearance of acne scars and hydrate the skin, while honey (a natural antibacterial anti-inflammatory) reduces any redness, swelling, and hyperpigmentation issues.
image: frankbeauty
Sugar Lip Scrub
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon organic honey
- 2 tablespoons refined brown sugar (raw can be too abrasive)
- Directions: In a bowl, combine oil and honey, then add sugar and mix until it forms a paste. Apply a generous amount of the scrub to your lips in a gentle circular motion. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes and then remove with a warm washcloth. Store in a jar for future use, up to one month.
Benefits: Use this scrub for an extra soft and smooth kisser! Sugar is a great light exfoliant for lips since it doesn’t taste bad and is safe to ingest. Coconut oil and honey add an extra element of soothing hydration to lock in moisture on your freshly sloughed lips.
image: lucy williams
Clearing Clay & Yogurt Face Mask
- 1 teaspoon clay (red clay or bentonite clay)
- 1 teaspoon matcha tea powder
- 1 to 2 teaspoons plain yogurt or coconut yogurt
- Directions: Add the powder ingredients into a small bowl. Stir in the yogurt a little at a time make to make a paste. Apply to clean, damp skin and rinse after 15 to 20 minutes.
Benefits: The matcha and clay help detoxify and clear clogged pores, while the yogurt’s probiotics help keep breakouts at bay while giving a gentle dose of hydration.
Detox Armpit Mask
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
- 1 teaspoon organic apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons filtered water in a bowl.
- Directions: Spread an even layer over your armpits and let it sit for 5-20 minutes. Wash it off in the shower or with a warm, wet washcloth and repeat as needed until underarm odor goes away!
Benefits: I love doing this mask every couple of weeks! If you’ve recently transitioned to natural deodorant or have noticed that you’re a little more prone to stink, an armpit detox can help your body flush out toxins, old bacteria and get them back to a more balanced, less smelly, state. Bentonite clay clings to toxins and pulls them out as it dries, while apple cider vinegar naturally kills bacteria and fungus, soothes redness and inflammation and helps to get rid of pesky body odor.
Milk and Honey Hair Mask
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 teaspoons of honey.
- Directions: Heat the milk up in the microwave to a lukewarm temperature, but hot enough that when you put the honey in it dissolves. Pour it over dry hair in sections, massaging it in to make sure every strand is covered. Shampoo after 15-20 minutes.
Benefits: If you’ve found that most DIY hair treatments leave your hair feeling greasy and weighed down, even after multiple washes, this mask is for you. Milk and honey works wonders on brittle, damaged hair and is perfect for hair that is fine or thin. The trick with this mask is that the thicker the hair, the higher the fat content of milk you should use – if you have coarse hair use cream, if you have thin hair use regular or skim milk.
