This was such a fun treat of a blog to research.

In the depth of the Irish Lock Down Winter I set myself the lovely challenge of trying a different homemade face mask each week for a month to see which mask helped my skin the most.

I love a DIY face mask. None of the cost of going to an expensive spa or buying a mask full of preservatives, most of the ingredients are probably in your kitchen, and it is such an easy, gentle way to nourish yourself and your skin.

I decided to focus on 4 main skin masks ingredients but there are many possibilities and recipe combinations.

I used either vegan versions or have offered vegan alternatives. Always patch test the face mask on your arm first, especially if you have sensitive skin. Make sure you avoid the area around your eyes.

Week 1 
3rd February

Honey or Agave and Cinnamon

• What does it do?
  
  Moisturising, anti-inflammatory, heals spots, relieves fine lines.

• What is it good for?
  
  Good for dry skin, pimple prone skin, ageing skin.

• Did I like it?
  
  This was one of my favourite face masks. It was super sticky and after 10 mins started to melt off face (my clothes were a mess afterwards, but at least as it melted down towards my chin it was tasty…) but definitely worth it. The honey was as moisturising as promised, and the cinnamon was really warming, increasing blood flow to my skin which temporarily helped to reduce the fine lines. The next day my face looked really healthy and bright.

Recipe

1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup (the vegan option)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Stir together in a small bowl and put on your face, leaving it for 10 mins.

Rinse off with warm water and use moisturiser.

Only use this face mask once a week as the cinnamon can cause irritation, especially for sensitive skin. Turmeric is a good alternative with great anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits.

Week 2
10th February

French Green Clay (Kaolin)

• What does it do?
  
  Natural exfoliant and deep cleanser, reduces spots, tightens skin.

• What is it good for?
  
  Good for oily skin, pimple prone skin, ageing skin.

• Did I like it?
  
  I wrote above that you would probably have most of the ingredients for a DIY face mask in your kitchen and not everyone has cosmetic grade French Green Clay in their cupboards… I do because in my 20s I regularly used clay as a face mask when spots were a problem and I still have a packet, lurking at the back of my bathroom cupboard. It is not expensive to buy online or at a health shop and lasts for a very long time.
  
  Spots are no longer a problem thank goodness, but fine lines definitely are and this mask really did smooth out and tighten up my skin.

Recipe

1 tablespoon cosmetic grade French Green Clay

Enough water to make a runny paste

Stir together in a small bowl and put on your face. Take it off when it starts to dry, you will probably get a fabulous camouflage look like me!

Rinse off with warm water and use lots of moisturiser as this mask can be drying.

If you have dry skin you can still use this mask, just mix the clay with oil instead of water. You can use a facial oil like the Organic Apricot Kernel Oil or Rosehip Oil, but if you don't have one then the olive oil or sunflower oil in your kitchen cupboard is also beneficial for your skin.

If you end up getting a break out after using this mask then don't worry, it is probably just the mask bringing up the dirt or dead skin that was going to cause you problems anyway. It is a great mask to use if you live in a big city and have air pollution in your area.

Week 3
17th February

Yoghurt (I used coconut vegan yoghurt) and Honey or Agave Syrup

• What does it do?
  
  Moisturising, brightens skin, reduces discolouration and sun spots, relieves sunburn.

• What is it good for?
  
  Good for dry skin, dull skin, brightens sun spots.

• Did I like it?
  
  This is a soothing gentle mask. I found it very nourishing and my face felt soft afterwards so I will use it again if my skin feels dry. I have a sun spot on my forehead and it was definitely lighter afterwards, which was a great result after using it just once.

Recipe

1 tablespoon yoghurt

1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup

Stir together in a small bowl and put on your face, leaving it for 10 - 15 mins.

Rinse off with warm water and use moisturiser.

Week 4
24th February

Oats, Honey or Agave Syrup and Apple Cider Vinegar

• What does it do?
  
  Moisturising, anti-inflammatory, gentle exfoliator, heals spots, relieves sunburn.

• What is it good for?
  
  Good for all types of skin - dry, oily, sensitive, acne, rosacea, psoriasis.

• Did I like it?
  
  This felt cool and refreshing on my face, and my skin felt smooth, tight and moisturised afterwards. If you are nervous about using a DIY face mask this is a good one to start with.

Recipe

1 tablespoon rolled oats blended to a fine powder in a coffee grinder or blender

1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

A little warm water to make a light paste.

Stir together in a small bowl and put on your face, leaving it for 10 - 15 mins.

Rinse off with warm water and use moisturiser.

Essential Oils and DIY Face Masks

It can be lovely to add a drop of essential oil to a homemade face mask but make sure you only add a single drop as they are very strong. Do not use essential oils if you have sensitive skin and always do a patch test first in case you have a reaction.

A few of our favourites…

• Dry Skin - Rose, Geranium, Lavender or Chamomile

• Oily Skin - Juniper, Sandalwood or Sweet Orange

• Pimple Prone Skin - Tea Tree, Patchouli or Lemongrass

• Aging Skin - Rose, Geranium or Frankincense.

Other Popular DIY Mask Ingredients

There are so many other possibilities, here are a few more on my list to try…

• Lemon juice to brighten the face and reduce sun spots (do not use it if you have dry or sensitive skin).

• Spirulina or chlorella (or both) to reduce signs of ageing.

• Coconut oil to moisturise and hydrate the skin.

• Turmeric as an alternative to cinnamon and as a powerful anti-inflammatory. 
  

My Favourite?

As you can probably tell I did not end up with a favourite DIY face mask. They all felt like they were helpful in different ways.

I loved the warming, nourishing honey and cinnamon mask in Winter, but probably wouldn't appreciate the heat in my face in Summer.

The clay was powerful as a cleanser but a little drying, so I would not want to use it if my skin needed hydration.

The yoghurt mask was soothing and I really appreciated the sunspot getting lighter after the yoghurt mask. I can imagine how lovely it would be straight from the fridge on a hot day.

The oat mask seemed like a fail proof, good for every possibility sort of mask and I’m sure I’ll keep experimenting with different ingredients to add to it.

I really hope you enjoy making your own face masks as much as I did.

Let us know what works for you!