13 must-follow recipes for the perfect homemade face mask

Bananas are packed with ingredients for great skin: vitamin A to fade dark spots and blemishes and smooth out rough skin, vitamin B to reduce dryness, vitamin E to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and potassium to moisturise and hydrate. So, the fruit makes a perfect all-natural, homemade face mask that leaves skin looking and feeling softer. To make: mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Or mix 1/4 cup plain yoghurt, 2 tablespoons honey (a natural acne remedy), and one medium banana.

Using vinegar as a skin toner dates back to the time of Helen of Troy, and it’s just as effective today. After you wash your face, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 2 cups water as a finishing rinse to cleanse and tighten your skin. You can also create a homemade face mask by mixing 1/4 cup cider vinegar with 1/4 cup water. Gently apply the solution to your face and let it dry.

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Here’s another way to give yourself a fancy spa facial at home using DIY face masks. Mix 1/4 cup powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste. Thoroughly coat your face with the mixture, let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh and rejuvenated

If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that will leave you feeling and looking better, give yourself an oatmeal facial. Combine 1/2 cup hot – not boiling – water and 1/3 cup oatmeal. After the water and oatmeal have settled for two or three minutes, mix in 2 tablespoons plain yoghurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and one small egg white. Apply a thin layer of the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. (Be sure to place a metal or plastic strainer in your sink to avoid clogging the drain with the granules.)

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Why spend money on expensive creams when you can treat yourself to a soothing homemade face mask with whole-egg mayonnaise from your own refrigerator? Gently spread the mayonnaise over your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Then wipe it off and rinse with cool water. Your face will feel clean and smooth.

You don’t have to go to a spa to give your face a quick assist. To cleanse your skin and tighten the pores, slather some plain yogurt on your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes. For a revitalising homemade face mask, mix 1 teaspoon plain yoghurt with the juice from 1/4 slice of orange, some of the orange pulp, and 1 teaspoon aloe. Leave the mixture on your face for at least five minutes before rinsing it off.

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Mustard seeds contain bacteria-fighting sulphur, so this mask is especially good for skin sensitivity, acne, and inflammation. Pat your face with mild yellow mustard for a bracing facial that will soothe and stimulate your skin. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Try it on a small test area first to make sure it won’t irritate.

Lemons contain AHAs and BHAs, two types of hydroxy acid that remove dead skin cells and help clear up blackheads, acne, and discoloration. Create a homemade face mask by mixing the juice from one lemon with 1/4 cup olive oil or sweet almond oil. Or mix the juice of 1/2 lemon with a tablespoon of honey. Apply to your face, wait 15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water.

For a little pampering, head to the refrigerator and grab an egg. If you have dry skin that needs moisturising, separate the egg and beat the yolk. Oily skin takes the egg white, to which a bit of lemon or honey can be added. For normal skin, use the entire egg. Apply the beaten egg, relax and wait 30 minutes, then rinse. You’ll love your new fresh face.

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For this refreshing (and tasty!) treatment, mash a handful of ripe strawberries with 3 tablespoons of ground almonds. Add 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt and mix until the mixture has a pasty texture. Apply it to your face and rinse for soft, smooth skin. If you have any left over, make sure to keep it refrigerated.

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