14 DIY Face Masks for Every Skin Type and Concern

By
Julyne Derrick
Julyne Derrick
Julyne Derrick is a contributing writer for Byrdie specializing in haircare. She has over a decade's worth of experience as a writer and editor.
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Updated on 07/09/24 01:45PM
Reviewed by
JoElle Lee
esthetician and skincare expert JoElle Lee
Reviewed by JoElle Lee
JoElle Lee is a skincare expert, educator, author and celebrity esthetician with over 20 years of experience. She is most noted for being the former personal esthetician to First Lady Michelle Obama
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woman wearing DIY face mask recipe

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Dealing with uncooperative skin can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Whether it's dry, chapped skin or oily, acne-prone skin, if you've tried expensive moisturizing creams and serums with no relief, you might be losing hope. But sometimes, a good homemade face mask is the detox you need to get your skin back to its healthy state.

Ingredients such as avocado, honey, milk, and brown sugar are all ideal for dry skin, while aloe vera, honey, and oatmeal are ideal for oily, sensitive types. Keep reading for DIY face mask recipes to make on your own with key ingredients, and see if your skin will appreciate a little homemade love.

What to Consider Before Using a DIY Treatment

  • Everyone's skin will have different needs. Just because something works for one person, doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you. So if you try one of these recipes and find the results to be less than ideal, you may need to tweak it, or just move on to another.
  • The key to healthy skin is hydration. Drinking a lot of water as a daily practice will help your skin regain its health, and can make products more effective.
  • Avoid the alcohol and sugar before a big event when you want your skin to glow.
  • Rethink your cleanser. If you have dry skin, use a creamy cleanser that won't strip it of oils.
  • Exfoliation is key. You need to remove dead cells so your skin can soak up moisturizer or oils. But if you have redness, consider skipping anything that will tear at the skin, like a washcloth, sugar, or scrubs with microbeads. Instead, try an enzyme-based exfoliant. These enzymes (typically found in fruit) break down the dead skin naturally and won't dry out your skin.
  • After you wash off your face mask or scrub be sure to apply a hydrating moisturizer or oil afterward to maximize the effects.

Byrdie Tip

If you have skin sensitivities, you'll want to do a test of these recipes on your neck or wrist first. However, most of these ingredients are pure enough that most people (who aren't allergic to the substances themselves) won't have a problem.

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Avocado

Avocados are particularly moisturizing for the skin thanks to omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B that help reveal a brighter, more plump face. Avocado masks are great for dry, normal, and combination skin, however, people with mature, dry skin and fine lines will also find them particularly hydrating.

It's best to use a ripe, fresh, organic avocado and mash it up into a creamy pulp. When combined with carrot, honey, oil, egg, or buttermilk, they leave your skin fresh and near-perfectly moisturized.

Key Ingredients

Avocado oil is an edible oil pressed from the fruit of the avocado. For the skin, it contains vitamin E to help nourish and soothe, as well as oleic acid to promote collagen production.

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Brown Sugar

A natural exfoliant, brown sugar is the base for many facial scrubs as it sloughs off dry skin cells and can be combined with moisturizing ingredients.

From a simple coconut oil and brown sugar blend to a hydrating honey and coconut oil scrub with your favorite floral essential oils, there's sure to be a recipe here that works for you. Keep in mind that this physical exfoliator can be irritating to dry or sensitive skin types.

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Turmeric and Yogurt

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice used in curries, but it also makes a brilliant face mask for dry or aging skin. You get all the spice's healing benefits, including antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which can reduce inflammation.

Adding yogurt will provide natural lactic acid and moisturizing properties from milk and dairy fats. Add rosewater for an anti-inflammatory skin boost.

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Milk

Milk works well to moisturize dry skin and its lactic acid does wonders for removing dried skin cells. You can even find a recipe that uses powdered milk, in addition to honey, aloe vera, and essential oils. It is invigorating and can help keep even the driest skin to look and feel healthy.

Key Ingredients

Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that works to exfoliate the skin. Its molecule is slightly larger than glycolic acid, meaning it works a bit slower and doesn't penetrate the skin's outermost layer as easily.

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Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter

Coconut oil can combat dry skin on its own and is ideal for everyday use in the winter. Simply slather a little on and wipe off the excess with a damp washcloth before applying your daily makeup. It acts as a perfect foundation primer and keeps super dry skin hydrated. For added hydration, mix coconut oil with cocoa butter and olive oil for your DIY moisturizer. Keep in mind that coconut oil is an oil, and therefore is comedogenic (pore-clogging). If you have oily skin or are breakout-prone, it's best to skip this recipe.

Key Ingredients

Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean, which is found inside the cocoa pod, which grows on the cacao tree. Because it's rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, it makes for a great moisturizer.

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Turmeric

Another turmeric face mask, this time with moisturizing natural emollients, honey, and coconut oil. It hydrates and brightens the skin, and is a centuries-old trick used in Indian beauty routines. However, proceed with caution, as turmeric has been known to stain the skin (even if only temporarily).

Make a paste of turmeric and flour with honey and coconut oil. Do a patch test, and only keep your turmeric mask on for five to 10 minutes.

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Dark Chocolate

Surprisingly, dark chocolate is a fantastic moisturizer when used in a mask, and it's an ideal home remedy for dry skin.

  1. Melt an ounce of dark chocolate in a bowl at 30-second increments until melted.
  2. Add the 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1/3 cup milk to the melted chocolate and mix to combine.
  3. Cool to room temperature then apply to your face and neck.
  4. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
08 of 14

Strawberry

Strawberries are excellent ingredients for your skin due to naturally occurring salicylic acid, which helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal fresh, bright skin. The simplest version of a strawberry face mask is made by mixing 1/4 cup of strawberries with 1/4 cup of full-fat plain yogurt. Check out these additional strawberry-based DIY treatments.

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Honey

Adding honey to a face mask works for a variety of skin types. Honey has antioxidant and antibacterial properties that may benefit acne-prone skin. It is also a natural humectant that helps the skin retain moisture. Honey pairs well with avocado, yogurt, oatmeal, and even coffee grinds.

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Aloe Vera and Cucumber

If your skin is red and irritated, and you are sensitive to a lot of ingredients, give aloe vera and cucumber a try. Aloe vera is super hydrating and moisturizing (it's mostly water), and cucumbers are high in vitamins A and E. Plus, the calming, cooling sensation is super relaxing. When using aloe as an ingredient, you can use a store-bought gel (make sure it is alcohol-free), or aloe from an aloe plant.

Some people can develop an allergic reaction to aloe vera, so it is best to do a patch test on your skin before committing to a mask.

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Oatmeal

Have oily, acne-prone skin? Grab some oatmeal. As a gentle abrasive, oatmeal has the power to soak up excess sebum without irritating existing acne on the skin. To make an oatmeal mask for oily skin, combine half to one cup of oatmeal with warm water to form a paste. Then, add one tablespoon of honey to the paste. Massage the mixture onto your face and leave for three minutes, then rinse off. If you are concerned about the size of the oats being too large and rough, you can crush them up a bit so they are fine.

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Sugar or Salt Scrubs

For dry skin types, making exfoliation a regular habit is key, and sugar or salt scrubs can be an easy at-home way to do that. Dry skin cells are one of your biggest opponents because they blanket the skin and prevent moisturizers from working to their full effect.

All you need is a little sugar or salt, some water or oil, and other beneficial ingredients from the kitchen. Just keep in mind that both sugar and salt are physical exfoliators, which can be irritating for many skin types. Sugar is gentler than salt, but you should still proceed with caution. It's best not to use salt to exfoliate the face, and as always, complete a patch test before using sugar or salt to exfoliate your body.

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Paraffin Wax Treatment for Hands

Your face is not the only place that is susceptible to dry, chapped skin, and paraffin wax, which is a natural emollient, can work wonders for dry hands. Many of us find that our hands simply cannot get enough moisturizer, especially in winter or after frequent hand washing. That's where a paraffin wax treatment can help.

This at-home remedy is as luxurious as any wax treatment the spas offer. Dip your hands in melted wax (it's not as painful as it sounds), wait 30 minutes, then peel it away. It leaves your hands soft and supple and works great on your feet, too. Be sure to heat the wax to the point where it melts, but if it's steaming or bubbling, it's too hot for your hands. Complete a patch test on the back of your hand to make sure the wax is at a comfortable temperature.

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Foot Scrub for Dry, Cracked Heels

Exfoliating your dry feet will help improve your skin's feel and appearance. Winter may wreak havoc on your hands, but summer is a bear on your feet. During sandal season, your heels are exposed to all sorts of harsh environments, and you can counteract that with a simple, DIY foot scrub.

It's a five-step process that works its magic over a few days if you're persistent. Once you get your heels looking and feeling great, keep up the routine on a regular basis and switch between this and a quick pumice stone scrubbing.

FAQ
  • How do you make a three-ingredient face mask?

    A three-ingredient face mask is comprised of three ingredients that work together to achieve bright, smooth skin. It is possible to make a face mask that works with only three ingredients, however, it is imperative that the ingredients complement each other and your skin type. To make an easy three-ingredient mask for dry skin, try a mixture of coconut oil, olive oil, and cocoa butter. There are lots of other mask recipes that only require three ingredients, too.

  • How do you make a hydrating skin mask?

    To make a hydrating skin mask, you will need to use ingredients that work well for dehydrated skin. Avocado, plain yogurt, olive oil, and honey are all ingredients that can be used in hydrating face masks for those with dry skin.

  • What is the best homemade face mask?

    The best homemade face mask is one that uses ingredients to smooth, brighten, and plump skin. Look for ingredients that have omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B and C, have anti-inflammatory properties to calm any redness, and are gentle, yet abrasive enough to slough off dead skin.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Bhuyan DJ, Alsherbiny MA, Perera S, et al. The odyssey of bioactive compounds in avocado (persea americana) and their health benefits. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019;8(10):426. doi:10.3390/antiox8100426

  2. Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK. Effects of turmeric (curcuma longa) on skin health: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640

  3. Lee M hee, Nam TG, Lee I, et al. Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway. Food Sci Nutr. 2018;6(8):2560-2567. doi:10.1002/fsn3.870

  4. Soleymani T, Lanoue J, Rahman Z. A practical approach to chemical peels: a review of fundamentals and step-by-step algorithmic protocol for treatment. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(8):21-28.

  5. Lu J, Cong T, Wen X, et al. Salicylic acid treats acne vulgaris by suppressing AMPK / SREBP 1 pathway in sebocytes. Exp Dermatol. 2019;28(7):786-794. doi:10.1111/exd.13934

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