Beauty Buzz: How to make your own beautifying face mask

By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode Beauty Editor and local mama of 3

Remember when we would DIY stuff because we were too lazy to go to the store? HA! I would give my left arm to go wander the beauty aisles of Target right now. And with Amazon prioritizing packages, rightfully so, I am in dire need of several beauty products. Okay, I’m in dire “want” but the people in my house having to stare at my mustache might have an opinion on how urgent the waxing kit I ordered is.

In order to get us through this unprecedented time, we’re going to have to get creative and start DIYing the crap out of our beauty routines.

When I went looking for DIY face masks, I was guided to a hundred different videos on how to make a mask out of a bandana instead of the at-home spa treatment I would normally see. It took a more specific search but I found some great options for face masks you can make using items you already have in your kitchen.

The Banana Face Mask

½ of a banana

1 tablespoon of Honey

1 Tablespoon of orange juice

Mash the banana and combine ingredients then let it sit on your face for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water and moisturizing.

The Breakfast Mask

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of olive oil

½ cup of raw oatmeal

Stir ingredients well and apply to your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water over a drain that can handle the clumpy oatmeal.

Acne Fighting Mask

3 tablespoons turmeric powder

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Water to mix

Mix until it creates a paste and apply for 5 minutes. This can be used on large areas or as a spot treatment.

Papaya Lightening Mask

2 Tablespoons honey

½ cup mashed papaya

Mix well and leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse and moisturize. I don’t know where you could find a papaya right now, but this was the only fruit I found that would actually help lighten sun damage and correct sunburn damage. I figured after we’ve all been inside for so long, this would come in handy so I wanted to include it.

The Oops My Fruit Is About To Go Bad Mask (I made this up, but it works.)

Mix just about any fruit with honey (for oily skin) or plain yogurt (for dry skin) to achieve different results.

Avocado: fights oily skin

Grated apple: acne treatment

Strawberries: cleanser, acne treatment, tightens pores

Peaches: high in vitamin A and C, tightens pores, minimizes wrinkles, lighten dark spots

Orange Or other citrus fruits: acne treatment, rich in vitamin C

Cucumber: soothing inflammation, smooth skin

Kiwi: moisturizing, blended with the seeds it works as an exfoliator

Grapes: full of antioxidants for anti-aging benefits, mood lifter if drank after fermentation

For everyone who was super optimistic at the beginning of social distancing and bought a ton of fresh produce only to realize your kids only eat chips and fruit snacks, now is your time to shine! And because they are all natural products, this is a fun activity to do with your kids. Home Ec, Science, and Math, done. Homeschool win!

By the way, while I was writing I found out that Arkansas schools will be closed the rest of the year, so my next topic may be “How to hide that you’ve been weeping in your closet from your kids,” or “How to recover from the dehydrating effect of Day-drinking”…just kidding, kind of.

You’ve got this, Mamas/teachers!

Got a beauty or hair question for Andi? Send it to us so she can write about that topic in an upcoming Beauty Buzz. Email it to mamas[at]nwamotherlode[dot]com. Click here to read more beauty posts by Andi.