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A Collection of 11 DIY Beauty Masks and Scrubs With Kitchen Ingredients

If there’s one way to ensure your beauty products are pure, fresh and absolutely clean, it’s making your own. However, we don’t all have the time to carefully measure out carrier oils,  have a generous inventory of essential oil vials, or stock crushed herbs every time we want to wash our face. Not all homemade beauty treatments require such intricate measuring, though – why not gather up some of the stuff already sitting in your kitchen for a quick at-home spa?

Facial scrubs and masks are usually applied a few times a week, so you can make a batch on Monday and use it every other day, then remake your batch the next week. Scrubs made at home are simple and can be a one-time application, or also made as a batch for several uses.  Here are a few easy-to-make homemade facial scrubs and masks using your favorite kitchen ingredients – no running to your grocery store necessary!

Warning: The scrubs can be coarse, so be careful when using it for skin with rosacea, very sensitive or irritated skin, thin, elderly skin, or sunburned/windburned skin.

Most of these recipes use the following ingredients. There’s a good reason for that – they work well for almost all skin types, and are commonly found in everyone’s homes.

• Bananas – Nourishing
• Avocados – Moisturizing
• Honey – Antibacterial, softens, retains moisture
• Yogurt – Nourishing, lactic acid breaks down dead skin cells, adds creamy texture
• Full-fat milk – Breaks down dead skin cells
• White or brown sugar – Gentle but coarse enough for deep cleansing
• Coffee – Controls oil, anti-inflammatory, reduces puffiness
• Lemon juice – Brightens, serves as an astringent
• Egg whites – Tightens and firms
• Oatmeal – Moisturizes, soothes, fights acne
• Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar

Homemade Yogurt and Honey Face Mask

 Homemade Banana and Honey Face Mask for Oily Skin

• 1 very ripe banana at room temperature
• 1 tbsp honey
• Optional: orange or lemon juice

Simple Homemade Avocado and Honey Moisturizing Mask

• 1/2 avocado
• 3 tbsp honey

(Recipe Sources: Green Options, Whole Living, Natural Facial Recipes, Crunchy Betty’s Food on Your Face, Stephanie Tourles’ Organic Body Care Recipes)

Acure Organics Rose & Red Tea Facial Toner Review

Acure Organics Rose & Red Tea Facial Toner - Review

I don’t normally use toners. The last time I used any sort of toner or astringent was in high school. That Sea Breeze brand. (Wow, it’s still available?!) I was addicted to the tingling and wiped my face with the cotton pad until it came up clean. Seeing any sort of ‘dirt’ leftover made me feel unclean.

Since toners seem to still be popular, I decided to give one a try. Managed to snag a sample of the Acure Organics Rose & Red Tea Facial Toner, and finished my little spritz bottle last night. After cleansing, I spritzed a cotton pad a few times, then wiped my face with it. It’s alcohol-free, so there was no tingling feeling and it’s not drying, but it didn’t matter – it felt very cool and refreshing, like I just took it out of the fridge. My cotton pads came up clean each time. I think it’s because I’ve been exfoliating more often. Looks like I still don’t need a toner.. but you can’t beat that fresh feeling!

My only caveat? The scent. Holy moly, it is not nice. I mean, it’s pleasant enough, but it’s definitely not for me. I can’t tell what it is.. I smell the rose, but I’m going to say it’s likely the red tea that’s doing it. It’s a raw, natural sort of scent. Since I don’t really smell it too much when applying, I can get over it. However, I’d much prefer it have a gentle, sweet scent.. or at least one that was pleasant to my nose.  I love fruity scents, some florals, and food like coconut.

The Acure Organics Rose & Red Tea Facial Toner uses Witch Hazel to purify, Glycerin to moisturize and Rose and Chamomile to soothe and calm. Everything about it is fantastic, except the smell. That takes a star off. Acure’s still a great line of products though!

Ingredients:  Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Rooibos, Organic Calendula, Organic Chamomile, , Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Bulgarian Rose Water (Hydrasol), (NOP Cert. Organic) Glycerin*, Organic Chamomille and Calendula flower Extracts

USDA Certified Organic?:  No

Average Price: $15.99 for 2 oz

Additional Notes: Cute packaging! Works well with Acure’s facial cleansers and moisturizers. No alcohol, and should be safe for sensitive skin.

Buy at: Acure Organics

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