As finals week approaches, both my skin and my workload have taken a turn for the worse. High stress levels and lack of sleep, coupled with the changing weather, have definitely taken their toll on my skin. So I decided to turn to face masks in hopes of rejuvenating my tired skin. I love store bought face masks just as much as the next person but unfortunately, as a broke college student, my budget for them is limited. Fortunately, homemade face masks work just as well, if not better, than the ones you can find at the store since they are made from completely natural ingredients. And since you can control the amount of ingredients you use, you don’t need to worry about wasting product and then there’s no need to rush to finish all of the mask before it expires. Tempted? Keep reading for a few simple DIY face mask recipes!
1. Honey and Lemon
The honey and lemon mask is one of the simplest to make. Honey is known for its antioxidants which are great for acne, while lemon brightens dull and tired skin. All you need is one tablespoon of honey and half of a freshly squeezed lemon. Mix the two together and apply the concoction to your face and neck. After 15-20 minutes, wash the mask off and follow up with a moisturizer.
2. Aspirin Yes, you read that right. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties and contains salicylic acid, which is used in most acne products. This will gently exfoliate the skin and reduce redness. All you need is 5-6 aspirin pills, water, and honey. Dissolve the aspirin in a glass of water and add one teaspoon of honey. Mix the three together and apply the mask to your face and neck and rinse it off after 5-10 minutes. Follow up with a gentle moisturizer. Keep in mind if you are allergic to aspirin, do not use this mask.
3. Green Tea
A tea bag scrub is great for gentle exfoliation as it gets rid of dead skin cells and refreshes tired skin. All you need is hot water, honey, and a bag of green tea. Dip the green tea bag into a cup of hot water and once it’s all soaked up, take it out and cut up the bag. Mix the contents of the bag with one teaspoon of honey and apply it to your face and neck for 5-10 minutes and wash it off. Follow up with your favourite moisturizer. Remember not to over-exfoliate and only use this mask once or twice a week.
4. Honey And Sugar
While a honey and sugar mask is great for exfoliation, I would not recommend using it on your face because it can be a little harsh on your skin. However, it is great for exfoliating dead skin around your lips. All you need is a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of honey, mix the two together, and apply the scrub to your lips. Make sure to gently scrub the area with your fingers for about a minute and wash it off when you’re done. Happy Mask-ing and good luck on finals!
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