5 Homemade Skin-Clearing Face Masks
You can whip up five skin-clearing face masks using ingredients from your kitchen or garden!
Homemade Face Mask for Clear Skin
The great thing about making your own skin-clearing face mask is that you have so many options. There are a variety of natural, inexpensive products you can purchase from the grocery store that work wonders for your skin. I enjoy mixing and matching ingredients to what works personally for me. I also like to know why I'm using a certain ingredient and how it's helping my skin. For this reason, I'm going to start out by listing ingredients for face masks and why they are good for your skin. Then, I will provide a few skin-clearing face mask recipes that I like. Feel free to add ingredients to meet your needs or come up with your own face mask.
There are so many options for making your own skin clearing face mask. Learn about them in this article.
Tips to Help You Get Started with Your Home Remedies
- Start by using warm water to open your pores and finish with cool water to close them.
- You usually want to give yourself at least 30 minutes to make the mask and allow it time to work on your skin.
- Some of these masks can get messy, so be prepared with towels and washcloths.
- Relax with cucumber slices on your eyes while using your mask. Cucumber is soothing and has anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps to reduce puffy eyes.
- Always consider including a moisturizing ingredient in your masks. Of course, this might depend on your specific needs. However, hydrated skin is a big key to having beautiful, clear skin. Many anti-acne products dry out your skin. Skin that is too dry can actually cause acne because your skin produces excess sebum when your skin is too dry.
Now let's get started.
Creating your own face mask at home can give you beautiful, clear skin
Natural Skin Clearing Ingredients
- Honey: Honey is naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial and filled with antioxidants. Honey also helps to absorb and retain moisture. It is excellent to help prevent drying. It is also a great cleansing agent because it absorbs impurities from the skin. Because of its antibacterial properties, it may help keep your skin clear by inhibiting excess bacteria growth. Another awesome property of honey is that it doesn't have any chemicals or preservatives but it still has a shelf life of a year or more! Honey contains a high content of nutrients that your skin will eat up.
- Avocado: Avocado is high in vitamins and antioxidants. Its high natural fat content is very hydrating for your skin. Its high vitamin E content boots collagen and promotes new skin growth. Avocado is an excellent ingredient for moisturizing, softening and strengthening your skin.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon helps to dry acne. It also brings blood and oxygen to the surface of the skin, increasing circulation and promoting the absorption of nutrients. Cinnamon is a natural antiseptic. Don't use too much cinnamon, as it can be irritating to the skin. It is recommended to not use cinnamon masks more than once a week. If your skin does get irritated after a cinnamon mask, soothe it with a cucumber and honey toner.
- Baking Soda: Ask any skincare expert and they will tell you that exfoliation is a very important piece of maintaining healthy, beautiful and clear skin. You can use baking soda mixed with a little water to make a natural scrub to slough off dead skin cells and promote the growth of new ones. In addition, baking soda has alkalizing properties that can help improve the PH balance of your skin. It also helps to soothe irritated skin.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil is rich in vitamins and nutrients. It helps to moisturize your skin without clogging pores. Olive oil functions as an antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory. It helps to improve your skin's moisture retention, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and supple.
Honey is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and loaded with nutrients that will help to clear your skin.
Additional Natural Skin Clearing Ingredients
- Lemon: Citrus fruits have natural exfoliation benefits. The acids in citrus juices help to dissolve dead skin cells. Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) helps to reduce wrinkles and sun damage and can be found in lemons as well as oranges, strawberries and grapes. Lemon juice is also a natural antiseptic, which will help clear dirt and bacteria from your skin. This is one of the ingredients that you want to make sure you mix with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients because alone, lemon juice can dry out your skin. You can always reduce the amount of lemon in your masks if you find your skin is too sensitive for it.
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal is anti-inflammatory and is great for all skin types. It contains cleansing agents and helps to remove dead skin cells. Oatmeal has been clinically shown to heal dry, itchy skin. You'll want to grind it into a powder to use in your recipes using a blender or food processor. You can also buy oat flour from your local health food store.
- Eggs: As a mask, egg whites may help tighten and tone your skin. Egg whites are high in protein, vitamins and minerals, especially the vitamin B complexes. Eggs whites will give your skin a healthy glow. They will also tighten your pores and help to remove dead skin cells. The protein in the egg whites will help to soften, nourish and heal your skin.
- Yogurt: Yogurt contains natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. The lactic acid in yogurt dissolves dead skin and tightens pores. If you use a yogurt with a high fat content, you will have the extra benefit of moisturizing your skin.
Now we're ready to make some skin clearing masks that will leave your skin soft, smooth, clean and glowing.
Egg whites are a great option to help clear skin.
1. Oatmeal, Honey and Egg White Face Mask
Make an oatmeal, honey and egg white face mask to cleanse, exfoliate and firm your skin.
Directions
- Crack an egg and separate the white from the yolk, putting the white in a bowl and discarding the yolk. Lightly beat the egg white until frothy.
- Grind the oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it's a powder. Add about 2 TBSP to your egg whites.
- Add 1 TBSP honey to your mixture and stir until combined.
- Gently massage all over your face and neck.
- Allow to set on your skin for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
- Finish by gently patting your face with a cool, damp washcloth to close your pores.
- Look in the mirror and admire your glowing complexion.
The acids in lemon and other citrus fruit help exfoliate and clear the skin.
2. Honey, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice Face Mask
This mask will exfoliate and hydrate your skin. This is a wonderful mask to get the benefits of lemon juice without drying out your skin.
Directions
- Combine 1 TBSP honey, 1 TBSP olive oil and 2 tsp lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Gently massage onto the skin on your face and neck.
- Allow to the mixture to rest on your skin for 15 minutes.
- Wash with warm water and finish by dabbing your face with a cool washcloth.
- Feel the difference in your skin.
3. Baking Soda and Witch Hazel
Make a baking soda scrub to exfoliate and increase circulation to your skin. Witch hazel is inexpensive and can be used as a toner to dissolve excess oil and tighten skin without drying it out. In this recipe, we combine baking soda and witch hazel to create a skin-clearing scrub.
Directions
- Put a few tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl.
- Slowly stir in the witch hazel until it's the consistency of a loose paste.
- Gently apply the scrub all over your face by massaging the scrub in small circles.
- Rinse thoroughly. Excess baking soda left on the skin might irritate it.
- Use a natural moisturizer such as Aloe Vera to finish and feel how soft your skin is!
4. Citrus and Yogurt Face Mask
The combination of citrus juice and yogurt may help even skin tone, cleanse, disinfect and soften skin. Choose a plain yogurt with a high fat content for extra moisture. I like to do a baking soda scrub after my citrus face mask for extra smooth skin.
Directions
- Combine 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 TBSP lemon juice and 1 TBSP orange juice.
- Apply to face and relax for 20 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water. Follow with a baking soda scrub if desired.
- Finish with a cool wash cloth to close pores.
- Look at your beautiful radiant skin. Don't forget to smile!
Aspirin might be a surprising ingredient in a homemade skin clearing face mask.
5. Aspirin and Lemon Juice Face Mask
Aspirin? That's weird, right? It actually makes sense. If we call aspirin by its scientific name, acetylsalicylic acid, then it might sound familiar. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which is a common ingredient in many anti-acne products.
Note: if you have sensitive skin, this mask may be drying if used too frequently. If you find this mask dries out your skin, try adding some honey into the mix, or do this mask every couple of weeks as opposed to weekly.
Directions
- Crush about 12 non-coated aspirin pills into a powder.
- Slowly stir in the lemon juice.Continue to stir until the you get a pasty consistent.
- Apply to your skin and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Dissolve some baking soda in warm water. Rinse by dipping a cotton ball in your baking soda water and then use the cotton ball to remove the mask. The baking soda will neutralize the acid from the lemon.
- Watch you skin get clearer and clearer after each use.
Ingredients to Lighten Scarring
You may wish to reduce acne scarring and sun damage. Some natural products that may help even your skin tone are:
- Aloe Vera
- Lemon
- Cocoa Butter
- Witch Hazel
- Tee Tree oil
As mentioned earlier, lemon may be drying to the skin, so I wouldn't recommend using it all over your face without combining it with another moisturizing ingredient. I like to use Aloe Vera as my evening moisturizer. My skin always feels soft, nourished and non-greasy.
Do Some Experimenting!
Now you have an excellent foundation for creating your own skin-clearing face mask. You'll notice that I described a few other ingredients that weren't included in the recipes. There are hundreds of homemade face masks I could have written about, but I wanted to give some examples of popular ones or some that I personally use and like. Feel free to mix, match and create your own combinations that work for your skin. For instance, add cinnamon to any mask to add some extra kick. If you need a purely moisturizing and soothing mask, try avocado and honey. The options are endless, it simply depends on what works for your skin. Now go relax and enjoy your face mask!
Beauty Update: An Easy, 3-Step Natural Skin Clearing Treatment
After writing this article, I was inspired and tried out a new skin-clearing technique. I was very happy with the results so I thought I would share them here.
This skincare treatment has three steps. Step one is an acid peel to help dissolve dead skin cells. The second step is to exfoliate and remove impurities from the skin that were drawn out during the acid peel. And the final step is to moisturize and replenish nourishment to the skin.
- Acid Peel: Quarter a lemon or lime. Rub directly onto skin and let sit for 5-10 minutes. You'll likely feel some tingling and possibly some slight stinging. If it gets to become too uncomfortable, rinse immediately and continue with steps 2 and 3, which will help soothe your skin.
- Baking Soda Exfoliation: Moisten your fingers and dab in some baking soda. Gently massage your face with the baking soda to gently exfoliate the skin. In addition to removing dead skin cells, the baking soda will neutralize the acid from the citrus.
- Honey Moisturizer: Raw honey works best. You'll probably use about 1 TBSP honey. Rub directly onto the skin and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. The honey will help prevent bacteria growth, hydrate and replenish your skin. The best time to moisturize is after you have exfoliated, so your skin will love this simple honey treatment.
Relax in a honey, Epsom salt and baking soda bath while allowing the honey to work on your skin. You will notice an immediate difference in your skin after this simple 3-Step treatment. Enjoy!
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
What's your favorite facial skin care product?
Sinthya Solera Ramos on May 23, 2020:
Ih I just wanted to ask, what should I do if I End up extremly alergični to one of those on my skin?
Me on December 19, 2018:
Just used the honey lemon olive oil mask and my skin is soft af
Elsa on May 05, 2016:
what type of honey can be used? processed or raw?
Taylor Alford from Elkins, WV on July 13, 2014:
Contrary to popular belief, baking soda is absolutely NOT okay to use on the skin! The skins natural pH ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 which is slightly acidic. Baking soda stands at a 9 which makes it HIGHLY alkaline. Introducing an alkaline substance like that to your face compromises the lipid layer on the surface of the skin and can severely irritate it.
Taylor Alford
Licensed Aethetician
Thelma Alberts from Germany on July 10, 2014:
Great beauty ideas. I love to try some of these. Thanks for sharing.
Sasa on February 14, 2014:
Great blog. Very useful information in this fub i am very glad you add some extra material on the page.Learned several new ones that I can't wait to try Thank you
lisasuniquevoice on April 24, 2013:
Jenna,
I like the yogurt and citrus mask because it will be good for my combination skin.
Thank you,
Lisa
Indian Chef from New Delhi India on December 02, 2012:
Very informative Hub. In India many girls try to use Multani Mitti as face pack. Look for that too if it is useful to you or not. Voting it up and useful.
OanaBoteanu on December 01, 2012:
Great article, inspired me to go back to homemade beauty treats. I'll be trying your 3 step clearing treatment soon !
Johuna on December 01, 2012:
Nice hub !
Jenna Estefan (author) from Seattle, WA on December 01, 2012:
Thank you everyone for your comments! I love making homemade beauty treatments, so I'm happy to share!
Kristine Jambalos from Philippines on November 30, 2012:
i love your hub! congratulations! :)
Maggie Griess from Ontario, Canada on November 30, 2012:
Very informative Hub! Voted up and useful and bookmarked. Congratulations!
Marlene Bertrand from USA on November 30, 2012:
Absolutely amazing! I am glad you added the extra solutions. I like using citrus and honey. I never thought of using baking soda. I think I'll try it. Thanks. And, congratulations on receiving Hub of the Day!
lanablackmoor from New England on November 30, 2012:
Congrats on being chosen HOTD! This Hub absolutely deserves the attention! Great tips, I've personally made use of a good many of them and can totally vouch that they work. Learned several new ones that I can't wait to try, too! Voted up!
BODYLEVIVE from Alabama, USA on November 30, 2012:
Congrats on hub of the day! Good tips, I need this info because I have problem skin. Thanks
Kristin Trapp from Illinois on November 30, 2012:
Congratulations on HOTD. I definitely want to try to use one of these masks and try the baking soda exfoliation. Great ideas and thanks for listing the benefits to the skin for the various ingredients.
Jessica Peri from United States on November 30, 2012:
Congrats on getting Hub of the Day!
Sarah Carlsley from Minnesota on November 30, 2012:
This is wonderful, I could definitely use one of these masks right now!
Amber White from New Glarus, WI on November 30, 2012:
These are some wonderful recipes! Voted up, shared and trying the honey, olive oil, lemon juice one this afternoon!
kikalina from Europe on November 30, 2012:
Easy recipes! Thanks!
yover on November 30, 2012:
Congratulations on Hub Of The Day! This is a great article and I really look forward to trying some of these out.
Liz Rayen from California on November 30, 2012:
Very cool hub. I love all the ideas and have pretty much everything you've listed in my kitchen! Thanks for sharing.. I'm going to give these a try! ♥
Lissette from Central Florida on November 30, 2012:
I am interested in saving your recipes. Thank goodness for pinterest.
lmlynde from Nevada on November 30, 2012:
Awesome, informative, and interesting on the combos we can use for the various skin remedies! Thanks again....great hub!
sangeeta verma from Ludhiana India on November 30, 2012:
Congrats for the hub of the! easy to follow, without any side effect.
Kalpana Iyer from India on November 30, 2012:
Interesting techniques! Highly useful for people like me. Congrats on 'Hub of the day'. Well deserved. :)
Crystal Tatum on November 30, 2012:
Love these recipes - I had no idea cinnamon could help with acne. I do have sensitive skin, so I'll have to be careful. Congrats on Hub of the Day!
ignugent17 on November 30, 2012:
Congratulations hub of the day!
Leah Lefler from Western New York on November 30, 2012:
I love your explanation of the different ingredients and how they help to keep skin healthy. I'm always happier to use natural, homemade ingredients than expensive chemicals from the store!
Cynthia B Turner from Georgia on November 30, 2012:
Congratulations on Hub of the Day. It was packed with some very useful alternatives to cleansing masks from the store, with all the chemicals they add. Well done and thank you for the extremely useful information.
Pisces from Pakistan on November 30, 2012:
Congratulation for being hub of the day
zodaic on November 30, 2012:
Congratulation for being hub of the day
Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on November 30, 2012:
Congrats Jenna,
Great one stop shop for DIY beauty which I love! I have several on this theme too. Well done on HOTD! Votes ++
Nira Perkins on November 30, 2012:
I love make it yourself facial scrubs, lotions, and what not. I will try this for sure. Especially because it got hub of the day! Congratulations and thanks for sharing :)
CZCZCZ from Oregon on November 30, 2012:
What a great hub of in depth detailed information. Congrats on getting hub of the day honors for this work. Great examples and descriptions for making a skin cleaning facial mask.
Jenna Estefan (author) from Seattle, WA on November 26, 2012:
I always prefer simple, natural treatments to complicated, expensive, chemical based ones. Thanks for your comments!
Jenna Estefan (author) from Seattle, WA on November 26, 2012:
Thanks, I always love discovering new, natural skin care treatments. I'm glad you found it useful!
Alison Graham from UK on November 25, 2012:
Thanks for all the information you have provided here. Your hub is beautifully laid out and all the instructions are very clear - voted up and useful!
Deepali from India on November 24, 2012:
Very useful tips specially for those who normally uses chemical based creams and ointment to cure their skin problems.
