Homemade cooling face masks
As it’s hot hot hot outside, we thought you may enjoy trying out these homemade cooling face masks. They’re suitable for all skin types (even sensitive) and will cool, soothe and hydrate your skin, perfect to try after you’ve been outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Remember to check out our top ten summer skincare tips too.
These masks have been put together by expert skincare therapist, Hanna Byrne, owner of Sands of Siwa. All ingredients are natural (except for the aspirin in the last one!) and will be found in most of your store cupboards already. Plus, all the ingredients are very tasty so you can eat some of them for a healthy snack, and then pop the leftovers on your face!
Please make sure you cleanse your skin before applying your mask. Once it’s on, the best thing to do is try and relax for half an hour. However, if you’ve got stuff to do, you can multitask while the mask is on (except for the cucumber mask, you will need to lie down with this one). Just don’t forget to remove it before leaving the house!
Cucumber face mask
A cucumber mask is especially good for sensitive skin as it’s very soothing.
Ingredients
- Natural, full-fat plain yoghurt
- Cucumber (thinly sliced)
Method
Apply the yoghurt (straight from the fridge) in a very thin layer over your whole face. Place thin slices of cucumber on top. Relax with the mask on for at least 20 minutes.
If you have very oily skin, just apply the thin layer of cucumber, no yoghurt.
Banana face mask
Ingredients
- Half a banana
- 2 teaspoons of full-fat plain yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon of honey (if it’s very thick, warm it a little)
Method
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Apply over your face and leave it on until the mask is completely dry (roughly 20-30 mins).
Avocado face mask
Avocados are so good for you. This mask uses only half an avocado so make sure you gobble up the other half and give your body a dose of good fats.
Ingredients
- Half an avocado
- 2 teaspoons of honey
Method
Mix the avocado and honey together really well. Apply to your face and relax for 30 minutes.
Oatmeal face mask
This uses regular porridge oats – you’ll need to pop them in a food processor and blitz until they turn into powder. This mask is great for tightening the skin and refining your pores.
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons of powdered porridge oats
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 2 teaspoons of organic full-fat milk
Method
Mix all of the ingredients together. If the mixture looks too thick, add a little more milk. Apply for 30 minutes.
Peaches face mask
The enzymes in this mask really help to loosen up your pores, which makes it really effective.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe peach
- 1 egg white
Method
Peel one ripe peach and mash it. Add in the egg white and whip together with the peach. Apply for 15 minutes. When you rinse it off, make sure you rinse with cool water.
After-sun face mask
If you’ve spent a particularly long time in the sun and have got sunburn, this is the mask for you. It’s extremely cooling and the aspirin will help with any pain. You can, of course, leave out the aspirin if you wish.
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber (peeled)
- 1/4 cup (roughly 60-70ml) aloe vera gel
- 1 aspirin (crushed)
Method
Pop all the ingredients into a food processor and blitz. Refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes before applying. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, remove very gently, and then follow with a cool rinse.
What did you think?
We hope you enjoy trying out these homemade cooling masks. Please let us know how you get on in the comments.