DIY Face Masks for Your Face and Hands

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin. Cold weather and low humidity seem to suck the moisture out of us, making the skin dry and flaky. Unfortunately, even hiding indoors can’t save you from winter skin woes, as dry indoor heat worsens the problem. 

Winter weather may aggravate any skin conditions you already have. Applying extra moisturizer may help, but there are more effective ways to nourish your skin during winter. 

Warding Off Winter Skin

Dry, dull skin seems to be the mark of winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. There are easy ways to prevent your skin from becoming dry, sallow, and irritated during winter. For starters, work from the inside out by:

• Increasing water intake
• Getting eight hours of sleep a night
• Consuming food with essential fatty acids
• Taking supplements that support skin health
  
  

To truly manage dry, dull skin, you need to provide it with the nutrients and hydration it craves, especially during the winter months. Supplements like Juvecol® provide skin-boosting collagen, proteoglycans, and hyaluronic acid to reduce blotchiness and increase moisture and firmness.*
 

Additionally, supporting the immune system and boosting blood flow can keep skin problems like puffiness and redness at bay. Oligonol®, which supports circulation and protects against free radical damage, can help your skin fight the winter blahs from the inside out.*

Skin Care Is Self-Care

Feeling good makes you look good, and sporting stellar winter skin also means treating yourself to a little TLC. However, not all self-care requires expensive spa treatments or expensive beauty products. 

Instead, some of the best skin treatments are found right in your kitchen. Check out our favorite DIY masks to restore your skin without breaking the bank.

Oatmeal Offers a Dry Skin Cure-All

Oatmeal performs double duty as a skincare salve, moisturizing and deeply cleansing skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin. Fans of oatmeal cite its skin-boosting B and E vitamins and its high zinc content for improving the skin’s texture and brightening dull skin. 

A Simple Oatmeal Mask

Even if oatmeal is the only ingredient in your pantry, you can still whip up a face mask for dry skin. Just take two to three tablespoons of rolled oats and process them in a food processor or even a coffee grinder to form an oatmeal powder. Then, add just enough hot water to form a paste and cool to room temperature. 

Once cooled, apply to the face and neck and massage gently into the skin. Let the paste dry for five to ten minutes, then rinse off with cool water. 

Fatty Acids to the Rescue

When the winds are whipping and your skin stress hits an all-time high, fatty acids can soothe irritation and calm redness. Coconut oil provides deep hydration, while the fats, compounds, and vitamins in avocado can speed skincare and improve chapped skin. 

In addition, honey, a natural ​​humectant, can prevent moisture loss. Honey contains powerful antioxidants which can reduce stress on skin cells and protect skin from environmental damage. 

A Soothing Avocado and Honey Mask

Combine these ingredients:

• One teaspoon honey
• One teaspoon coconut oil
• ¼ avocado
• Two drops of lavender or chamomile oil

Mix all ingredients and then apply to the face and hands with a brush or clean fingertips. Allow the mask to sit 10-15 minutes before rinsing. 

Nourish Your Skin with Milk and Honey

The lactic acid in yogurt serves as a gentle and effective exfoliant, while yogurt’s zinc has anti-inflammatory benefits. The calcium and B vitamins found in yogurt relieve dry and dull skin, while unpasteurized honey may speed healing and reduce redness. 

A Skin-Balancing Yogurt and Honey Mask 

Combine these ingredients:

• One tablespoon plain, natural yogurt
• One tablespoon honey
• One tablespoon turmeric 

Mix ingredients and apply to skin with either a brush or clean fingertips. Rinse after 10-15 minutes. 

Turmeric for Clear, Calm Skin

Tumeric’s reputation as a healer dates back hundreds of years. This bright yellow spice is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities that target pores and calm the skin. With the bacteria balancing properties of manuka honey, this turmeric mask can revive skin suffering from acne and irritation. 

A Spice-y Mask for Clear Skin

Combine these ingredients: 

• One tablespoon manuka honey
• One teaspoon good quality turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon Dead Sea salt

After mixing, apply with a clean foundation brush or fingertips and allow the mixture to do its magic for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.

Lemon Juice for Brighter, Even Skin

Lemons are full of vitamin C and citric acid, giving them astringent and antimicrobial qualities that can tame bacteria and break down dead skin. The lemon’s high vitamin C content may also lighten age spots and acne scars. 

However, those with sensitive skin may want to be careful, lemon’s high acidity can irritate the skin, and you should always rinse lemon juice off of your skin before heading outdoors. 

A Skin-Brightening Lemon Mask

Start with these ingredients: 

• One tablespoon rice flour
• One tablespoon full-fat plain yogurt
• One tablespoon honey
• One tablespoon lemon juice
• One egg white

First, create the mask’s base by combining rice flour and yogurt, then mix in honey, lemon juice, and egg white. Apply to skin with a brush or clean fingertips, and rinse off after 15-20 minutes.

Egg Whites for Firmer, Clearer Skin

Egg whites are full of vital vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and folate, that benefit all skin types. In addition, egg whites may help firm and tighten aging skin and clear and close clogged pores.

An Exfoliating Egg Mask

Mix these ingredients:

• One egg white
• One tablespoon white sugar
• Two teaspoon cornstarch

Using a brush or clean fingertips, apply the mask to the face. After waiting 15-20 minutes, slowly and carefully peel off the mask, then rinse skin with warm water. 

Whipping up a DIY mask in the kitchen can soothe and rejuvenate your skin without breaking the bank. Ward off winter skin woes by taking care of yourself inside and out with ingredients that soothe and hydrate skin all of the way to spring!