Looking to solve your skincare woes with ingredients you have at home? Look no further — we’ve got the ultimate (and easiest) routine with homemade beauty remedies straight from the pros. These DIY fixes “help produce feelings of relaxation and tranquility, similar to that of a spa treatment but in the comfort of your own home,” says Arelli Soriano, spa manager at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun.
From homemade skincare masks to anti-aging skincare including scrubs, soaks, and more, your face, body, lips, and even feet will look and feel better than ever with these at-home beauty fixes.
1Clarifying Oat Face Mask
Regulate skin’s pH with apple cider’s high levels of alpha-hydroxy acids and remove excess oil and buildup with ground oats. The oats contain saponins, a naturally powerful cleanser, Aganovic says.
Recipe: Combine 3 teaspoons ground oats and ¼ teaspoon apple cider in a bowl until smooth paste forms. Then add ¼ tablespoon lemon juice and ½ tablespoon brown sugar; stir until the mixture is even. Apply to freshly cleansed skin and let sit for five to 10 minutes, allowing ingredients to penetrate the top layers of the skin. Then rub in circular motions to exfoliate and increase blood flow. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry with a towel.
2Exfoliating Baking Soda Foot Soak
A simple foot soak of baking soda and water will do the trick, Dr. Jaliman says. “The baking soda treats calluses because it’s abrasive and helps loosen dead skin” she explains.
Recipe: Add a ratio of ½ cup baking soda for every gallon of warm water in a shallow tub and stir until the powder dissolves. Sit back and relax, soaking feet for about 30 minutes. Rinse away the baking soda and pat feet dry before applying foot cream and slipping on a pair of cotton socks.
3Anti-Aging Cocoa Face Mask
A decadent, antioxidant-packed cocoa mask replenishes moisture and gives skin a restored, youthful appearance. “As skin ages, the moisture barrier begins to break down leading to dryness and the immunity layer of the skin weakens” says skincare expert Jasmina Aganovic. “Hydration is the most important skin saver at this stage!”
Recipe: Combine 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon sour cream, 1 tablespoon honey, and one egg white. Apply to face and let dry before rinsing. The powerful ingredients make this a multi-tasking wonder-cream: A sour cream is a form of lactic acid that hydrates as it gently exfoliates; honey is a humectant that also boosts hydration while the protein in the egg white tightens and firms skin.
4Brightening Blueberry Face Mask
Detox your face with a soothing berry mask. Antioxidants in blueberries protect against free radicals and repair previous damage while vitamin C from lemons brightens skin, Aganovic explains.
Recipe: Combine 1 tablespoon crushed ripe blueberries, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon cucumber juice, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 2 tablespoons water; spread onto face. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Gently rinse with hands and warm water.
5Nourishing Milk Hand Soak
Debra Jaliman, M.D., New York City dermatologist, recommends warm milk soak to soften hard-working hands.
Recipe: Heat 2 to 3 cups whole milk (enough to completely submerge both hands) in the microwave until it’s warm. Pour into a bowl and let hands soak for five to 10 minutes, allowing the fat from the milk to hydrate, and vitamins A and E to nourish dry skin.
6Detoxifying Rice Ginger Body Scrub
Whip up a big batch of this Asian-inspired body smoother from Yen with a blend of textures strong enough to slough off all dead skin to reveal smooth, radiant legs and arms. Coconut milk is loaded with hydrating, healthy fats and the ginger decreases inflammation and detoxifies the skin. “The rice grains make a great natural exfoliant” Yen explains. “The starch from the rice helps soothe damaged and irritated skin”.
Recipe: Mix ½ cup ground rice (grind in a blender), ½ cup coconut milk, ¼ cup brown sugar, and 1½ tablespoon ground ginger to form a paste. Use hands to rub the mixture in a circular motion all over. After a few minutes, the scrub will polish the entire body.
7Wrinkle-Fighting Papaya Face Mask
Yen’s secret recipe for ageless skin is her grandmother’s mask made with fresh papaya, Greek yogurt, and other nutritious ingredients. She recommends applying your usual face moisturizer after rinsing. The alpha-hydroxy acids in papaya work as a natural exfoliator; the egg whites are high in protein and help rebuild skin and tighten pores.
Recipe: Blend ½ of fresh papaya (seeds removed and diced), 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon white tea (brewed and cooled), 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and one organic egg white in a food processor (or use a fork) until it forms a paste. Apply to face and neck; relax for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.
8Acne-Fighting Tea Leaves Face Toner
Cook up a soothing white tea toner with Asian-influenced ingredients, courtesy of Jennifer Yen, creator of the Purlisse Skincare collection. Healthy skin starts from the inside out, and drinking a simple mix of water with lemon will kick start the beautifying effects, she says.
Recipe: Combine 1 teaspoon peppermint tea leaves, 4 teaspoons white tea leaves, ½ cup boiled distilled water, and 2 drops of lavender oil in a French press. Let steep for 10 minutes before pouring into a glass container to cool. Combine with enough aloe vera gel to fill a 4-oz spray bottle atomizer. Store in the refrigerator before spritzing.
9Exfoliating Sugar Face Scrub
Sweeten up your at-home beauty routine with a honey and sugar face scrub. “This homemade exfoliant helps to nourish skin while sloughing off dead cells,” says Arelli Soriano, spa manager at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun. If you have sensitive skin, skip this recipe: Sugar can be too harsh.
Recipe: Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of honey in a small bowl and stir until thick paste forms. Add two tablespoons of an oil of your choice (olive, almond, or coconut) and blend until it integrates with the paste to make it a little lighter. Spread the paste all over clean skin — your face, neck, and decollete. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. You can use any leftover scrub on the body for the same effect.
10. Soothing Aloe Face Mask
Aloe vera is good for more than just a sunburn: “It is full of skin-saving benefits. The powerful plant is composed of anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and moisturizing properties to leave skin feeling soft and looking radiant,” says Ximena Pompa, spa director at Sofitel Mexico City Reforma. Using aloe vera in a face mask can calm irritated skin and also have a plumping and glowing-boosting effect.
Recipe: Mix 1/2 tablespoon of almond milk with one tablespoon of brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add four tablespoons (approximately) of aloe vera juice or gel. Apply the mixture onto your face, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and remove with warm water and a soft towel.
11. Depuffing Cucumber Eye Mask
Create a spa-like environment—and look well-rested at the same time— with a DIY cucumber mask from Vance Soto, president & owner of OleHenriksen Face/Body Spa.”Grating the cucumber will release the active enzymes” Soto says. “This eye mask will help with puffiness and allergies, as it calms and soothes this delicate area of the skin”.
Recipe: Take a cold cucumber and grate it over a paper towel on top of a plate. Once you’ve finished grating, wrap the pieces like a burrito and compress them. Rest your head back and apply to closed eyes for an instant soothing effect.
12. Smoothing Honey Lip Scrub
Stir together these lip-savers from Beverly Hills aesthetician Gina Marí for the perfect pout — scrubs aren’t reserved for the face or body.
Recipe: Combine 1 teaspoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon raw honey, 2 tablespoons raw sugar, and a dash of lemon juice in a small bowl. Apply the mixture with a new toothbrush in a gentle circular motion. Rinse off and follow up with your favorite lip balm. Not a lemon fan? Marí also recommends a mixture of 2 to 3 tablespoons of crumbled oats, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and one drop of tea tree oil.
13. Coconut Oil Cuticle Hydrator
Skincare expert Megan Brame-Finkelstein turns to coconut oil for extra nourishment on dry cuticles. The heavy oil provides long-lasting moisture. Simply rub a small amount on each fingertip and swath with plastic wrap to let it sink in.
Last Updated on 6 months by Evan White