Neni Stone: 4 Weeks to a Festive Glow – 3 Do-It-Yourself Facial Masks Your Skin will Love!

As we all know, the Harmattan season is characterized by dry and dusty winds which can do a lot of damage to your skin. Therefore, our skin needs that extra TLC to keep it looking its best.

Facials are a great way to keep your skin glowing, but they can be quite pricey. So to help keep you well within your budget for the year’s end, here are three of my favorite Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home face masks crafted from common household ingredients.

1. Papaya Brightening Facial Mask

This papaya mask can be done twice a week. The enzymes in papaya exfoliate, repair sun damage, and diminish age spots and smooth skin.

Directions

1. Cut a slice of ripe papaya and remove the seeds and pulp (save the pulp for a snack later—it’s great for digestion).
2. Rub the inside of the papaya peel on your cleansed face, focusing on lines around the mouth and eyes.
3. Let it dry for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water.

2. Oatmeal Exfoliating Facial Mask

The oatmeal in this scrub gently exfoliates, while the honey and olive oil moisturizes the skin.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of cooked oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Directions

1. Cook oatmeal, and let cool down. Add the honey and olive oil to the cooked oatmeal.
2. Apply as a scrub, gently rubbing it in small circles over your skin, avoiding the eye area.
3. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

3. Green Tea Facial Toner

This toning facial and eye treatment helps to de-puff, relax, refresh and energize your skin. Sometimes you have to use an alcohol-free toner on your skin to cleanse and tighten pores. But alcohol is extremely drying and quite harsh on facial skin, and tea works just as well but without drying out your skin.

Directions

1. After cleansing your skin, brew a cup of green tea and allow it to cool.
2. Soak a cotton ball in the tea and apply on your face.
3. Leave to dry, do not wash off.
4. Next, soak two clean, round makeup sponges in the tea and squeeze out any excess liquid. Place one on each of your eyes for 15 minutes.

Photo Credit: Goncharuk Maksym|Ivandzyuba|Piotr Marcinski|Kuleczka/Dreamstime