No matter your skin type, be it oily, dry, or somewhere in between, everyone can benefit from adding a boost of hydration to their skincare regimen. And while you can certainly find your fair share of hydrating face masks at your local beauty store, many of the key ingredients used in these over-the-counter masks may already be in your fridge or pantry. Read on to get the dermatologist-approved recipes to try at home.
Meet the experts
Molly Lamb, esthetician and owner of Skin by Molly
Elina Fedotova, celebrity esthetician and founder of Elina Organics Skincare
Michelle Schlekewey, esthetician Golden Door spa resort
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist
8 Hydrating Face Mask Recipes for Every Skin Type
“All skin needs moisture to remain plump and balanced—even oily and acne-prone skin,” explains Molly Lamb, esthetician and owner of Skin by Molly in Brooklyn, New York. “We all have free water levels in our skin that need to remain flowing in order to have healthy skin—and a hydrating face mask is a great way to ensure that hydration levels are balanced.”
Many over-the-counter masks contain fillers and chemicals that could do more harm than good. So if you’re looking to amp up your hydration, doing so at home is not only convenient, but it also gives you the empowerment of knowing what you’re putting on your face. And so many natural foods are perfect for boosting skin hydration.
For example, cucumber is the champion for hydrating vegetables, and yogurt provides essential probiotics and lactic acid to nourish and exfoliate, while honey nourishes and hydrates your skin, explains Elina Fedotova, celebrity esthetician and founder of Elina Organics Skincare. Another wonderful mask she recommends to her clients is a calming blend of watermelon and cucumber mixed with honey.
Here are the homemade recipes for creating a hydrating face mask that experts recommend.
1. Hydrating Face Mask for Normal Skin
Honey is an antibacterial, so it’s ideal for acne treatment and prevention. It’s also full of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals from the environment that can lead to premature aging.
Additionally, Michelle Schlekewey, esthetician and Director of Guest Programs and Services at Golden Door spa resort, explains that honey provides a nice complexion boost—thanks to its moisturizing and soothing properties. “Aside from the calcium, cottage cheese adds selenium, an essential mineral for youthful, glowing skin, and is also a great source of vitamin D,” she says. It also brings the skin-smoothing and firming effects of lactic acid, the naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid in milk [source].
-2 tablespoons organic raw honey (warmed)
-1 teaspoon cottage cheese
Combine the ingredients in a bowl and apply the mixture to your face in a circular motion. Leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing off and patting your face dry.
2. Hydrating Face Mask for Combination Skin
“Egg white supplies necessary proteins and amino acids to the skin, and avocado adds healthy fat and oils with a number of different fabulous vitamins,” says Fedotova. “The t-zone will not need extra oils, so the egg whites will help to close the pores and purify the complexion.”
-1 egg white
-1 avocado
Mix ingredients in a blender and apply the mixture over your entire face for extra hydration and nourishment.
3. Hydrating Face Mask for Dry Skin
Dry skin could be the result of numerous factors, but one of the most common is merely lack of oils. “Utilizing the natural fat and vitamin A in butter will help the beta-carotene in the carrots penetrate the skin more effectively,” says Fedotova. “The carrots also give a calming, healing, and nourishing effect while adding a gentle, sun-kissed glow to the skin.”
-2 medium-sized carrots
-1 teaspoon butter
-2 teaspoons organic raw honey
Steam the carrots and place them in a blender with butter and honey. Apply the mixture to your face for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
4. Hydrating Face Mask for Oily Skin
Rich in vitamin C, strawberries can help fight oily skin, as well as nourish and revitalize overall skin tone, explains Schlekewy. “Because they’re acidic in nature, they’re effective in removing excess sebum on the skin as well as lightening blemishes and acne scars.”
-½ cup plain yogurt
-¼ cup strawberries
Blend the ingredients well and apply the mixture to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
5. Hydrating Face Mask for Sensitive Skin
“Lemon provides antibacterial benefits that can help tame breakouts—and it also serves as a natural skin brightener and lightener,” says Schlekewy. “Milk is rich in B-vitamins, alpha-hydroxy acids, calcium, and other potent antioxidants, so it provides a slew of skin benefits!”
-1 tablespoon lemon juice
-3 tablespoons milk
-¼ tablespoon organic turmeric powder
Mix the ingredients in a bowl slowly. Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing off.
6. Hydrating Face Mask for Acne-Prone Skin
Acneic skin typically is inflamed and irritated due to infection present within the pores. The oatmeal contains compounds that work as a natural soap to cleanse pores, while its moisturizing effects are soothing and calming to the skin [source]. The aloe balances oil, fights bacteria, and heals broken skin [source], while the yogurt helps exfoliate the skin’s surface and smooth wrinkles [source] while infusing hydration back into the pores.
-¼ cup plain yogurt
-3 tablespoon aloe vera gel
-1 tablespoon oatmeal
Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl, then apply the mixture to your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes before removing with warm water.
7. Hydrating Face Mask for Glowing Skin
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant cosmeceutical that contributes to a healthy glow, reduces hyperpigmentation, and enables the skin to absorb nutrients effectively. It also has the power to increase collagen production and keep it around longer to maintain skin firmness and tone [source].
-aloe vera gel
-2 teaspoons vitamin C powder
Dissolve the vitamin C powder in a small amount of water. Slowly add enough aloe vera to make a paste. Apply the mask to your face and neck, and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes before removing with warm water.
8. Hydrating Face Mask for Mature Skin
Avocado’s healthy fats, nutrients, and antioxidant properties are ideal for aging skin [source]. Vitamin E protects the skin from free radicals caused by the sun and pollution that damage skin cells [source]. Turmeric is a known anti-inflammatory that also has many antioxidant properties that aid mature skin [source].
-Avocado
-2 drops vitamin E oil
-1 teaspoon organic turmeric powder
Mash the avocado well, and then add the vitamin E oil and turmeric powder. Mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to your face and neck, and leave it on for 20 minutes. Remove it thoroughly with warm water.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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