Homemade face masks for a deliciously effective facial

An evening spent pampering your skin and laughing with girlfriends is the kind of therapy that we all need once in a while. So, here are some recipes for homemade face masks that you can whip up from things you may already have in your pantry.

Many foods, plants, flowers, and essential oils have amazing properties for the skin. Take advantage of their benefits to create 100 percent natural homemade face masks using these simple ingredients:

• Olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, honey
• Orange flower water, chamomile essential oil
• Green tea, ginger
• Avocado, cucumber, carrot, lemon, banana
• Plain yogurt
• Chocolate
• Baking soda

To moisturize and nourish dry skin

• 1 ripe banana + 5 ml honey (leave on for 10 minutes)
• 1 ripe avocado + 5 ml honey + 2.5 ml olive oil (20 minutes)
• 1 ripe banana + 1 egg yolk + 30 ml plain yogurt + 5 ml coconut oil + 5 ml honey + 5 ml orange flower water (15 minutes)

To cleanse oily skin

• 60 ml plain yogurt + 20 ml lemon juice (5 minutes)
• 60 ml rolled oats + 15 ml honey + a little water (15 minutes)

To soothe sensitive and irritated skin

• 75 ml plain yogurt + a few drops of chamomile essential oil (15 minutes)
• 75 ml plain yogurt + 75 ml grated cucumber (20 minutes)
• 15 ml plain yogurt + 1 grated carrot (10 minutes)

To tone and brighten the complexion

• 60 ml plain yogurt + 60 ml cooled ginger tea + 45 ml grated cucumber + 30 ml crushed tomato (15 minutes)
• 250 ml crushed strawberries + 60 ml cooled green tea + 15 ml honey (15 minutes)
• 1 grated carrot + 1 egg yolk + 15 ml olive oil + 15 ml plain yogurt (30 minutes)

To fight blackheads

• 15 ml baking soda + water to make a paste (5 minutes)

To fight bags under the eyes

• 1 slice fresh cucumber laid on each eye (10 minutes)

To fight wrinkles

• A few squares melted dark chocolate + water to make paste (10 minutes)
• 1 egg white + 15 ml olive oil + 2 grated carrots + a little cornstarch (20 minutes)

• Cleanse your skin before applying a mask.
• Use a mixer to obtain smooth, well-mixed pastes.
• Avoid the eye area when applying facial masks.

Although it’s a lot of fun to throw together some homemade face masks that are good for the skin, nothing beats the real thing.

• A bit of pampering at the hands of an experienced aesthetician will leave your skin glowing like you were 16 again!