Back to School 2017: DIY Face Masks for Clear Skin

Hi everyone!

So, we are starting our back to school series! I'm super excited because, besides Christmas, this is my favorite time of the year. It's the time where I can be my Virgo self and get organized, set goals, and prepare to kick it into high gear before I start hating school again. One area I'm focusing in on in skin care. This summer, I spent a little bit more energy into skin care, and I've definitely been seeing growth. However, there are still too many days where I skimp on my routine or drink too much coffee over water or even sleep in my makeup (don't crucify me). On my YouTube channel, I'm sharing all the ways I'm getting my skin together before school starts back up, and on the blog, I'm sharing some DIY face mask recipe for all my budget baddies (💯!).

I also want to note that the start of the school year is simply a good check-in point. You don't have to have perfect skin to have a happy life or a great school year. If your skin isn't clear by the start of the year, you haven't failed anything.

DIY Face Mask Recipes

Hydrating Oatmeal Mask

This mask helps to manage breakouts, adds moisture to skin, and helps to reduce inflammation. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of raw ground oatmeal (gentle exfoliation)

1/2 cup of water (I mean because of course...but also it thins out the mask)

1/2 cup of milk (adds moisture and calms redness)

1 tbsp of honey (add moisture and softness & gets rid of excess sebum)

Instructions:

Cook the ingredients over medium heat for 5 minutes, and apply to face for 15 (after it's cooled but duh). Rinse.

Preventative Face Mask

This mask helps to *wait for it* prevent breakouts. Use it in advance to have clear skin for a big event like #firstday.

Ingredients:

1 tsp ground cinnamon (antibacterial which equals preventative. Watch out, though, because cinnamon can irritate the skin. Do a patch test on a small area first)

1 tsp ground nutmeg (gentle exfoliation)

2 tbsps honey (see above please and thank you)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together, and apply to face for 15 mins. Rinse.

 Anti-Acne Clay Mask

If you have social media, then you've probably seen this one that prevents acne using clay & apple cider vinegar.

Ingredients:

1 tsp Bentonite clay (dries out oily skin, exfoliates, antibacterial...which all helps to prevent acne albeit indirectly)

1 tsp apple cider vinegar (kills bacteria that cause acne)

Instructions:

Mix ingredients together, and apply to face for 15 minutes. Rinse

Lemon & Baking Soda Mask

This mask does a lot: prevents breakouts, gets rid of excess sebum & unclogs pores. 

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp lemon juice (antibacterial & exfoliating)

1/2 tsp baking soda (anti-inflammatory & antibacterial)

1tbsp honey (yeah, we've covered this one)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together, and apply to face for 15 minutes. Rinse.

Redness Calming Mask

This one...calms redness.

Ingredients:

1 tsp matcha green tea powder (reduces redness & inflammation)

1/2 tsp coconut oil (moisturizes skin...do a patch test to ensure coconut oil won't clog your pores)

1/2 tsp water (obviously)

Instructions:

Literally the same as the other ones.