PART ONE : 10 DIY Beauty Masks Using Common Food Items

Looking to pamper your skin with natural ingredients? Functional Medicine Los Angeles suggests trying these 5 DIY beauty masks using common food items backed by our functional medicine Burbank doctors.

When it comes to our skin, we tend to prefer the most exotic, expensive options, like rare jungle plants and precious metals. The list of ingredients can get pretty ridiculous. It seems like there’s nowhere we won’t go, nothing we won’t do, just to banish a few wrinkles and make our faces glow.

Beauty masks are no exception to the rule. If we’re going to slather something on our faces and let it dry, then it better be expensive. But price and efficacy don’t always go together. Sometimes the best ingredients are the common food items we already have at home in our kitchen as suggested by our functional medicine Studio City professionals.

In fact, our kitchens contain a cornucopia of hidden beauty products that can moisturize, exfoliate, hydrate—you name it, it’s there. No more spending thousands of dollars on strange creams and expensive mud. Functional medicine Los Angeles experts introduce this list of 5 DIY beauty masks using common food items we need.

1. Honey, Turmeric and Yogurt  (For: Exfoliation)

1. Beauty mask mixologists love honey, turmeric, and yogurt. All three ingredients can be found in countless home recipes, specifically because of their exfoliating properties. Without proper cleansing, dead skin cells collect on the face, drying it out, and causing it to flake, and become patchy or discolored. It can even clog pores, causing blackheads, inflammation, and acne. That’s why exfoliation is so important, but for those of us with sensitive skin, it can be difficult to find a product that exfoliates without causing damage.
2. Yogurt contains alpha hydroxy acid, which dissolves dead skin cells, clearing the skin and giving it a healthy glow. Yogurt also moisturizes, relieves sun damage, and can even prevent premature aging and reduce discoloration.
3. Honey is famous for its antimicrobial properties. It seeps into the pores, cleansing the skin of unnecessary bacteria, and leaving it with a healthy, natural glow. Honey is also great at reducing inflammation, which tightens the skin, reducing wrinkles.
4. Turmeric is great for reducing dark circles and discoloration. Like honey, it also reduces inflammation, and it has antimicrobial properties, as well as antioxidants, making it the perfect solution for acne and scarring.

Directions:

• Wash face with hot water. Pat dry, then mix one part honey, one part turmeric, and one part yogurt. Then spread the mixture across the face. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water. Turmeric can stain the skin a shade of yellow, so don’t leave the mask on for longer than 10 minutes.

2. Cucumber and Avocado (For: Oily Skin)

1. There’s nothing worse than a slick, oily face. We all know the problems that it can cause with clogged pores and acne, but it can also cause redness and inflammation, leaving the skin puffy and overworked. This is a serious issue for teenagers and young adults, as well as for those living in hot, humid climates. Fortunately, it’s a problem that can be solved quite easily with an avocado cucumber mask.
2. Cucumbers act as a mild astringent, which cleanses the pores, reducing the yucky buildup caused by the oily consistency. It also leaves the skin with a cool afterglow, closing the pores once they’ve been cleaned.
3. Avocados contain oleic acid, an anti-inflammatory, which will leave the skin hydrated. The skin reacts to dryness by producing more oil, so keeping it hydrated will help prevent this from happening.

Directions:

• Blend one quarter of a cucumber and mash half of an avocado. Mix together and apply to the face, including the areas around the eyes. Let sit for ten minutes, then remove with lukewarm water.

3. Milk, Oatmeal and Cinnamon (For: Anti-aging, Inflammation, Irritation, Skin Conditions, Dryness)

1. Milk, oatmeal, and cinnamon might sound like a recipe for breakfast, but these three ingredients also have amazing applications when it comes to skincare. This mask is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin because it has the same properties as masks made with stronger chemicals, but it’s not an irritant.
2. Milk is rich in lactic acid, which helps removes dead skin cells and promotes the growth of new ones. It also helps smooth the fine lines that come with aging.
3. Oatmeal is often used to treat dry, irritated, or itchy skin. In fact, it’s a common home remedy for eczema, which occurs when the skin isn’t properly hydrated. Oatmeal also works to remove dry skin cells, promote the growth of new ones, and slough away oil, dirt, and grime that clogs pores.
4. Cinnamon is known for its antiseptic properties. It kills bacteria and helps clean away unwanted oils and dirt. It’s also known to reduce the signs of aging and promote new cell growth.

Directions:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of oats, 2 tablespoons of milk, blend together, then add a dash of cinnamon. Spread across the face and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Pat dry and enjoy.

4. Olive Oil and Almonds (For: Congested Skin, Scars)

1. Skin damage is a part of life. Pollution, dust, and dirt will clog our pores, causing inflammation and damage to the skin cells. This olive and almond oil skin mask is the perfect way to replenish the nutrients our skin needs to produce a beautiful, natural glow.
2. Almonds are a natural healing agent. They’re rich in vitamin E, which is known to help prevent aging, firm the skin, and heal scarring. They also contain antioxidants, which eliminate the free radicals caused by aging. This not only heals the damage we take on over the years, but it also helps to prevent that damage from worsening.
3. Olive Oil is in antioxidants, which means that like almonds, it’s capable of reducing the signs of aging as well as preventing them. It’s also great for hydration. The oil traps moisture beneath the skin, making it more difficult for that moisture to escape.

Directions:

• Apply a mild face wash, rinse, pat dry with towel. Mix a handful of ground almonds with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and spread across the face. After 7 minutes gently massage the skin to remove any dead skin cells, then wait for 3 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Pat dry with towel. This mask is best when used 2-3 times per week to maintain a healthy glow and replenish nutrients depleted by natural skin damage and aging.

5. Green Tea and Honey (For: Inflammation, Cleansing, Anti-aging)

1. Not every mask is a one-size-fits-all solution. This variation of the honey mask might be better for those with sensitive skin, who can’t handle stronger ingredients like turmeric and yogurt.
2. Green tea isn’t just for drinking. The same antioxidants that we enjoy out of a coffee mug can be put to use in a face mask, helping to fight inflammation, prevent aging, and repair damage. Green tea also helps prevent damage from UV rays and toxins.
3. Honey kills unwanted bacteria, cleanses the pores, and increases green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties, leaving the skin glowing and healthy.

Directions:

• Brew a nice cup of green tea, using 8 oz. of water. Either dispose of the water or enjoy while waiting for the tea bag to dry out slightly. Cut open the tea bag and add a few drops of honey. Mix into a fine paste and apply to clean skin. Let the mixture sit for about half an hour before removing. Use a light face wash and moisturizer after as needed.

6. Egg Whites, Honey, and Cinnamon (For: Acne)

1. Nobody wants to walk around with a giant zit on their face, much less a field of pimples. Acne is often considered a natural side-effect of puberty and hormones, and some level of acne is normal, but it can be prevented. This face mask was specifically designed to cleanse the skin and close the pores, making it more difficult for acne to form.
2. Honey is a natural antiseptic. It digs into clogged pores, cutting through oil and dirt, and it also reduces inflammation, causing the pores to close.
3. The protein in egg whites cleanse the skin, reducing acne causing bacteria and act as a natural astringent, balancing the skin’s PH. When egg whites dry, they close the pores, making it more difficult for dirt and bacteria to get inside.
4. Cinnamon contains the same antimicrobial properties as egg whites and honey. It boosts their ability to clean the skin and close pores, leaving behind a clean, acne free surface that doesn’t dry out the skin like more acidic ingredients.

Directions:

• Whip the whites of one egg until frothy. Add one tablespoon of honey and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix until a paste is formed. Apply to clean, dry skin and let rest for fifteen minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply moisturizer if needed.

7. Coconut Oil, Bananas, and Lemon Juice (For: Dry Skin, Anti-aging)

1. Hot, dry heat will destroy the skin, robbing our faces of their natural oils, and piling up dry cells. Sometimes we have no other choice but to pull out the big guns and try something drastic to give our skin the cleansing moisture it needs.
2. Coconut oil is a rich, powerful moisturizer, packed with vitamin E. So, it’ll trap all of the hydration we need to revitalize our skin cells, encourage new cell growth and prevent damage from aging.
3. Don’t overlook bananas. They’re amazingly rich in nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, biotin, and manganese. These vitamins help protect the skin’s natural elasticity and leave behind a softer, more natural glow.
4. Lemon juice balances the PH in this beauty mask, counteracting the potent moisturizing effects of coconut oil, which can sometimes be too rich for different skin types. It also has antimicrobial properties, which aren’t found in bananas or coconut oil. It will cleanse the pores, ensuring that this mask won’t trap dirt and bacteria inside them.

Directions:

• Use an exfoliating scrub to wash away any dead skin cells and ensure that the skin is clean enough to absorb the nutrients. Mash ingredients in a bowl to form a paste. Add a few drops of warm water. Apply to dry skin and let sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with cold water. Pat dry with towel.

8. Lemon, Tomato and Honey (For: Discoloration and Blemishes)

1. Dead skin cells, oil and debris fill the pores in our T-zone—across our foreheads and down our noses—creating spotting, blemishes, and sometimes black heads and white heads. This mask helps to cut through the oil, prevent pimples, and lighten discolorations.
2. Lemon is used sparingly due to its acidity, but it is an effective bleaching agent. In small amounts it can lighten the skin, cut down on inflammation and remove oil.
3. Honey’s antimicrobial properties clean the pores and remove inflammation, while also providing nutrients that heal the skin, creating a smooth, glowing effect.
4. Tomatoes contain nutrients that the skin needs to heal itself, as well as lightening agents that, when combined with lemon, can provide the necessary boost to remove spots and discoloration.

Directions:

• Combine one tablespoon of honey and the juice from half a lemon with one teaspoon of tomato pulp. Apply to the face and leave on for ten minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and apply a vitamin E moisturizer to counteract the acidic effects of the lemon. Repeat twice weekly or until the blemishes and discoloration fade.

9. Banana, Turmeric and Baking Soda (For: Acne)

1. For acne that just won’t go away, try banana, turmeric, and baking soda. This mask is a potent mixture designed to address the root cause of acne without damaging the skin.
2. Turmeric cleans the skin, providing it with natural antioxidants that promote healing, while killing off bacteria and removing the grime that clogs our pores.
3. Baking soda absorbs the excess oil that can cause acne, without being too harsh and forcing the skin to overcompensate by producing more oil.
4. Bananas are the perfect addition to an acne mask. Most acne products focusing on reducing oil and cleaning the skin, sacrificing the necessary hydration the body needs to prevent more acne from forming. Bananas hydrate and promote healing, allowing acne scars to heal more quickly.

Directions:

• Combine half a teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of turmeric with one mashed banana. Apply to clean skin and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and apply and thin moisturizer if necessary.

10. Honey and Pumpkin (For: Collagen Production, Wrinkles)

1. When it comes to reversing the effects of gravity, there’s nothing better than collagen. It makes our skin firmer, tighter, and provides a youthful glow that can only be obtained from this essential nutrient.
2. Pumpkins contain high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A, both of which are known to stimulate collagen production. They also contain those all-necessary antioxidants we need to reverse signs of aging, as well as the nutrients we need to ensure proper hydration.
3. Honey cleans the pores and helps smooth wrinkles, ensuring that the hydrating effects of the pumpkin won’t clog us up with bacteria and grime.

Directions:

• Combine half a cup of additive-free pumpkin puree with two tablespoons of honey. Apply liberally and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

These DIY beauty masks are simple to make and can be customized to suit your skin’s needs. Incorporate them into your skincare routine for a natural glow! For more information about our functional medicine doctors.