8 Natural Foods for Face Masks

Facials and masks can be great for cleaning your skin and removing dead cells, but some are full of harsh chemicals and most aren’t the most eco-friendly. Face masks made with food are nothing new, but now that we are becoming more aware of the questionable chemicals in many beauty products.

You’ll be able to find the ingredients for these recipes in your kitchen and they cost pennies compared to ones you’ll find in the store. We like to see it as the grown-up way to play with our food – all in the name of good skin, of course.

The Best Natural Foods for Face Masks

1. Eggs: You can use the whole egg, or you can just use an egg white. The whole egg will offer a little more moisturizing, and the egg white alone will firm your skin and tighten pores. Just rub it over a clean face, let it dry, and you have a simple, easy egg-white facial mask. Tres chick. Get it?
2. Bananas are one fabulous fruit. Did you know that eating a banana when you’re on your period helps with cramps? It’s also one of the top foods for face masks because of its high content of vitamins A and E, so applying it to your face leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. If you have a ripe banana on hand, mash it up and apply it to your face for 10-20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and enjoy your baby soft skin.
3. Cucumber Mask: This one is especially great for oily or inflamed skin. Blend 1/2 of a cucumber with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of bentonite or kaolin clay. Add additional clay if needed to create a paste. Apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes. Remove with a washcloth and warm water.
4. Honey and Banana Face Mask:  Begin by mashing the half banana in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Once you’ve created a smooth, consistent texture, mix in the honey and cinnamon. To apply, start with a freshly cleaned face. Gently apply the mask with your fingers, and leave it on for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, gently rinse and wash your face with a simple facial cleanser. Keep the mask in a sealable container. Refrigerate after use.
5. Lemon juice: This is a fantastic addition to just about any mask. Talk about brightening! Lemon juice tightens up pores, cuts through oil (just like with dishes), and squeaky cleans your face to a nice, bright shine. You can put it directly on your face (wash off within 5 minutes, so you don’t over-lemon yourself) or add it to an egg-white mask.
6. Avocado: This creamy fruit is rich in vitamin A and antioxidants so it makes an ideal food for face masks. If you’d like to give this food mask a try, just mix a teaspoon of olive oil with half a ripe avocado. Apply the paste to your face and rinse off after 15 minutes. Your skin will feel softer, firmer and more radiant.
7. Yogurt: The lactic acid in yogurt leaves your skin fresh and exfoliated. Yogurt brightens your face (a lot, so don’t leave on too much, unless you really want some lightening). And yogurt moisturizes.
8. Oatmeal is very soothing, nourishing and acts as an anti-inflammatory, so it makes a perfect add-in for masks or baths. Oatmeal also makes a natural and gentle exfoliate, so it’s good for more than one use. Try grinding up some oats in a food processor, add some warm water or milk and apply it to your skin for about 10 minutes and rinse off.

Ever used a face mask made from food? How did it work for you? And what’s your favorite homemade face mask recipe? Talk to us in the comments below!