9 Easy DIY Face Masks to Make Your Skin Glow

Home beauty treatments went from one option to the option during the pandemic. The transition was painful for some (reluctant self-waxers), but it also popularized the DIY face mask—one of the most satisfying (and practical) skin-care options around.

Whether you have access to a spa or salon or not, a homemade face mask using simple ingredients puts the self in self-care. Not only are you taking the time to anoint your face with glow-inducing goop, but you also know where each ingredient came from—your fridge or pantry, selected by the person who knows your skin best: you.

FYI before you DIY:

It’s important to note, however, that just because a mask is simple or has a “natural” label—or the internet told you to do it—doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe for your skin or that your face is going to love it.

“You probably wouldn’t take random pills before vetting how they could affect your body, so you should use that rule of thumb for your skin as well,” Mona Gohara, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. “The wrong ingredients can make your at-home beauty treatment go sideways fast.”

Dr. Gohara says you should check with a dermatologist if you’re unsure about a specific ingredient, but in general, she advises DIY maskers to avoid: lemon juice and apple cider vinegar (their high acidity can lead to irritation and burning), spices with heavy yellow coloring like turmeric (which can cause discoloration), and cinnamon (a well-known skin irritant).

As for the best DIY-mask ingredients, there’s limited research on using fridge and pantry staples as skincare, but the simple skin helpers below are generally well-tolerated, Ife Rodney, M.D., lead dermatologist at Eternal Dermatology in Columbia, Maryland, tells SELF:

Oatmeal: Colloidal oatmeal (ground-up oats—you can buy it or just blend rolled oats until they turn into flour) can help improve dryness and lock in moisture.¹ It also has anti-inflammatory properties that have been shown to soothe itchy and/or irritated skin.²

Avocado: It contains high concentrations of fats that can increase skin moisture, as well as vitamin E, an antioxidant that may protect against free-radical damage.³

Honey: A natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient, honey may reduce redness and irritation.⁴ It’s also been shown to help with exfoliation and keep skin moisturized.⁵ Dr. Rodney notes that raw honey is preferred, since it may contain more beneficial properties, including extra antioxidants.⁶

Green tea: It contains a high concentration of polyphenols, antioxidants that can have an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect.⁷

Milk and yogurt: They contain lactic acid—a known exfoliator with moisturizing properties, as well as proteins that may calm inflamed skin, says Dr. Gohara.^{8 9}