A good DIY recipe for a peel-off face mask would have been so helpful when I was a teenager.
When my best friend and I moved out on our own, we would sit in our house and slather green goo all over our faces. The hope was that we would make our 18-year-old faces look youthful and clear. The face masks we used never really did anything except make us look ridiculous. I have the photos to prove it. No, we won't be playing show-and-tell day. Sorry, not sorry -- I really meant "ridiculous!"
Face masks have vastly improved in the long years since then (nope, not telling you that one, either). In fact, now there are tons of peel-off face mask recipes online that actually do help and are much cheaper to make.
Before you make a peel-off face mask, though, it would be helpful to know what the heck a face mask is.
What Is a Face Mask?
A face mask, like a peel-off face mask, is paste-like cream that you put on your face. There are many different types of face masks and they all serve a different purpose.
For example, if you have dry skin on your face, you may want a moisturizing mask. If you have a problem with blackheads, you may want to try a peel-off face mask that targets and removes blackheads. And a coffee face mask would help you if you want to exfoliate your skin.
Not only are there different types of face masks that do different things, but they are all made of unique ingredients. I mentioned the coffee masks, but you can also add essential oils, juice, and even honey. But we will talk more about that below.
First, let's find out what kind of face masks are out there.
What's Up With that Peel-Off Face Mask?
A peel-off face mask is exactly what it sounds like: a mask that you put on your skin and then peel it off.
The types of face mass work by removing the top layer of your skin. Don't let that creep you out, it's not living skin, it's dull, dead skin. In doing so, the dead skin is peeled off, leaving your face smooth and clean.
According to board-certified dermatologist Janet Prystowsky, the removal of that top layer of skin is why a peel-off face mask looks like it has rid your face of blackheads. She explained that blackheads present as a little black dot on your face. That black dot is hiding a buildup of dead skin, bacteria, and oil beneath it.
When you apply a peel-off face mask to your skin and peel it off, you remove the black dot. You do not remove the underlying problem but you can reduce the appearance of blackheads.
This is important to keep in mind:
Just don't use these masks too often or you could cause your skin to become irritated and dry.
6 Peel Off Face Mask Recipes
Below are some great peel-off face mask recipes for you to try at home.
1. Milk and honey mask
Here is what you will need:
- Honey
- Milk
- Cotton strips
You are going to want to mix the two ingredients together to form a paste. That means you will need to add just a tiny bit of milk to your honey. You can warm it in the microwave so that it is easy to mix together before you start stirring.
When your mixture is thick enough, use a cotton ball to slather it on your face. Apply cotton strips over the honey and then let it dry. One it is dry, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then peel it from your face carefully.
Wash your face afterward and put moisturizer on it.
2. Peppermint, frankincense, and turmeric mask
It may seem weird but turmeric isn't just for cooking, it is also great for your skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties and other antioxidants. Peppermint, on the other hand, has antimicrobial properties; and frankincense is said to fight acne. This mask is great for blackheads and overall skin rejuvenation.
What you need:
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
- 1 TBSP gelatin
- 1/2 TSP turmeric
- 1 drop frankincense essential oil
- 1/8 cup of water
First, you want to heat the water in a pan and then place it in a dish. Add the peppermint oil and stir.
Next, add the gelatin and mix until it is well blended. Then you will add the frankincense oil and turmeric. Stir the mixture together until it is well blended and apply it to your face. When it dries, gently pull it off, and was your face with warm water.
3. Cucumber peel-off face mask
This cucumber face mask is really refreshing after a long week. The cucumber, green tea, and gelatin work together to remove blackheads and soothe your skin.
You will need the following items:
- 1/2 cup brewed green tea
- 2 bags of green tea
- 1 small cucumber
To make this peel-off face mask you want to wash, peel, and seed your cucumber. Then puree it. After has been pureed, strain it and collect the water in a bowl. Microwave the water for 30 seconds, mix in tea, add the gelatin, and stir until it dissolves.
Apply the mixture to your face and let it dry. When it is dried and peel it off of your face. Finally, wash and moisturize your face as you normally would.
4. Egg white, coconut oil, and lemon mask
Do you want a peel-off face mask that may help your skin glow and your pores shrink? Then this is the face mask for you. Lemons are packed full of vitamin C, and the coconut oil helps moisturize.
Check out what you need for this recipe:
- Tissue paper
- Egg white from 1 egg
- 1/2 TSP lemon juice
- 1/2 TSP coconut oil
First, you need to whisk the egg white until it is foamy, then add the lemon juice and coconut oil. Stir the mixture until it forms a paste. Next, you want to use a brush to paint it on your skin.
When two coats are on your skin, press tissues all over the mixture. The tissues will help you peel the mask off. Wait 20 minutes, peel the mask off, and then wash your face.
5. Activated charcoal mask
If you prefer face masks with activated charcoal, we have a recipe for you too. The charcoal may help reduce the excess oil on your face and make you feel rejuvenated.
This is what you'll need:
- 1/2 TSP activated charcoal
- 1 TBSP warm water
- 1/2 TSP gelatin
To make this peel-off face mask, you need to mix the charcoal and gelatin together in a bowl. When they're mixed together, add the warm water and mix until you have a paste.
Apply the paste to your face and then let the mask dry for about 40 minutes. Peel it off after it is dry and then use a cloth to wipe the rest of it away.
6. Green tea and gelatine mask
Our last peel-off face mask is another one that will help reduce the appearance of blackheads. Even if it doesn't "cure" them, it will make your face look great for a while. We do warn you though, the smell may gross you out a little bit, if you don't like how green tea smells. But, hey, beauty comes at a price, right?
Here's what you need:
- 1 cup of green tea
- Packet of gelatin
This one is pretty easy. The only thing you need to do is brew the tea and then mix the gelatin into it. Stir it and make you it is nice and smooth.
Apply the mixture to your face and then wait a few minutes. After the few minutes are up put another layer of the mask on your face. Wait about 40 minutes and then gently pull the mask off of your face.
Alternatively, you can use milk instead of tea in this face mask. Personally, I hate the smell of green tea so I think I'd definitely give the milk a try, but everyone is different.
Are You Ready to Peel?
Are you running out to the store right now to buy the ingredients for your face mask? Yeah, I'm thinking about getting some too.
Which face mask you choose to use, really depends on what you like. If you are a beginner, I guarantee you are going to want to try a variety of recipes before you settle on one that you are going to love. And don't forget, you can always experiment with ingredients from a number of recipes.
For example, instead of doing honey and milk, you could do honey, milk, and turmeric. The options for face masks are vast, and there simply aren't too many limits.
No matter what you decide on, don't forget to wash your face after you peel the mask off and use a really good moisturizer. The last thing you want to do is dry your skin out when you are trying so hard to make it look bright and clear.
Do you have a peel-off face mask recipe that you just love? Or did you try one of ours? Let us know what it is in the comment section below!
Featured image via Pexels
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