3 DIY face masks that are perfect for combination skin

If you’ve ever excitedly yanked the lid off the Danish butter cookie dabba only to find it filled with random buttons and assorted sewing needles — you’re well versed with Indian ingenuity and the drive for DIY. Stands to reason that when it comes to skin and haircare, sometimes grandma’s homemade concoctions featuring pantry ingredients are more effective than the jars of branded goop we throw money at.

Feel like you’re ready to swap the toner for turmeric? Step one: Identify your skin type. If you have specks of dandruff, a particularly oily T-zone (forehead, down the nose to the chin) with larger pores in these areas, are prone to both dryness and breakouts, you’ve been #blessed with the double whammy of combination skin. Step two: Raid your masala drawer to whip up some of our favourite DIY face masks for this tag-team skin type.

Dry skin sufferers, we have you covered  — and for those prone to grease, don’t worry, we’re oil over it. Who says you need a spa for a soothing, pick-me-up facial?

Almond, oats and rose water

Not only helpful for memorising multiplication tables, almonds are also great for your skin. A great source of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, almonds keep your skin hydrated, supple and even-toned. Rosewater has long been used as a toner as it balances the skin’s pH level, calms redness and maintains clean pores. It’s known to soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Oats add a natural glow by mildly exfoliating dead cells off the skin’s topmost layer— so you’re removing excess oil from your skin without drying it out.

Ingredients:

8-10 almonds (soaked overnight)

1 tbsp ground oats

1 tbsp rose water

How-to: Soak the almonds overnight before grinding them into a paste. It’s going to get messy once you add in the oats and rose water so best wrap a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothes. Keep the mix on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing your face with cool water.

Strawberry and yoghurt

A natural source of Vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acid, strawberries when mixed with the lactic acid present in yoghurt, make a great face mask that fights oiliness while also nourishing and brightening your complexion.

Ingredients:

2-3 strawberries
1 tbsp yoghurt

How-to: Remove the stem of the strawberries and cut them up to easily mash them. You can also grind them in a blender for a finer consistency. Add a tablespoon of yoghurt and stir it all together. The face mask could drip a bit so keep a tissue paper or towel handy. Wash your face with water after 10-15 minutes.

Yoghurt and orange

You’ve probably figured it out by now but yoghurt works well with pretty much every type of skin. Oranges are rich in potassium, folic acid and Vitamin C which helps lighten blemishes, even out skin tone, boost collagen production and improve the elasticity of your (tricky) combination skin.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp yoghurt
2-3 slices of orange

How-to: Squeeze the orange slices for the juice and whisk it into the yoghurt. This is a pretty easy mask that will give your combination skin the hydration it needs and reduce the appearance of pores.

Keep in mind

• Always start with a fresh, cleansed face
• Just because a product is natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll suit your skin. Do a patch test on the inside of your wrists to see how your skin reacts to the ingredients. If you feel any irritation or burning, wash it off immediately.
• We recommend using a face mask a maximum of 3 times a week and keeping it on for no longer than 15 minutes. Use fresh ingredients and make enough for one application— a natural face mask, sans preservatives, can go bad pretty quickly.
• Steer clear of your under-eye area while applying and do not use on areas where there is sensitivity and irritation like on patches of dermatitis, eczema or open wounds.
• Always follow up masking with a moisturiser

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