3 DIY face masks that are perfect for oily 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 your face is greasier than Raju’s schezwan noodles, you have larger pores in your T zone, are prone to blackheads and acne—and find make-up sliding off your face, you’re stuck with oily skin. The saving grace? More natural moisture means fewer wrinkles. Step two: Raid your masala drawer to whip up DIY face masks to fight the grease-fest.

Dry skin sufferers, we have you covered  — and those who have been tag-teamed by combination skin, we have a solution for you, too. Who says you need a spa for a soothing, pick-me-up facial?

Tomato and pomegranate

A natural astringent, tomato helps even out skin tone, cleanse pores, lighten acne scars and blemishes to maintain healthy, glowing skin. It helps combat excess oil production by the sebaceous glands, and mixing that with antioxidant-packed pomegranate seeds makes for a dynamite combination that aids in reversing sun damage.

Ingredients:

1 ripe tomato
2 tsp pomegranate seeds

How-to: Blend pomegranate seeds to get as fine a paste as possible. Mix two teaspoons of the paste with one ripe pureed tomato. If the mixture gets too runny, use a cotton ball or a brush to apply it to your face and neck. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes and rinse with normal water.

Egg white, oats and honey

If the thought of putting goopy egg white on your face makes you gag, remind yourself that egg whites help in cleaning out and toning your pores. Oats, on the other hand, gently exfoliate the skin while getting rid of the dirt and muck clogging your pores. It has anti-inflammatory properties, just like honey which is known for its ability to soothe, nourish as well as kill bacteria. Together, they’re the triumvirate that will take down oily skin.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp whole oats
1 egg white
½ – 1 tbsp honey (depending on face size)

How to: Combine your honey and egg white and mix it till it reaches a frothy consistency. You can grind the oats (the finer the better) or soak them in warm water for them to soften if you’re wary of the physical exfoliation but still want the benefits of the grain. Apply the mixture and wash off with water after 10 to 15 minutes.

Turmeric, neem and green tea

Infected piercing? Apply haldi. Dull skin? Apply haldi. Landlord troubles? Apply haldi. Turmeric is a gift South Asia has given the world and it goes into pretty much everything. Skincare is no exception. Especially oily skin. Like haldi, neem is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial—it reduces redness, calms skin conditions like eczema and is a natural antiseptic—great to curb acne from spreading. An incredible antioxidant, green tea reduces signs of ageing, protects the skin from sun damage and improves skin tone.

Ingredients:

½ tsp turmeric
1 tbsp neem powder or neem leaf paste
1 tbsp brewed green tea

How to: In this recipe, use brewed (and cooled) green tea as the liquid that binds the other two ingredients into a paste. You can either make a paste from fresh neem leaves or neem powder along with a ½ teaspoon of turmeric. Be careful, haldi is well-known to stain. Spread evenly on your face and neck and rinse after 15 minutes with cool water.

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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