5 Simple DIY Masks That Give You Instantly Softer Skin
No need to splurge on pricey products to reveal younger-looking skin or healthier, shinier hair — DIY masks for skin are here to help. Turns out, ingredients you already have in your kitchen can help you look gorgeous for pennies, and you don’t need special skills — or even much time — to pull off these magical elixirs, which will really soften, strengthen, and refine even the most sensitive skin.
Looking for one or a few DIY masks for skin to help you get started at home? Look no further.
1. Nix shine with a Milk of Magnesia DIY mask for skin.
Shiny skin? That bottle of Milk of Magnesia in your cabinet is the ultimate antidote to excess oil. Also known as magnesium hydroxide, it sops up sebum without overdrying skin, leaving your complexion perfectly balanced.
DIY it: Dampen a cottonball with unflavored Milk of Magnesia. Dab thin layer over clean, dry skin in areas prone to excess oil. Relax 10 minutes; rinse well. Repeat as needed, as often as once daily.
2. Erase spots with a citrus serum.
Vitamin C is one of nature’s most effective antioxidants at fading age spots. “And lemons have C in spades,” says Gerber. They also boast alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate, which studies show is particularly effective at lightening pesky discolorations.
DIY it: Mix 1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice and 1/4 tsp. witch hazel in lidded jar. Use cotton swab to apply to age spots once daily before bed. Refrigerate remaining serum up to one week.
3. Buff away cellulite with a java-nut scrub.
Tone, tighten and smooth with a cellulite-busting trifecta. Sugar, when briskly massaged into dimples, boosts circulation to plump skin, coffee has caffeine to flush excess fluids and coconut oil is rich in antioxidants that rev collagen production for firm skin. DIY it: Combine 1/2 cup used, caffeinated coffee grounds, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup coconut oil. Massage into damp skin for two minutes. Rinse well; repeat twice weekly.
Fast fix. Fizz & Bubble Coffee Bean Solid Sugar Scrub, $7 at Ulta.
4. Pamper feet with an oatmeal soak.
“Our feet are one of the most over-worked parts of our body,” Gerber says, “which is why I love this pampering soak.” The lactic acid in milk softens calluses, while oatmeal soothes cracked feet. “And Epsom salts ease swelling and soreness so you feel rejuvenated.”
DIY it: Fill basin with warm water and add 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup finely ground oats and 1/2 cup Epsom salts; stir to combine. Soak feet 15-30 minutes, then rinse well.
5. Brighten your skin with baking soda.
“Baking soda is the perfect exfoliator,” Gerber says. The reason? “Its superfine texture feels like microdermabrasion at home — gently removing dead cells and impurities for the ultimate glow.”
DIY it: Combine 2 Tbs. baking soda and 2 Tbs. honey. Massage into clean, dry skin using circular motions. Rinse well; repeat weekly.
Fast fix. Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser, $5.64 at Amazon.com.
This story originally appeared in our print magazine.
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