Hydrating means the actual restoration of moisture or water to your skin cells. Forget spending, time and money at your local spa, the secret to beautiful skin is as close as your kitchen. Pamper yourself with these trusted homemade hydrating facial masks. What’s more, we’ve discussed even face masks suitable for your skin type.
Why Should You Wear Hydrating Mask In Winter?
Refines skin pores: Hydrating face masks can help you get clear skin and more refined pores. The mask deep cleans your pores and gets rid of dead skin cells, oily substances, and metabolic wastes that clog them.
Increases hydration: The hydrating masks locks in moisture to your dry, and dehydrated skin. So your skin looks plump, supple and bouncy to touch. The water from the mask penetrates deep into the skin epidermis, to soften your skin and increase its elasticity.
Diminishes fine lines: If you regularly use hydrating face masks, it will help reduce the signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and so on. When you don’t hydrate your skin, the skin barrier gets compromised which leads to chronic low-grade inflammation. The ongoing inflammation leads to accelerated aging and the breakdown of collagen.
Gives even skin tone: Hydrating face masks help to diminish hyperpigmentation and gives you a more even skin tone and texture. It promotes sweat gland secretion to oxygenate your skin.
Firms skin: Sagging skin adds years to your face. Regular use of hydrating face masks resolves the issues of sagging skin. Adding the right ingredients to your face mask enhances collagen production, and fight off free radicals which gradually results in firmer, tighter and fresher looking skin.
Skin becomes less oily: Dehydration is the primary cause of your skin to become oilier. When your skin becomes dry and dehydrated, it sends signals to the glands to produce more oil. When the glands secrete sebum, your skin becomes oilier. Improving your skin’s hydration can cause it to become less oily.
Acne is less aggravated: Acne can get worse if your skin becomes oily. You may be unaware that your oily skin may have been prompted by dehydrated skin to begin with. So, you can benefit from having a hydration boost to your skin through the application of face masks or change of diet.
Skin is less itchy and irritated: The dry and dehydrated skin may cause irritation, itching, and general discomfort to your skin. If you’re suffering from eczema or psoriasis, the itching can be very disconcerting. If you increase hydration, it prevents itchy and irritated skin providing relief to those suffering from sensitive skin conditions.
Hydrating Face Masks to Prepare This Winter
Coffee Face Mask
It’s an ideal mask for all the skin types. The coffee face mask hydrates your skin and injects life into dull and tired complexion.
What you’ll need:
- ½ cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup ground organic coffee beans
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 cup unsweetened whole milk
Method:
Mix the cocoa powder and the coffee powder and stir in the milk until it forms a paste. Fold in lemon juice and honey. Gently apply to your skin and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. Store any extras in the refrigerator.
Benefits:
Coffee powder reduces inflammation and the appearance of under-eye circles. It acts as an exfoliator and “wake-up” your tired complexion.
Cocoa powder is an excellent source of antioxidants.
Milk hydrates your skin and imparts a healthy glow.
Honey is a natural humectant that seals in moisture.
Lemon juice contains natural vitamin C that lightens, tightens and brightens your skin.
Blueberry Face Mask
Blueberries are antioxidant-rich food. They increase your circulation and help your skin to glow. “That deep blue/purple color that makes blueberries so gorgeous translates to helping your skin look young too,” says Stephanie Clarke owner of C&J Nutrition in Manhattan to Self magazine. The blue color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, potent chemicals that shield your skin from free radicals.
What you’ll need:
- ¼ cup of raw blueberries
- One tablespoon of olive or grapeseed oil
- One tablespoon of honey
Method:
Using a blender and a fork, mash the blueberries into a paste. Add the honey and olive oil to the blueberry paste and make sure everything is blended well. Pat a thick layer of the mask onto your face. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
Benefits:
Blueberries: Antioxidants are nature’s fountain of youth and blueberries are simply bursting with them. They contain vitamin C essential for collagen production.
Olive oil is an excellent moisturizer. It does not clog pores and deeply hydrates your skin. It contains squalene which gives olive oil an extra antioxidant boost.
Oily skin
Shiny skin with large pores is the hallmark of oily skin. The presence of excess sebum makes it look shiny and greasy. The face packs that we are about to discuss not only hydrates your skin but absorbs excess sebum to give it a lovely matte finish.
Aloe Vera Orange Juice Face Mask
What you’ll need:
- One tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
- One teaspoon aloe vera juice
Method:
Mix the two ingredients in a small bowl with a wooden spoon. Clean your face and massage the paste onto entire face and neck with your fingertips. Avoid the eye area. Leave the mask for twenty minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. You can use this mask once or twice a week.
Benefits:
Aloe vera moisturizes your skin without giving it a greasy feel, so it’s perfect for oily skin. It has a plethora of antioxidants including vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E that enhances the firmness of your skin and keeps it hydrated.
Being an excellent source of vitamin C, orange juice fights inflammation. It cleans the clogged pores and prevents the formation of acne, wrinkles, pimples and fine lines.
Banana Honey Hydrating Face Mask
Banana and honey face mask makes your skin soft and supple. This mask replaces your skin’s oily shine with a healthy youthful glow.
What you’ll need:
- One full ripe banana
- Two tablespoons organic honey
- One tsp freshly squeezed orange or lemon juice
Directions:
Cut the peeled banana into small pieces and put it into a blender. Add organic honey and blend it until smooth. Add the freshly squeezed orange or lemon juice. Clean your face and apply the paste to the face and neck area. Let the mask sit for 20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
Benefits:
Banana: the potassium present in banana hydrates and moisturizes your skin. It’s a great exfoliator which sloughs off excess sebum. The vitamins E and C promote clear, glowing skin. The amino acids present in banana strengthens connective tissue and helps maintain skin elasticity and strength.
Dry skin
Dry skin causes itching, scaling and cracking. These hydrating face masks significantly increase the hydration of your skin and gently moisturizes it giving a plump and a supple appearance.
Cucumber and Aloe Face Pack
What you’ll need:
- Two tablespoons aloe vera gel
- ½ cucumber
Method:
Cut the cucumber into pieces. Blend the cucumber until it becomes a fine paste. Add the aloe gel, and mix the two ingredients. Massage on your face and neck. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water.
Benefits:
The flesh of cucumber mainly consists of water, but it is also rich in caffeic acid and vitamin C, which helps soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. The high moisture content flushes out toxins and reduces irritation and puffiness. The peel of the cucumbers contains silica; which also forms an important part of your connective tissue. Silica helps tighten your loose and sagging skin.
Shea butter, Aloe vera Hydrating Face Mask
What you’ll need:
- One tablespoon shea butter
- One tablespoon coconut oil
- One tablespoon aloe vera gel
Method:
Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix them until you get a thick, fine paste. Massage the paste onto your face and neck. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Benefits:
Shea butter is an essential ingredient for natural skin care. It acts as a moisturizer and gives a beautiful glow to your skin. It helps make your skin supple by providing hydration. A study found that when shea butter was applied to dry, dehydrated skin twice daily, it prevented photoaging. Not only that, but it is also shown to boost collagen production the cornerstone for younger-looking skin.
Strawberry, Honey, Brown Sugar Hydrating Mask for Acne Prone Skin
What you’ll need:
- Seven fresh ripe strawberries
- One tablespoon brown sugar
- One tablespoon honey
- One tsp fresh lemon juice
Method:
Clean and destem the strawberries. Put them in a food processor, add lemon juice, brown sugar and honey. Blend them until you get a fine paste. If the paste is too thin, add a tsp of flour to make it thicker. Apply the mask to your face for 10 minutes and remove it with a warm wet washcloth.
Benefits:
Strawberries and lemon juice acts as natural astringents which remove excess oil from your skin, averting microbial incursions and acne breakouts. The salicylic acid naturally found in strawberries significantly boosts your skin health.
Brown sugar acts as an excellent exfoliator. It contains glycolic acid which fights against bacteria. Brown sugar gives you younger and fresh-looking skin by breaking down the “glue” that bonds skin cells encouraging cell turnover. Brown sugar acts as a natural humectant. It absorbs moisture from the environment and deposits into your skin.
Honey and Yogurt Face Mask for Sensitive skin
What you’ll need:
- Egg white 1
- One tsp fresh plain yogurt
- One tsp honey
- One tsp cucumber juice
Method:
Grate enough cucumber to obtain juice out of it. Beat the egg white until it turns frosty. Slightly heat the honey and add it along with yogurt to egg white. Blend in the cucumber juice. Apply the mask to your face and leave it for 15 minutes until you feel it is dry. Gently rinse your face with warm water. Follow it up with a suitable moisturizer.
Benefits:
Honey encourages the growth of new tissues and locks in moisture boosting your skin’s hydration levels.
Yogurt helps to moisturize your skin. It reduces discoloration, prevents premature aging, fights acne and relieves sunburn. It contains lactic acid that will gently smooth and exfoliate your skin. Yogurt reduces fine lines by tightening your pores. Yogurt has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that fight acne.
Peach Hydrating Face Mask For Combination Skin
What you’ll need:
- Two ripe peaches
- One egg white
- 1 tbsp. sour cream
Method:
Blend the peaches; egg white and sour cream together. Apply this onto your face and leave for 15 minutes. Wash it off and then use a moisturizer.
Benefits:
Peaches contain a whopping 87 percent moisture. It’s a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamin A present in peaches helps to regenerate your skin tissue. The vitamin C content helps to remove dark circles.
Egg whites are an excellent source of protein and aid in tissue repair.
Sour cream contains lactic acid which contributes to retaining skin moisture. It has skin-enhancing properties and boosts collagen production. Sour cream also acts as a natural scrub.
Conclusion
As the weather conditions change, so does your skincare routine. For a soft, healthy skin in winter avoid hot steamy baths. Hydrate more by using a moisturizer that’s oil-based instead of water-based on oil will create a more protective layer on your skin that locks in moisture.
Look for non-clogging oils like avocado oil, primrose oil or almond oil. Use a mild foaming cleanser and a toner with no alcohol. Wear intensely hydrating masks to nourish your skin rather than clay-based which will draw water out of your skin.
You can achieve a beautiful skin using natural skin care products instead of the high–end products. Inexpensive products work just the same as the high-end products. The high price you pay for high-end products is for packaging and marketing. The most important beauty adage is how your skin responds to the product and how you feel about it, not how much money you paid for it.
