Even though home-made masks are easy to do, they serve as a simple self-care ritual, and the action of mixing ingredients allows us to step outside of the mundane tasks of daily life and bring calm and ease into the process. Simple self-care can have an alleviation effect on stress and anxiety.

Tomatoes are a natural skin lightener (thanks to vitamin C, found within), honey will kill acne-causing bacteria, and aloe vera gel and avocado will add hydration as well as calming.

Papaya and Aloe Vera Mask

Papain, an enzyme derived from papaya seeds, smoothes the skin by exfoliating dead skin cells, while unclogging pores and revealing brighter, smoother complexions. High in humectants, a moisturising agent beneficial for all skin types, honey is also an antibacterial, making it an excellent disinfectant on facial skin. To create this hydrating mask, quickly pulse together ¼ cup ripe papaya and two tablespoons of honey in a food processor until it reaches a completely blended paste.

Homemade face masks bring the word ‘self’ back into self-care; you control exactly where your ingredients come from and the finished product can be tailored specifically to you. Of course, homemade should be used as soon as possible after making, as they may lose their potency with time, and they can sometimes grow bacteria over several days. Most shop-bought face masks also use silicones that could clog your pores more so than homegrown options, so you’ll leave your home with glowing skin that is hydrated and soothed.

Strawberry and Lemon Mask

Their berries are not only delicious morsels but also loaded with Vitamin C and fruit acids that brighten the skin with the ability to naturally exfoliate. Lemon is a natural astringent that can shrink pores and help regulate the natural oil production of the skin, so this mask is considered good for normal to oily skin types.

Strawberry mask contains salicylic acid and alpha hydroxyl acids and is good for all skin types to address sun spots, hyperpigmentation and acne scarring.

This wonderfully refreshing face mask combines a nourishing mixture of fruit and honey to boost hydration and soothe dry or mature skin. Use once a week and your complexion will be revitalised. Always test new ingredients on a small patch of skin prior to use, and always apply a light moisturiser at the end.

Papaya and Pineapple Mask

DIY facial masks are now a great way not only to put the ‘do it yourself’ in self-care, in light of spas and salons shuttering or beauty products disappearing, but also they are cheap to make, easy to combine ingredients, because many of them may well be a staple in your household and, hence, skin softening and wallet-friendly.

This ‘digestive enzyme mask’ that nourishes skin with aloe vera before ‘enveloping’ it in ‘gently exfoliating’ cucumber, aims to reduce excessive sebum, while the honey risks no ‘breakouts’.

This can help to brighten and calm skin, while the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nature of turmeric helps to heal acne or psoriasis scars, reduce redness and increase cell turnover while evening out your skin tone. Use this mask for oily skin types by mixing all the ingredients together and applying a thin layer to your face, leaving it on for five to 10 minutes and then rinsing off with warm water.

Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal is great for facial masks because it’s super-soothing to sensitive skin (ha! get it? ..never mind), it’s fast-healing for blemishes, it’s hypoallergenic, and it’s full of the kinds of building-block amino acids that keep your tissues repaired and regenerating.

A light but nourishing face mask that suits most skin types including dry and sensitive. Oats gently exfoliate while honey and yogurt calm and hydrate. Dry and irritated skin may particularly benefit.

Mix the components together until forming a paste, spread it onto your face and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before washing your face off using warm water and moisturising afterwards. Because the ingredients quickly degrade, this face mask must be made fresh every time. Because it is made from fresh ingredients, not perservatives or additivies, the face mask must be made fresh every time.

Yogurt Mask

Yoghurt is well known for being an excellent ingredient for both meals, as well as desserts, but it works even better on your skin. It is packed with nutrients that promote a natural glow and adds the shine to your face, through regular use in skincare routine.

Enjoy this mask and you can get brighter and more beautiful skin, avoid acne, stay away from premature wrinkles, soothing sunburn, and removing dark spots. It is full of lactic acid – an alpha hydroxy acid which clears out dead skin cells and cleans the pores from dirt.

Whip up this mask by combining one tablespoon of honey with one cup of plain yogurt. By combining antimicrobial, antioxidant-rich Manuka honey and moisturising, soothing yogurt, this is ideal for oily and irritated skin.