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4 DIY FACE MASKS TO RESTORE POST-SUMMER SKIN
Summer can do a number on our skin, but we often don’t notice the damage until those long, sunny days are over and our sun-kissed glow is gone. That’s why Dr. Keira Barr, a dermatologist and author of The Skin Whisperer, thinks autumn is one of the best times to dive into restorative skin care. “As the weather begins to change and you notice changes in your skin’s texture—or if too much sun exposure took its toll on your complexion this summer—then fall is the perfect time to renew, restore, and reconnect,” she says.
One of her favorite ways to revive post-summer skin is to whip up a DIY face mask. Why DIY, when she has access to every skincare product out there? “When you make your own products, you know exactly what goes into it,” she explains. “There aren’t any hidden additives, preservatives, or fragrances lurking in your creation.” And then there’s the cost factor. “You can create elegant and effective homemade products from sustainable, organic ingredients at a fraction of the cost you pay for a commercially made product.”
Here are four of Dr. Barr’s favorite simple DIY green-beauty solutions to help renew, restore, and rejuvenate your skin. For tips on substitute ingredients and sourcing information, see the notes at the end.
Saving Face Soothing Mask
This soothing mask is perfect for relieving dry, rough, and irritated skin. Make it fresh and use on clean skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. white kaolin clay
1 Tbsp. goat milk powder (Dr. Barr uses Mt. Capra)
A touch of calendula hydrosol
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Combine the clay and goat-milk powder into a glass bowl and blend.
- Add just enough calendula hydrosol to make a paste.
HOW TO USE IT
Leave it on for 5-8 minutes, and then wash off with warm water. Apply twice weekly for active irritation and then as needed.
Love Ya’ Honey Face Scrub
This exfoliating scrub is great for sloughing off dull, dry skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp. almond oil
1 tsp. honey
2-3 tsp. white kaolin clay
½ tsp apricot kernel meal
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Blend the almond oil and honey together in a small bowl.
- Add the clay and apricot kernel meal and blend it all together. You can adjust texture/consistency by adding more clay or adding small amount of a hydrosol.
- Store in a dark-color glass jar and label so you can use it again later.
HOW TO USE IT
A little goes a long way. Apply a small amount to a damp face, massage into skin, and then rinse thoroughly.
Zit Zapper Mask
This mask is perfect for blemish- and acne-prone skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp red kaolin clay
Apple-cider vinegar
1-2 drops tea tree oil (optional)
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Place clay into a glass bowl. Add enough apple-cider vinegar to make a paste.
- Add 1-2 drops tea-tree oil if desired. Mix thoroughly.
HOW TO USE IT
Make it fresh use and use on clean skin. Leave it on for 5-8 minutes. Apply twice weekly.
Tip Top Toner
This is a fantastic healing toner suitable for all skin types. It’s especially effective for acne and rosacea.
INGREDIENTS
20 ml. witch-hazel extract
8 ml. rosemary hydrosol
1 ml. vegetable glycerin
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Add all of the ingredients into a 1-ounce amber glass jar, cover, and shake to mix.
HOW TO USE IT
Shake well before each use. Apply toner with a cotton pad morning and evening after cleansing your face and before you apply any serums or moisturizers.
NOTES:
These recipes are e well-suited for all skin types, but if you’d like to experiment with different clays here is a quick tip:
- White kaolin clay is a fine-grained clay with mild absorption properties which makes it a good choice for individuals with sensitive, dry, to normal skin.
- Red Kaolin, French green clay, and bentonite clay, on the other hand, have stronger absorption properties, making them a good fit for oily and acne-prone skin—and not typically recommended for dry or sensitive skin types.
Recommended sourcing for clay, oil, and hydrosol ingredients: Mountain Rose Herbs.
Summer can do a number on our skin, but we often don’t notice the damage until those long, sunny days are over and our sun-kissed glow is gone. That’s why Dr. Keira Barr, a dermatologist and author of The Skin Whisperer, thinks autumn is one of the best times to dive into restorative skin care. “As the weather begins to change and you notice changes in your skin’s texture—or if too much sun exposure took its toll on your complexion this summer—then fall is the perfect time to renew, restore, and reconnect,” she says.
One of her favorite ways to revive post-summer skin is to whip up a DIY face mask. Why DIY, when she has access to every skincare product out there? “When you make your own products, you know exactly what goes into it,” she explains. “There aren’t any hidden additives, preservatives, or fragrances lurking in your creation.” And then there’s the cost factor. “You can create elegant and effective homemade products from sustainable, organic ingredients at a fraction of the cost you pay for a commercially made product.”
Here are four of Dr. Barr’s favorite simple DIY green-beauty solutions to help renew, restore, and rejuvenate your skin. For tips on substitute ingredients and sourcing information, see the notes at the end.
Saving Face Soothing Mask
This soothing mask is perfect for relieving dry, rough, and irritated skin. Make it fresh and use on clean skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. white kaolin clay
1 Tbsp. goat milk powder (Dr. Barr uses Mt. Capra)
A touch of calendula hydrosol
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Combine the clay and goat-milk powder into a glass bowl and blend.
- Add just enough calendula hydrosol to make a paste.
HOW TO USE IT
Leave it on for 5-8 minutes, and then wash off with warm water. Apply twice weekly for active irritation and then as needed.
Love Ya’ Honey Face Scrub
This exfoliating scrub is great for sloughing off dull, dry skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp. almond oil
1 tsp. honey
2-3 tsp. white kaolin clay
½ tsp apricot kernel meal
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Blend the almond oil and honey together in a small bowl.
- Add the clay and apricot kernel meal and blend it all together. You can adjust texture/consistency by adding more clay or adding small amount of a hydrosol.
- Store in a dark-color glass jar and label so you can use it again later.
HOW TO USE IT
A little goes a long way. Apply a small amount to a damp face, massage into skin, and then rinse thoroughly.
Zit Zapper Mask
This mask is perfect for blemish- and acne-prone skin.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp red kaolin clay
Apple-cider vinegar
1-2 drops tea tree oil (optional)
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Place clay into a glass bowl. Add enough apple-cider vinegar to make a paste.
- Add 1-2 drops tea-tree oil if desired. Mix thoroughly.
HOW TO USE IT
Make it fresh use and use on clean skin. Leave it on for 5-8 minutes. Apply twice weekly.
Tip Top Toner
This is a fantastic healing toner suitable for all skin types. It’s especially effective for acne and rosacea.
INGREDIENTS
20 ml. witch-hazel extract
8 ml. rosemary hydrosol
1 ml. vegetable glycerin
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Add all of the ingredients into a 1-ounce amber glass jar, cover, and shake to mix.
HOW TO USE IT
Shake well before each use. Apply toner with a cotton pad morning and evening after cleansing your face and before you apply any serums or moisturizers.
NOTES:
These recipes are e well-suited for all skin types, but if you’d like to experiment with different clays here is a quick tip:
- White kaolin clay is a fine-grained clay with mild absorption properties which makes it a good choice for individuals with sensitive, dry, to normal skin.
- Red Kaolin, French green clay, and bentonite clay, on the other hand, have stronger absorption properties, making them a good fit for oily and acne-prone skin—and not typically recommended for dry or sensitive skin types.
Recommended sourcing for clay, oil, and hydrosol ingredients: Mountain Rose Herbs.
