12 Natural Beauty Masks

Using face packs once or twice a week can do wonders to dull and dry shineless skin. Here are 12 easy and natural homemade face masks to provide glow and shine to your skin:

1. Banana Mask:
   Banana mask softens and moisturises the skin and best for dry and sensitive skin.
   • Mash a small fully ripe banana with a fork. You can blend it in a blender also to get a smooth and thick paste. Blend it for around 15-20 seconds.
   • Add 1 spoon honey (replace honey with yoghurt for oily skin)and a pinch of turmeric (optional).
   • Wash your face with fresh water and apply the mask including neck area.
   • Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
   • Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


2. Papaya Mask:
   Papaya is rich in vitamins A,E and C. Papain, an enzyme found in papaya fruit helps softening and whitening the skin and reduces age spots and freckles.
• Blend few pieces of fully ripe papaya in blender for 15-20 seconds. You can add 1 spoon honey if you like.
• Wash your face and apply the mask.
• Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


3. Honey Mask:
   Honey mask is the simplest natural beauty mask. Honey alone as a mask improves softness and smoothness of the skin. It is anti-aging and gives instant glow to your face.
• Wash your face and spread pure honey using finger tips on face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


4. Sandalwood/Chandan Mask:
   Sandalwood paste when applied as mask reduces acne and acne scars, improves skin texture, evens out uneven skin tone and gives a natural shine to the face.
   Sandalwood mask is best suited for oily and combination skin.
   If you have dry skin and like to use this mask, add few drops of olive/coconut/almond or sandalwood oil to the preparation.
• Take 2 spoonful sandalwood powder, add adequate amount of rose water to make a thick paste.
• Clean your face and apply the mask for 15 minutes including neck area.
• Now wash it off with fresh tepid water.


5. Almond Mask:
   Almonds are loaded with vitamin E. Almond Mask helps improve skin complexion, it is anti-aging and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
   This mask gives a radiant baby soft look to the skin and best for dry flaky skin.
• Soak 8-10 almonds for 5-6 hours. Now peel the skin and grind the almonds using 2-3 tablespoon milk.
• Add few rose petals and again grind for few seconds.
• Mix 2 pinch turmeric powder and 1 spoon rose water to the mixture.
• Wash your face and apply on face and neck.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Now remove the mask by rubbing it in circular motions.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


6. Cucumber Mask:
   Cucumber face mask has a soothing, hydrating and cooling effects.
   Cucumber juice when applied on skin absorbs harmful oils and residues and makes the skin vibrant and supple.
• Simply grate a cucumber with the skin on and apply it on clean face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
• Now remove the mask by rubbing it in circular motions.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


7. Curd/Yogurt Mask:
   Curd is rich in Vitamin E and Calcium. It cleanses, softens and moisturises the skin and suitable for all skin types.
• Whisk 4 tablespoon thick curd and apply it on clean face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
• Now remove it with a wet washcloth.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


8. Egg Facial Mask:
   Whole Egg face mask can be used on all skin types.
   Egg white cleanses and exfoliates whereas egg yolk moisturises the skin.
   Egg also helps in tightening the skin thus this mask works as an anti-aging mask.
• Separate the egg white and yolk into different bowls (add few drops of lemon juice if you have oily skin).
• Beat the white portion until frothy and spread it around face and neck area using fingertips or cotton bud or face mask brush or spatula avoiding eyes and lips.
• lie down and leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes, until it feels harden on your face.
  Wipe the egg white off your face using a warm and damp cloth. Use fresh water if necessary.
  Now repeat the process with egg yolk in the same way as you did with egg white.
• Wipe your face and neck with a warm wet wash cloth. Now wash properly with warm water, followed by cold water.
• Pat your skin dry with a clean towel, apply a moisturizer to seal the moisture.


9. Turmeric Mask:
   Turmeric is antiseptic, antibacterial and anti inflammatory.
   It slowes down the aging process and gives the skin a glowing and radiant texture.
   Turmeric suits all skin type and works wonder for dry skin.
• Take 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon milk powder.
• Mix together using adequate amount of water to make a thick paste.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes untill your skin feels tight and dry.
• Wash it off with lukewarm/fresh water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.


10. Lemon Face Mask:
    Lemon juice is rich in alpha hydroxy acids, it lightens, tightens and brightens the skin.
    Lemon is especially useful for people with oily skin.
• Simpally apply juice of 1/2 lemon on your clean face and neck area using cotton ball.
• Leave it on for 10-15 minutes then Wash it off with lukewarm/fresh water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
• ** Please note Lemon juice tend to cause dryness and can burn your skin, so don’t use more than 1 teaspoon, and don’t leave this mask on any longer than 15-20 minutes,
  ** Be extra carefull while applying on dry and sensitive skin, if you really want to try the benefits of lemon juice on your dry skin, try mixing few drops of lemon juice into your regular face mask first and see if it suits you.
  Avoid if it irritates the skin.
  ** Avoid using lemon on the skin around your eyes and on any cuts or rashes.
  ** It is best suited for oily skin.


11. Tomato Mask:
    Tomatoes work well on every skin type.
    Tomatoes are full of antioxidants and help to fight free radicals. They are loaded with vitamins C, E, B6, B1, B3, B2, iron and potassium, thus makes essential building block for a healthy and glowing complexion.
    Tomato paste helps tighten and brighten dull skin and reduces appearence of open pores.
    Tomatos can also protect the skin from sunburn.
• Plain tomato mask is good for oily skin. Simply grate or blend a fresh tomato and apply the pulp liberally on your clean face and neck area. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
  This mask remove excess oil, reduces acne and open pores.
• Mix 1/2 spoon honey with tomato juice and apply on your face and neck. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
  This mask serves as a natural bleach and brightens up your face. Works well on dry and combination skin.


12. Bridal Mask/Ubtan:
    Ubtans are very useful in removing dead cells and facial/body hairs.
    It improves blood circulation and gives the skin a radiant and glowing texture.
    Its regular use prevents the occurrence of premature wrinkles, removes scars and helps to tighten open pores.
• Mix together 2 tablespoon Besan (Gram flour), 1 spoon Chandan (sandlewood) powder, 2 pinch turmeric powder, few drops (7-8) musterd oil and adequate amount of rose water to make a thick paste.
• Wash your face and apply it all over your face and neck area.
• Let the pack stay for 20 minutes within which your face pack will start to harden.
  Do not talk or smile when your face pack starts drying, doing so may wrinkle-ise your skin.
  (It is always suggested that you do not talk or smile while you have applied a face mask that hardens.)
• After your face pack has hardened, splash a little water over your face. This will moisten the mask. Then gently massage the pack in circular motion untill it becomes loose, finally wash it off with fresh or warm water.