Everything you need is right in your kitchen
Fans of all-natural beauty have a saying: If you wouldn’t eat it, why would you put it on your face? After all, much like the food industry, conventional skincare products can be full of mysterious chemicals and made with questionable manufacturing practices. That’s why fans of all-natural beauty have been turning to simple ingredients like honey for all-natural skincare. It’s a rich moisturizer and anti-irritant, soothing the skin while drawing out impurities. One tablespoon is all you need for a basic face mask. After 10 minutes and a quick rinse, you’ll be left with supple, glowing skin.
If you’d like, you can take things up a notch with one of these additional ingredients for the perfect honey mask. Any combination of these add-ins can be mixed with your tablespoon honey. (You’ll get best results with mask made with raw honey, or a honey with a high pollen content, but using a bear-shaped bottle from the grocery store will work, too.) These DIY honey face masks are so simple, you can even make them while cooking breakfast. How’s that for a productive morning?
Lemon
As a natural lightening agent, lemon can brighten up a dull complexion. Simply combine three to five drops lemon juice with honey. Because of the acid, this mask is best used in moderation—and if you’re planning to spend long hours in the sun or have super sensitive skin, it might be best to skip this one.
Sugar
Sugar might not be the healthiest ingredient in the kitchen, but it redeems itself by offering amazing exfoliating potential. Add one tablespoon of either brown or ultra-fine white sugar to a tablespoon of honey. Stay away from regular table sugar, which has sharper crystals that may irritate the skin.
Oats
Oats can also exfoliate your skin. All it takes is processing one tablespoon of oats in a food processor, then mixing with your tablespoon of honey. Before washing your face, gently rub the honey-oatmeal mixture in circular motions. It’s a cheap and easy way to remove dead skin cells without fancy skincare tools.
Turmeric
Known as a flavorful spice and vivacious tea, turmeric doubles as an amazing skincare ingredient with a reputation for taming acne, rosacea, and eczema. All you need is one tablespoon of turmeric plus honey. Keep in mind that turmeric can (and will) stain absolutely everything, so use this one with care.
Coffee
Along with oats and sugar, coffee makes a wonderful face scrub. Just mix one tablespoon of used coffee grounds with honey for the ultimate treat. It’s the best way to make the most out of your morning coffee habit.
Banana
If you struggle with dry skin, this one’s for you. Mash one small banana, and mix with honey. The combination treats your skin to moisture and vitamins, letting you gear up for windy days and cool weather. It smells divine, too.
This article originally appeared on ExtraCrispy.com