International Self-care Day: 5 DIY skincare mask and scrubs

EVERY year, International Self-Care Day is celebrated on July 24. The date has a specific month and date form – 7/24 – denoting that self-care should be practised 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week. The day is dedicated to the importance of loving ourselves and taking care of our body and mind. While it is important to prioritise self-care every single day, it is helpful to have some self-care practices you can start with.

When I’m under a lot of stress, self-care practices, such as treating the skin on my face to some soothing scrubs and face masks, are the perfect stress reliever. The focus that I put into the task of treating my skin and the quiet time that I spend lying back with a mask on my face wholly relaxes me and gives me a moment to collect my thoughts.

There have been times, however, when I’ve been in need of some self-care time and have found myself either unable to afford skin-care products or in a position where going out to get them is inconvenient for me. After finding myself in these circumstances quite a few times, I started learning how to make homemade face masks and scrubs and found that some of them worked even better than store-bought ones.

Here’s a list of face masks and scrubs you can make using household items that are affordable and convenient. If you love taking care of your skin but also want to save, keep reading, the results may surprise you!

Also read: Makeup Mondays: The importance of environmentally friendly makeup

Egg-white mask

A carton of eggs can be found in almost any household, and the protein found in egg whites can be used to combat the bacteria on your skin that causes acne and pimples. I came across this skincare hack when I was suffering from acne in high school, and the nightly application of egg whites on my skin helped prevent bacteria build-up on my face as I slept.

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 egg whites

Instructions:

1. Separate the egg whites from the yolk, and place the egg whites in a bowl.
2. Dip a cotton swab into the bowl, and dab the egg whites over your face.
3. Let the mask sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Wash off with a damp cloth, and apply a moisturiser.

Tumeric and honey mask

Once I started working, it took me a while to adjust to the hours of my job, and as a result, I developed dark, puffy bags under my eyes. Using a mask made of turmeric and honey, I was able to even out my skin, and it also helped with the inflammation under my eyes.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw honey

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl to create a paste.
2. Gently massage the paste over your face.
3. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Brown-sugar face scrub

Scrubs are just as essential as masks because they exfoliate your face, removing dead skin and bacteria. I recommend using a brown-sugar face scrub only once a week because too much exfoliation can cause skin tears.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• ¼ cup of honey

Instructions:

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl to create a paste.
2. Gently massage the paste over your face for 5–8 minutes.
3. Wash off with warm water.

Coffee-and-cocoa face scrub

The coffee-and-cocoa mask is one of my personal favourites because of the glow I get after washing it off. The caffeine from the coffee also assists with inflammation. This scrub should also be used only once a week and applied gently.

Ingredients:

• A teaspoon of ground coffee
• A teaspoon of cocoa powder
• ¼ cup of coconut oil, neem oil or geranium oil

Instructions:

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl to create a paste.
2. Gently massage the paste over your face for 5–10 minutes.
3. Wash off with warm water.

Also read: Mental health matters: Dealing with generalised anxiety disorder

Avocado mask 

It’s a well-known fact that avocado masks can do wonders for your skin. This is because they contain Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E which help skin to repair damage caused by acne, eczema, pimples, or scrapes. This mask made from avocado, honey and cocoa powder helps to naturally moisturise and soften the skin.

Ingredients:

• 2 avocados
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

Instructions:

1. Mash the avocados in a bowl and then add the cocoa powder and honey.
2. Gently massage the mask over your face.
3. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

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