DIY Face Masks at home: fun for the whole family

Fancy a chocolate face mask? Or perhaps something creamy made with avocado, a little honey or even a mashed banana?

You might be surprised by how many ingredients you already have at home that people use in homemade face mask recipes. Whether you’re planning a girls’ night in, looking for something fun to do with the children during the school holidays or simply fancy a little at-home pampering, making your own face mask can be a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The best bit? You don’t need a cupboard full of expensive skincare ingredients. A few powders, some simple mixing ingredients and a little imagination give you plenty of combinations to explore.

So, let’s have a look at what you can mix together!

First, raid the kitchen cupboards

Before you start mixing, it helps to understand the two main parts of a homemade face mask: your base ingredient and whatever you use to bring it all together.

Think of it as a little skincare experiment. You choose a powder, add a liquid or something creamy, give it a mix and see what texture you get.

The powders: your starting point

🍫 Cacao powder

If you love chocolate, this has to be one of the most fun ingredients to try. Plain cacao powder gives your homemade mask its rich chocolate colour and makes a chocolate-themed pamper session feel extra special.

Choose unsweetened cacao powder rather than a hot chocolate mix full of added sugar and flavourings.

🥥 Coconut milk powder

Fancy something a little different? Coconut milk powder is another ingredient you might come across in homemade beauty recipes. Made from coconut milk that has been dried into a powder, it gives you another option to experiment with.

Check the ingredients before choosing a product, as some coconut milk powders contain added ingredients. Coconut-derived ingredients can also cause reactions in people who are sensitive or allergic to them.

🌾 Oats

Got porridge oats in the cupboard? Finely ground oats can make a lovely soft base for a homemade face mask. You can grind them in a blender or food processor until they resemble a fine powder.

The trick is to make sure they’re fine enough to mix smoothly rather than leaving scratchy pieces against your skin.

🤍 Cosmetic clay

Fancy something a little more like a traditional face mask? Cosmetic-grade clay is used in skincare products and can be mixed with a suitable liquid to create a paste.

There are different types of clay, so it’s worth choosing one intended for facial use. Clay can absorb excess oil, which is why it’s often used in masks for oily skin, but it isn’t necessarily the best choice for everyone.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, be careful with clay masks, as they can leave skin feeling tight, dry or irritated. Avoid using them on skin that’s already sore or irritated, and don’t leave a mask on for longer than the product instructions recommend.

Next, choose your mixing ingredients

This is where things get interesting. You can change the texture of your mask depending on what you add.

Water

The easiest option of all! Water works with plenty of powders, including cacao and finely ground oats. It’s a simple starting point if you want to experiment without adding lots of different ingredients.

Plain yoghurt

Want something creamier? Plain, unsweetened yoghurt is used in some homemade face mask recipes. It creates a different texture from water, although it isn’t suitable for everyone, particularly those with relevant allergies or sensitivities.

Honey

Honey is a popular addition to homemade beauty recipes. It’s thick and sticky, so it can change the consistency of a mixture. Avoid it if you have a honey or bee-product allergy.

Milk

Milk can also be used to create a creamier mixture. As with yoghurt, it isn’t suitable for everyone, especially anyone with a milk allergy.

Remember that fresh kitchen ingredients are perishable. Make these mixtures just before use, don’t store leftovers and avoid ingredients you know your skin doesn’t tolerate.

Don’t forget the fruit bowl!

You didn’t think we’d leave out the fruit, did you?

Avocado and banana often pop up in DIY beauty recipes because they’re soft and easy to mash. They’re also a good reminder that homemade face masks don’t have to start with a powder.

🥑 Avocado

Have half an avocado left over from lunch? Its soft texture makes it easy to mash into a creamy mixture.

You could experiment with a small amount of plain mashed avocado on its own, but remember that food being perfectly fine to eat doesn’t automatically mean it will suit your skin. Avoid it if you’re allergic, and don’t keep any leftovers for later.

🍌 Banana

A ripe banana is easy to mash with a fork, making it another ingredient you’ll see in homemade face mask recipes. It creates a soft, thick texture without needing to add much else.

If you want to experiment, start with a small amount of plain mashed banana rather than combining lots of different ingredients at once.

🍯 Honey and banana

This is a combination you’ll often see in DIY beauty recipes. Honey mixed with mashed banana creates a thicker, stickier mixture.

As always, consider allergies and sensitivities before trying a new ingredient on your skin.

Making face masks with children

Homemade face masks can be a fun school holiday activity, especially for children who love getting involved in the kitchen.

You could set up a little pamper table with bowls, spoons and a few suitable ingredients. Let them help with the measuring and mixing, choose between different colours and textures, and make the activity feel like their own mini beauty session.

Just remember that children’s skin can be sensitive, and kitchen ingredients aren’t automatically suitable for it. Supervise younger children, check for allergies and avoid letting them put the mixtures in their mouths or near their eyes.

And if the idea of making a mess with cacao powder and mashed banana doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always an easier option!

Prefer a ready-made face mask?

I love the creativity of homemade skincare, but I also know that sometimes you just want to open a pot and enjoy a little pampering without raiding the fridge.

That’s one of the reasons I created Samantha Lily. We make handmade organic skincare using carefully chosen ingredients, with products for both children and adults.

Looking for skincare for children?

We’ve created a range of organic skincare for kids, including our popular face masks, designed to make pampering fun for little ones.

Shop our children’s skincare range here

Fancy something for your own pamper night?

We also have a range of skincare for adults, including our cacao-based face masks and other products for your own at-home pamper routine.

Explore our adult skincare range here

Always read the product ingredients before use, particularly if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

So, what will you mix up?

From cacao and oats to avocado and banana, there are plenty of ingredients to explore if you enjoy experimenting with homemade face masks.

You might discover a combination you love, or you might decide that skincare experiments are more fun when someone else does the mixing!

I’d love to hear about your DIY face mask recipes. Have you tried any interesting ingredient combinations, or have you used any Samantha Lily masks? Share your favourites with me!

Happy pampering! 💛

Homemade face mask ideas are for general skincare experimentation and are not intended to treat skin conditions. Natural ingredients can still cause irritation or allergic reactions. Make mixtures fresh for one use, test a small area first and stop if irritation occurs.