20+ Facial Masks & Steams: {Fruit & Herbal}
44 Comments 
Here’s a page full of food masks and herbal steam mixes you can use to make your own facials, I’ve separated them into two separate groups for easier browsing.
Before getting started:
- When mixing food items, make sure to use sterile utensils and containers.
- Wash hands really well so they’re clean before applying the skin treatment.
- Apply a bit of the prepared mask to the inside of your wrist before using on your face. You want to make sure your skin won’t have a bad reaction to it (allergies).
- If skin begins to feel irritated or burning, remove mask immediately.
Skin Preparation:
First step is to apply a warm cloth to your face to open pores, then apply the facial. Wash the mask off with warm water and rinse with cool water (to close pores).
Food Ingredients To Try:
- Honey–apply it directly to skin and remove after 15 minutes
- Oatmeal & Water to make a paste–apply then remove after it’s hard
- Avocado (mashed)–apply then remove after 20 minutes
- Strawberries (mashed) and honey (about 1 TBS)–remove after 10 minutes
- Strawberries (mashed), plain yogurt (to make a paste)–remove after 15 minutes
- Strawberries & Cornstarch (2 to 1 ratio)–mash strawberries very well and mix in cornstarch. When you have a paste, apply to skin and remove after 30 minutes
- Bananas (ripe, mashed)–apply directly to skin and remove after 15 minutes. You could also add 1 or 2 TBS of honey to the banana before applying if you like.
- Papaya (mashed)–remove after 5 minutes
- Grapes (mashed) and honey to make a paste–remove after 25 minutes
- Kiwi (mashed), 2 TBS yogurt (plain), 1 TBS fresh orange juice–remove after 15 minutes
- Yogurt (plain)–remove after 20 minutes
Herbal Steams
*First published October 9, 2007 and moved to this page for better organization
These not only hydrate your skin and help clean pores, they’re also wonderfully relaxing and a great way to de-stress.
It’s a good idea to not overdo steam facials, too many can be harsh for your skin. Limit yourself to 1 or 2 a week (maximum), less if your skin is sensitive.
If you feel light headed or woozy during the steaming, stop at once.
Preparation:
- Clean skin thoroughly and tie hair back so it won’t hang loose around your face.
- Boil a kettle or pot full of water then add the herbs and fruity ingredients (about 1/3 cup fresh or dried herbs and fruit slices per 4 cups of water). Boil for a minute or two then remove from heat. Cover and let steep for about 5 minutes.
- Place pot on counter or table (on top of a towel to protect the table surface) and remove lid. Cover your head with a large clean towel and position your face over the hot water (with the towel acting as a tent over the bowl to capture the steam).
- Keep your eyes closed and your face at least 10 to 12 inches from the boiling water during the facial. Enjoy the fragrant experience and relax, but don’t overdo it–keep the time between 5 to 7 minutes.
- When you’re finished, splash face with slightly cool water and pat dry.
Recipe Ingredients To Try:
- Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Lemon or Orange Slices
- Chamomile, Rosemary, Peppermint
- Green Tea, Rose Petals, Chamomile
- Rosemary, Lemon, Honey
- Lemon Slices, Peppermint
- Lavender, Calendula, Rose Petals
- Lemon balm, Lavender
- Fennel Seeds, Peppermint
- Chamomile, Fennel Seeds, Rose Petals
- Thyme, Peppermint, Lavender
- Parsley, Lavender, Lemon balm
- Sage, Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme
- Cinnamon, Orange Slices
- Peppermint, Cloves, Rosemary
You can also use a few drops of your favorite essential oils instead of fresh or dried herbs. If you love the aroma from a particular herb, try that alone for a pleasant steam. Experiment with different citrus fruit slices, herbs, and even a spice or two.
If you don’t have fresh or dried herbs on hand, you could try some of the herbal vinegars (see Lavender Vinegar Recipes) and rose water or even a couple bags of herbal tea.
Blackhead Removers
- 50/50 Baking Soda & Water. Use gently on your skin as an exfoliator.
- Also see this treatment (found at bottom of page) using gelatin and milk.
You may also like the Sugar Scrub Recipes and the Foot Soak Recipes for a total home spa experience and pampering.
The baking soda and water paste is excellent. I use it at least once a week as an exfoliant.
would that be okay for people with sensitive skin?
i think so. i have sensitive skin and it worked ok for me.
I actually use the baking soda paste everyday and it works very well!!!
does it really work?
I use sugar and olive oil as an exfholiator. It makes your skin feel so smooth and look refreshed. (not reccomended for sensative skin)
How long do you keep it on? How much sugar and olive oil do you use?
how long does it take?
I leave it on for seven minutes. I don’t know if that’s going to work for you though
Skin Food For Dry Skin,
Olive Oil 1 TBS, Honey 1TBS, Milk 1TBS, 1 Pinch of Termaric power, Ground Almond 1 TBS, two drops of Rose Water. Mix all and Message on your face with fingure tips for 3 minutes, Left it on your face for 20 minutes
It will make your face Gloom
Caution for Dry Skin
1- Never Use Soap and Face Wash for your Face for Dry Skin.
Wow, what a fabulous recipe! I will try it tonight and let you know
Hi Alsha, Silly question I suppose, but how long will this keep in the firidge? Tar
Very nice Aisha, thanks for sharing that!
Hey all i use beaten egg white on my face and its awesome ,Beat egg white until frothy ,smooth over face leave 20 mins or until dry and wash off,i usually do this every 2 or 3 days .My face has inproved drastically.
I tried avocado, yogurt and honey as an entire body mask last night and I loved it. Can’t wait to try the other recipes.
Hey! I use the a great facial recipe!
1cup oatmeal
1 tbl spoon honey
1 half mashed bannana
1 tbl spoon plain yogurt
And leave on 15 to 20 minutes
After I used it I felt Great!
Oh And Sarah how long do you keep the sugar and olive oil on? And how much do I use?
My friend and I made your recipe! it was very nice, but it was a little chunky, and it didn’t really stick to our faces. But its almost just as fun to make a its as fun to put on our face! Thank you for putting your recipe online! Yay!
My tip is similar to Sarah’s but I found that coconut oil and sugar make a great scrub for elbows, knees and feet. Just rub on, work in and rinse. Also use it to soften hands after scrubbing, painting, gardening, etc. Skin feels baby soft.
Milk cleanser
2 tbsp Full Fat Milk
1 tbsp Honey
Mix the ingrdeients together. Soak cotton wool pads in the mixture and then use to cleanse the face.
Skin will feel clean and soft.
Try powder milk and whole or low fat make. Mix together and make a thin paste. Apply over face and neck and remain until dry. This facial closes your pores and gives you a clear complexion.
Thank you all so much I am going to try and use all of these, Im going to use my hubby as the guinea pig and see how he looks with each new result.
For soft skin i use this mixture every two to three days. my skin is like a babies! mix all of these together in a small bowl and apply to rinsed face with fingers.
A quarter size amount of body wash
A quarter size amount of face wash
A quarter size amount of body scrub (optional…don’t use if your skinis sensitive)
A quarter size amount of face moisterizer
and A quarter size amount of hair conditioner
mix 1tsp of rose water with 2tsp of cocconut oil .A
pply this mixture on to your face.This will make the skin smooth and supple.
spread peanut butter on your face.
smooth or chunky.
remove 20ish min.
rinse with water.
enjoy
Peanut butter? Umm does it actually work?
I was watching a ‘morning show’ a couple days ago and was excited to see someone making this ‘recipe’! Its ‘called’ face cream but its a cleanser and moisturizer for your face, as well as your body! Can’t wait to try it!
***You can also put it in a pretty jar with a ribbon on the lid, for a basket-gift!
***For the BeesWax, call a local honey farmer. You’ll be able to get it ‘very cheap’ that way!
Homemade Face Cream
By Jen Schubr – on Living with Amy
1/4 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup olive oil, or oil of your choice
1/2 ounce (by weight) of grated beeswax (2 slightly rounded tablespoons)
Dissolve the borax in the water. Set aside.
Combine the oil and beeswax in a small double boiler or 2 cup glass measuring cup. Heat over hot water until melted and clear.
In a separate pan, Heat the borax/water mix almost to boiling.
Slowly pour the borax/water mixture into the oil/beeswax mixture, using a stick blender to mix as you pour. Beat well with the stick blender until the mix is glossy and thickened up somewhat. It will thicken more upon standing.
Pour the face cream into an 8-ounce jar with a lid.
Cool to room temperature before using.
NOTE: If you don’t have a stick blender you can beat the cold cream with a whisk or in a regular blender, but the cleanup will be much more difficult. By using glass measuring cups and a stick blender you will be able to simply wipe most of the excess off with paper towels, then wash in hot soapy water.
To use as a cleanser and makeup remover:
Apply with fingertips, rubbing into skin gently. Remove with tissues. Follow up with a warm facecloth and a cold water rinse.
To use as a scrub:
Mix a small amount of face cream with a small amount of sugar in the palm of one hand. Apply gently with fingertips in a circular motion avoiding the eye area. Remove as above.
To use as a moisturizer:
Apply a small amount to face and tissue off excess. Blot with towel if needed.
Hey ya’ll yesterday i was bored searching the web and i decided to look up homemade facial products. I now have a ton of great recipies for masks, scrubs, toners, and creams, and the ones i have tried so far have been infinitely better overall than the nasty store bought chemical filled products. And already my skin is getting clearer;) here’s a recipe for a mask that was great! My face felt super soft:
~1 medium sized apple; grated
~5 tablespoons honey; warmed
mix together, apply to face, and leave on for 15-20 min. My face has NEVER felt this soft before!
for a cheep body scrub i use left over coffee grounds. in the shower with olive oil its great and i always have it on hand. the baking soda for black heads is great too . and if you have a big blemish you need to get rid of quick just mix honey and cinnamon dab it on the spot cover with a bandaid and go to sleep, wake up and it is almost gone repeat each night as needed. hope this helps.
OMG!! joan i am loving you rite now !! im going to a party tomorrow and thank you for the advice on blackheads and blemishes!!!
I know that this is a little off topic, but if you have oily hair (like me) about 10-15 minutes before I get into the shower, I apply lemon juice in my roots and work it into my hair. When I’m in the shower, I shampoo it out a couple times and when I’m done with my shower and blow drying my hair, It’s completely unoily.
i use sea salt mixed with water then i dab with a dry towel 2 get it off. then i use twinings fresh and fruity tea i dab the wet tea bag on my face then i get a towel and just rub it on my face. i use half the cup then drink the rest.plz dont use the twining method if u hav rashes on ur face cos i had once, then it all flared up. honey is a great alternative.
If you want highlights for your hair. I have used a 24 oz can of budweiser after i washes my hair and went out in the sun and it worked ..
A simple yet effective facial to remove blackheads from the nose area..
Simply get brown sugar like 2TSP then add honey to it.. It will almost look like grainy sand but sticky.. Then apply around the nose area.. Use this facial each time you take a shower.. =)
I tried a facial once that was absolutely awesome:
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp creme
1 tsp of granulated almonds (very very finely chopped, you can get a bag of it in the baking section of any grocery store)
Another good one, but kinda gross:
egg whites and honey and baking soda, just whipp til its frothy
* baking soda is also a great tooth whitener, Dont for the love of god use lemons…although it works it wears down your enamel, once thats gone you’re screwed, baking soda is safe for your enamel and does the trick
1 tbs of unflavored jello
1 1/2 tbs milk
Microwave for 12 seconds. Then put on face. Let dry then peel off and the blackheads come off with the peel. Make sure you steam your face first and do not dry. Use about 2 times a week.
I seen this used on Dr.Oz. Going to give it a try.
Red Wine Facial
1 cup yogurt
2 tbsp honey
4-5 tbsp red wine
Place 1 cup of yogurt in a bowl. Add honey and red wine. Whisk it together and apply liberally to face. Let all ingredients soak in and then rinse with warm water.
I just used the honey and grapes facial and my face is hard…I’m waiting for my time to be over!!
i used the peaches and oatmeal mixed together with honey and my face is so smooth!
honey tip is awesome! it worked.
ya it is amazing and if you leave some on the top of your lip (like i accidentally did ) it tastes good
apples (mashed) 1 tbsp honey 3 tbsp oatmeal rub it together , spread on face ,rinse, and viola your skin is smooth
The 50/50 baking soda and water was a great combination! Stung at first but I have really oily skin so it dried everything out. My skin is so smooth now. I will probably do this every few days … don’t want to dry it out too much.