Home Remedies For Face Masks

Face masks make easy and inexpensive home remedies for treating problem complexions. Many at-home face masks consist of simple household ingredients, while the purchase of a few essential oils or clays from the health food store can add additional healing benefits. Once or twice a week, steam your face to open pores. Follow with a home remedy mask formulated to treat your complexion's specific needs.

All Skin Types

According to natural beauty author Jeanne Rose, a simple honey mask works well for all skin types. Honey helps the skin retain moisture, while its slightly acidic properties draw out the impurities that lead to acne. Apply a thin coating of honey to your face. Lightly massage the honey into your face by tapping your cheeks, chin, forehead and nose. Once the honey sets after about five minutes, gently rinse your face and pat dry.

Cleansing Mask

The book "Age Erasers for Women," by the editors from "Prevention Magazine" Health Books and the Rodale Center for Women's Health, recommends a two-mask approach to treating all skin conditions. Rather than steaming your face, start with this cleansing mask, then follow up with the home remedy mask specific to your skin type. Grind 2 cups dry red beans in a food processor or coffee bean grinder. Mix in enough warm water--about ½ cup--to moisten the powdered beans. Spread a thin layer on your face and leave it on for 5 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Blemished Skin

Acne-prone complexions need ingredients that draw out impurities while balancing over-active oil glands, notes Kathi Keville in her book "Herbs for Health and Healing." Start with 1 tsp. bentonite clay or Fuller's earth clay, which draw toxins from the skin. Add 1 drop tea tree essential oil, 1 drop sage or rosemary oil to "degrease" your skin and 1 drop chamomile to soothe inflammation. If you have access to them, throw in 1 tsp. ground strawberry leaves. Moisten with water or witch hazel. Mix these ingredients, apply to your face and let it set at least 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Oily Skin

"Age Erasers for Women" suggests a yogurt-herbal mask to gently but effectively clean oily skin. Combine 1 tsp. each plain yogurt and mashed fresh parsley leaves with about one half an egg white and ¼ tsp. avocado oil. You can also double the recipe, using all the egg white, and reserve half of the mask for later in the week. Spread on your face and let it set for 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Dry Skin

Dry skin tends to be fragile, with underactive oil production, according to Keville. Make a simple hydrating and nourishing mask for dry skin by combining 1 tbsp. ground oatmeal, 1 tbsp. rosewater or aloe vera juice, 1 tsp. each honey and castor oil and 2 drops essential oil of rose geranium or palmerosa. Apply the mask to your face and rest for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Mature Skin

To aid wrinkled or aging skin, the mask for dry skin described above works well. Alternatively, use grape seed extract cream, or a mask of mashed grapes. A grape mask takes advantage of the fruit's proanthocyanidin compounds. These antioxidants reportedly boost collagen and overall skin firmness, according to the Granny Med website. Crush red grapes in a food processor, and apply them to your face. Leave on for at least 20 minutes, rinse and pat dry.