15 One-Ingredient Homemade Face Masks For Fabulous Skin

One ingredient homemade face masks - really? Yes, you can have a delightful, home spa experience with minimal ingredients - in fact with the usage of only 1 ingredient, a single ingredient from your kitchen pantry or your kitchen garden!

I know where you are coming from!

You would have loved to pamper your skin with facial masks from time to time but do not prefer to slather on store-bought products either because they are chemically laden or due to the fact that they are too expensive.

As far as homemade DIY beauty hacks or recipes are concerned, you are either pressed for time or too lazy to indulge in a proper home spa ritual.

Also, concocting a a full-fledged homemade DIY mask that requires a slew of ingredients and the elaborate steps required in its preparation drives you nuts. So you simply put off your skin care routine and go on with your life.

But there's a quick and easy way out for you - one ingredient DIY homemade face masks and all this without much fuss!

Whether it's an over-ripe fruit or a vegetable from your kitchen that you were planning to throw away or a jar of honey or vinegar in your pantry that you haven't used for a while, you can can prepare an awesome, quick 1 ingredient DIY  facial mask for an instant skin assist.

15 one-ingredient DIY facial mask recipes (easiest, no-fuss, non-time consuming recipes)

1. Milk

Yes, you heard it right. Milk. Simple plain milk, full-fat or toned can work as a quick face mask for any type of skin.  And milk,  obviously is always available in every (Indian) home.

Take few tablespoons of unboiled milk or even boiled and cooled milk  and  apply it on your face and leave it for 15 minutes or until it feels tight. Rub it off and then rinse. Your skin will be baby soft and smooth. Instead of a face wash, you can use it to wash your face as well.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with milk

On the other hand, if you have a sachet of milk powder lying unused in your fridge, you can make use of that too to  whip up a quick homemade face mask by mixing this powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste.

Then smear this milky paste all over your face and neck,  let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh, rejuvenated and bright.

Also read: Milk for health and beauty

 

2. Honey

Honey is a wonder food, no doubt about it. [Here is an extensive article about the medicinal uses of honey.] But did you know that it can be used a wonderful hydrating and rejuvenating mask also?

So take out that jar of honey from your pantry and add 4-5 tablespoons of it in a small bowl and with clean fingers spread it on your just washed face and neck. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then wash it off with ordinary water.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with honey

Honey has antibacterial properties and it's also known for its skin bleaching effects and fading scars. Also great for acne prone skin as it helps deal with zits and accompanying spots and marks.

Besides it's an emollient, which means that it can hold moisture and as such is great for hydrating and moisturizing your skin effectively. So apply honey mask every other day to get hydrated, supple skin and heal zits and clear blemishes. Read Honey for smooth skin.

Honey works wonders in  healing burns as well. Read Honey is extremely good for burns. Also did you know that honey could work as an eye nourisher as well?

 

3. Lemon

Lemon is one versatile ingredient that is extensively used in a variety of homemade DIY beauty recipes.  Whether it's lemon juice, rind or lemon essential oil, lemon is a wonderful aid to resolve host of skin issues and impart glowing complexion.

This sour little fruit has antibacterial, anti-fungal and skin brightening / bleaching properties and as such is helpful in tackling skin problems like dark spots, pigmentation, blemishes, blackheads, pimples, acne, etc.

Citric acid present in lemon juice is a natural form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which helps in exfoliating the skin.

For a quick face mask with lemon, cut a lemon and squeeze out the juice.  Dilute it with a few drops of water and with a cotton ball, dab it all over your face and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off with normal water.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with lemon

Though some prefer to apply the juice directly to the facial skin, I wouldn't recommend it, especially for sensitive skin. But if you have pimples or acne, you may apply undiluted lemon juice to only those spots.

For the rest of the face, diluted lemon juice would be better. Use this mask once of twice in a week to brighten your skin and help with acne and marks.

It's preferable to apply this face mask late in the evening to prevent any untoward reaction due to sun exposure. This mask is most suited for those with oily skin or skin prone to acne.

Dry skinned people should avoid dabbing lemon juice directly on the facial skin. However they can add a few drops of this juice as one of the ingredients in any DIY beauty mask recipe.

Read 20 such amazing homemade beauty recipes with lemon and  20 ways of using lemons in home-remedies to tackle minor ailments.

 

4. Coconut oil or olive oil

Coconut oil and olive oil - I need not recount the beauty benefits of these 2 wonderful oils again. Both these oils are good lubricants and full of antioxidants which can be absorbed into the skin easily. Read 11 amazing beauty recipes with coconut oil and also these 11 ways of using olive oil as a beauty aid

If you have dry, rough skin or if you would like to ward off wrinkles, these oils are the best for you. Just smear one of these oils, as per availability and leave it on your facial skin for 15-20 minutes.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with olive oil or coconut oil

Then wash it off. Your parched skin will be replenished with the goodness of the ingredients of the oil and will give you amazingly nourished, soft skin.

I wouldn't recommend using these oils for oily skinned / combination skinned individuals or those with acne. However they may add 1-2 tsp of these oils in DIY beauty mask recipes along with other ingredients to reap the benefits.

 

5. Carrot

Carrots have the goodness of beta carotene, several other vitamins, iron and other nutrients which is amazing for your skin. They have antiseptic properties and can tone and clarify your skin. Additionally they can brighten and hydrate the skin. Try a DIY carrot mask and watch your face glow!

Take a carrot,  grate it and puree it in a blender. Apply this carrot paste to your freshly cleansed facial skin and relax for 15-20 minutes.

If you wish, you may cook the carrots and then blend. But I prefer the raw carrot paste. Rinse off with ordinary water and pat dry with a towel. You'll get the smoothest and softest skin ever.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with carrots

Trust me, this was my favourite face mask during my college days. I simply loved the softness imparted by this carrot mask. While pureeing the carrot, you may add some milk or honey to enhance its nourishing and moisturizing capabilities.

But since we are talking about single ingredient masks only here, I would like to say that pureed carrot paste on its own also makes for a wonderful face pack.

Alternatively, you may extract carrot juice using a juicer and apply it all over your face with a cotton ball.

You may also try the carrot and turnip facial mask mentioned in the post Homemade beauty masks for glowing skin.

Also read the health benefits of carrots and some wonderful home remedies with carrots.

6. Aloe vera Gel

Fresh aloe vera gel is full of nutrients, active enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Since times immemorial, this wonder herb has been used as a home remedy to treat several health issues, skin ailments and also as a beauty aid.

Particularly aloe vera or Kumari as it is called in Sanskrit is a boon for womankind as it helps resolves several women's health issues and menstrual woes. Also read Aloevera - the wonder herb for health and beauty.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with aloe vera

If you have an aloe vera plant in your home or home garden, you can whip up a quick face mask from the gooey gel of its leaves. Just take a fleshy leaf from the plant and extract the aloe gel in a small bowl.

Wash your face with lukewarm water and pat dry and then apply this gel all over your face and neck. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with plain water. Your face will appear vibrant, soft and nourished.

Aloe gel is an excellent moisturizer, has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It helps with acne and also helps to get rid of marks left by zits and pimples and also exfoliates the skin. Furthermore it also helps with pigmentation and has anti-aging capabilities. You can use this mask every now and then to pamper your skin.

 

7. Yogurt or curds

Yogurt or curds has probiotics and is excellent for digestion problems. Yogurt contains alpha-hydroxy acids, including lactic acid which helps to smooth rough skin, moisturize dry skin, and prevent premature aging of your face and also reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles.

It also has important B-complex vitamins,  to reduce  skin inflammation and promote skin healing.Yogurt can heal acne and also fade blemishes while removing the toxins that can trigger even more acne outbreaks. Plain yogurt is great for toning any type of skin.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with yogurt or curds or buttermilk

Pic credits: Wikipedia

Take a few tablespoons of curds or yogurt in a bowl and gently rub it into your facial skin and neck. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse and pat dry.  This mask is great for dull, tired skin as it revives it instantly giving it a fresh, vibrant look. So after a tired day at work, pamper your skin with this skin-friendly yogurt mask and perk it up in minutes. Do take a look at some other masks and scrubs for dull, tired skin.

Buttermilk, which is a form of thinned yogurt is also an excellent beauty aid. You can also apply buttermilk to your face using a cotton ball to exfoliate and feel fresh. Do look for more beauty recipes using buttermilk in the post Buttermilk for beauty.

8. Cucumber

Cucumber is a low cal, delicious vegetable full of nutrients and great for your skin and health. Read Cucumbers for health and beauty. You can harness the  power of a crunchy cucumbers for smooth and nourished skin with topical application too.

It's full of antioxidants and it has anti-inflammatory, hydrating, toning and skin lightening properties. Incorporating a cucumber mask in your skin care routine can do wonders to your skin.

Cut cucumber into a number of thin slices and place these slices all over your facial skin and relax in a sleeping position. You also place 2 such slices over each eyes for a soothing and relaxing effect. Preferably the cucumber that you are using should have been cooled in the refrigerator.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with cucumber

Cold slices are more soothing to the skin. Keep these slices on for 15-20 minutes and then discard them. Your skin will feel fresh and toned. Application of this cucumber cold compress can be done daily as it's safe for the skin.

Another way is to use to put a cold cucumber from a refrigerator into a blender to make a coarse paste. Apply this coarse paste all over your facial skin and neck and relax with thin cucumber slices on the eyes. This mask in great for moisturizing and firming up the skin. It prevents fine wrinkles from forming and brightens and tones your skin.
 
Also try this face mask with cucumber and yogurt or ease razor bumps with this terrific cucumber yogurt soother.

9. Bananas

Earlier whenever I used to see an overripe banana with flies buzzing around them, I'd rush to throw it in the dustbin or the trash can. But now I know better, especially since I came across this Jamaican beauty tip for using both banana peel as well as banana pulp as a face mask to get smooth, nourished skin.

Wash your face with lukewarm water to open up the pores. Mash an overripe banana well and apply the paste with your fingertips in circular motions to your face and neck. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with banana

Then rinse off with cold water.Then pat dry. You can even rub the inside of a banana peel on your pre-cleansed facial skin for a smooth and radiant skin.

Besides being potassium rich, bananas have loads of other nutrients and moisture. A banana mask is excellent to prevent wrinkles, fade dark spots and firm up the skin. So instead of throwing that overripe banana, make use of it as a face pack and nourish your skin.

Do read Bananas for health and beauty

10. Eggs

Eggs are not just meant for a breakfast -- they make for a wonderful beauty aid. Egg face packs or masks are excellent for deep cleansing your facial skin, firming it up, shrinking pores and removing excessive oiliness from the skin.

Protein present in egg yolk can nourish and moisturize your skin. So head to your refrigerator and grab an egg.

If you have an extremely dry skin, just the egg yolk is enough for you. Break open the egg and extract only the yolk and apply it to your face to pamper and nourish it.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with eggs

If your face is too greasy, you can use only egg white. First of all, wash your face with lukewarm water to open up the pores. Spread egg white all over your facial skin. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes or until it feels tight.

Do not talk or laugh when you have this mask on. Then rinse it off with water. Your face will be bereft of greasiness and most of the open pores will be camouflaged. Egg white is a wonderful skin tightener.

For normal skin or even combination skin, you can use the whole egg. Beat the whole egg until frothy. Now apply this mixture to a pre-cleansed face and relax for 20 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. You'll fall in love with your new, fresh and radiant face.
  
Also read: Eggs for beautiful hair

11. Papaya

Papaya is another amazing fruit that works wonders on your skin. While eating papaya which is full of nutrients is good for your skin and overall health too, making use of that extra papaya slice for making a face pack after you are done with eating can also help a lot.

Papaya contains beta hydroxy acid that can exfoliate your skin; besides it has the enzyme papain that can lighten & brighten your skin, fade dark spots and help with blemishes and pigmentation. Moreover papaya can soothe sunburns and irritated skin too.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with papaya

Take a few papaya slices and remove the peel.Mash it well or use a blender to make a paste. Apply this paste to pre-cleansed facial skin and neck and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. You can add honey / milk cream or lemon juice to this papaya paste depending on whether your face is dry or oily.

But papaya paste on its own also works great on your skin. Use this face pack twice or thrice a week for a flawless, radiant complexion.

Also read: Papaya for health and beauty

12. Turmeric

Turmeric (Haldi) is a wonder ingredient from the Indian kitchen that has incredible medicinal uses to its credit. Read Medicinal uses of Turmeric (Haldi). Turmeric is antiseptic, antibacterial,anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants. It can help with acne, acne scars, pigmentation, and other long term skin concerns.

As such as homemade beauty mask with turmeric is great for addressing several skin issues such as reducing the appearance of wrinkles, to even your skin tone, remove toxins from the skin and give a blemish-free complexion.

However since a turmeric mask can leave a slightly-yellowish tinge to your face even after washing off, it's better not to use it before any important occasion or event.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with turmeric

If you have acne and accompanying scars, then turmeric is great for you. Take 1-2 tsp of turmeric and mix with warm water. 

Though I'm talking about single-ingredient masks here, I'll make an exception here and ask you to add a tsp of honey also to this mask. Apply this mask on your face and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Then wash off. Use this twice or thrice a week to clear up your acne and do away with the blemishes.
If you wish to revive your dull, tired skin and exfoliate it, then add lemon juice to turmeric powder and apply it. However this mask may not be suitable for dry complexion.

Do read about other  cosmetic uses of turmeric as well as about other DIY masks and packs with turmeric in the post Turmeric as a beauty aid.

13. Orange

When I found a shrivelled orange in an obscure corner in my fridge, I got an idea for a homemade DIY recipe. Like lemons, oranges have citric acid, a form of alpha hydroxy acid and hence good for exfoliating skin and shrinking large pores.

Oranges are good for oily skin and help with acne and pimples. Furthermore they also help lighten the skin tone.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with orange

Remove the peel of the orange and extract 3-4 segments from it and crush the pulp with a blender. Then apply this paste on your pre-cleansed skin and let it sit for 15 minutes. This orange pack is most suitable for oily skin, acne prone skin or oily skin with acne.

Dry skin or sensitive skin people can use add orange juice  in their masks along with other ingredients but don't use orange pulp or orange juice on its own as it can irritate your skin.

Use this face mask only once or twice in a week. Your skin will brighten up and look vibrant.

Read Orange for health & beauty

14. Vinegar

Vinegar is another common ingredient from the kitchen which can be made use of in DIY beauty aids. You can dilute apple cider vinegar with 2 parts of water and apply it on your face with a cotton ball. It works great as a toner.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with vinegar

Vinegar as a toner has been used since the time of Helen of Troy. Apple cider toner can balance your skin pH and with regular use can leave it bright and clear.

Making a weak solution of vinegar with warm water and dabbing it on your face also helps to deal with acne and pimples. Use this treatment for several weeks to get rid of zits and get clear skin.

Read: Beauty uses of Vinegar

 

15. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a common ingredient found in all kitchen cupboards. You can use it to exfoliate your skin.  Just mix some baking soda with warm water and apply this to your face gently.

1 ingredient diy face mask recipe with baking soda

After 5 minutes, just rinse off with warm water. You can use any other facial mask after this or just finish off by splashing cool water over your face.

You can also add baking soda to your regular cleanser while washing your face to exfoliate your skin.
Read 12 beauty uses of baking soda.

Final Note:

Do try these easy & quick one-ingredient DIY  face masks to revitalize your skin and restore that youthful glow to your face without wasting your precious time or without digging a hole in your pocket. Also do mention how they worked for you.

If you do have any other recipe for such a single ingredient DIY mask which has worked wonderfully for you, do mention in the comments below.