How to whip up a DIY face mask that'll rival the fancy formulas

Face masks are certainly not new, but they sure are on *everyone’s* faces right now. And really, it’s nothing but good news for your skin because masks are nutrient-rich and determined to make your skin look and feel better. Plus, they're fun. And selfie-worthy; a crucial factor.

A skin care step we should all be looking to do at least once a week, masking can help address pretty much any skin concern, depending on what formula you choose to slather on your face.

But if you don't feel like splashing cash on fancy face mask formulas as often as that, we've got great news: DIY formulas work an absolute treat, too. And the best part is that a quick peek in your pantry and fridge will probably reveal everything you need to make one. 

Learning how to make a homemade face mask is so simple, and once you get the hang of it you can easily customise your recipe to suit your skin’s needs (or what’s in your kitchen!).

We'll leave the exact recipe recommendations to a few of our fave celebs (yep, even A-listers love a good homemade mask), but here are some of the most popular DIY mask ingredients to get your head around first...

Top ingredients to use:

Honey - antibacterial, nourishing, naturally healing and great for promoting collagen production

Lemon - a natural acid that exfoliates dead skin and brightens skin (but use sparingly and always do a patch test first, as it may irritate some skin types)

Avocado - a hydrating delight loaded with skin-nourishing oils

Yoghurt or cow’s milk - rich in lactic acid to fight acne and gently exfoliate

Oatmeal - soothing and smoothing

Making the masks is a cinch once you know the benefits of a few skin-loving ingredients like these (and there are plenty more lurking in your kitchen; so many fruits or vegetables deliver nutrients that your skin needs).

Ready to roll? Here are some celeb-approved DIY masks to get you started...

#1 How to make a brightening face mask at home

Best for: Dull or oily skin

The celeb that loves it: Jourdan Dunn

We'd take glow advice from Jourdan Dunn any day; her skin gives a whole new definition to luminous. Luckily for us, it seems that said glow isn't solely the work of great genetics and pricey products; she also works a DIY brightening mask into the mix.

Taking to Instagram Stories to reveal her favourite homemade mask, Dunn shared that she likes to whip up a blend of turmeric (for brightening and controlling sebum), lemon (for evening out tone), honey (for hydration and glow) and yoghurt (for soothing the skin).

Mask ingredients: 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric, a squeeze of lemon, 1 teaspoon of honey and 1/2 cup of yoghurt

How to make it: Mix all the ingredients together to form a paste and apply it liberally to your skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes maximum (turmeric can stain the skin if left on for too long), then wash it off.

#2 How to make a hydrating face mask at home

Best for: Dry, dull skin

The celeb that loves it: Karolina Kurkova

Model Karolina Kurkova has no problem singing the praises of her favourite moisturising mask mix: "When I’m travelling or moving around, oatmeal and honey is a great mask. It’s great for hydration and gives you a nice glow," she told Grazia, before also showing it off in a pre-Met Gala skin prep video. Hey, if it's good enough for fashion's biggest night, it's good enough for us, right?

“Who would have thought that one of your favourite breakfast items can be also your beauty trick? It’s great for making your skin nice and luminous and soft. It’s messy and not always pretty, but it does the trick," she explained.

Mask ingredients: A serving of oatmeal and a spoonful of honey

How to make it: Make your oatmeal as you normally would if you were having it for breakfast, honey drizzle and all. Apply it to your face (just make sure it’s not too hot) then leave for 20 minutes before rinsing.

#3 How to make a soothing face mask at home

Best for: Dry, sensitive skin

The celeb that loves it: Olivia Culpo

Sure, she may have an affinity for luxurious moisturisers, but when it comes to face masks, Culpo definitely doesn't mind a DIY moment.

"I love making a face mask out of avocado and honey," she shared with Allure re: her go-to mask recipe. "The vitamin E in the avocado is really, really hydrating and the honey is antibacterial. I notice that in the winter my skin is way more sensitive and I get red more easily, and this helps with that, too."

Mask ingredients: 1/4 cup ripe avocado, 2 tablespoons of raw honey

How to make it: Mash the avocado and honey until combined and smooth. Spread onto the face and leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off.

#How to make a detoxifying face mask at home

Best for: Acne-prone skin

The celeb that loves it: Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner is not shy about sharing her struggles with acne, and while she could have her pick of any high-end beauty treatment, it seems one of her top fixes for banishing breakouts is her homemade acne mask recipe, which she posted on her website.

All you need is egg whites and lemon juice. The egg whites draw out oil from the skin and tighten pore, while their high protein levels help with skin healing. The lemon, on the other hand, is quite savvy in both the oil-balancing and inflammation-reducing departments, which as anyone with acne-prone skin will know, are two we could all use some assistance in.

Mask ingredients: 2 egg whites, juice of half a lemon

How to make it: Whisk the egg whites and lemon juice with a fork until combined. Apply to the face and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse off.

Main image credit: @kendalljenner

Prefer to do an at-home facial with products? Here's the DIY routine Zoë Foster Blake swears by...