7 DIY Face Masks To Make From Items In Your Fridge To Look Your Best On Zoom Calls

Quick DIY face masks with items in your fridge

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DIY face masks
Image credit: @thehungertrack, @nutella

Months of donning surgical and reusable masks for errands and grocery runs have taken a toll on our skin. The result: a lower face full of clogged pores and for some of us, a full-blown acne breakout.

Even when turning to typical solutions such as switching up your skincare regimen, there comes the problem of not being able to patch test these products IRL before parting with all our dollars.

Before you throw in the towel and let the condition of your skin deteriorate until facial spas can save you once they’ve reopened, you’ll be glad to know that you can easily DIY a face mask under 5 minutes to mend your skin at home!

Note: Do a patch test on your wrist to test for any allergies before proceeding with any of these DIY face masks.

Check out other DIY activities you can dabble in:

• DIY bubble tea kits to cop
• Beauty hacks to try with yogurt, avocados, & coffee
• DIY hotpot options to recreate Hai Di Lao at home

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1. Yakult Mask – exfoliates skin with lactic acid

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Image credit: @thehungertrack

Yakult has been the yogurt drink brand that has been around since the mid-30s. Although it’s known to rid your gut of bad bacteria while topping it up with good bacteria, not many know of its exfoliating properties on the skin. The lactic acid in this tiny probiotic drink is able to get rid of annoying bumps and spots on your face, leaving it smooth to the touch. 

Leaving a thin layer of Yakult on your face to dry creates a perfect 5-minute sleeping mask. For those who don’t want to risk staining your pillowcases, make a thick paste by adding honey and oats.

The mask as a paste not only holds itself together, it has added benefits as well. While the oats absorb excess oil on the skin’s surface, the honey has antiseptic and hydration qualities to cleanse and moisturise the skin.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp of any oats of your choice
• 1 tsp of honey
• ¼ of a bottle of Yakult Original

Instructions for face mask:

1. Grind the oats into powder and pour it into a bowl.
2. Add the honey and Yakult Original into the bowl and mix until you get a thick consistency.
3. Apply across the entire face except the eye area.
4. Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes.
5. Rinse the mask off with warm water, massaging the face in light circular motions.

Instructions for sleeping mask:

1. Use a piece of tissue paper or cotton pad and saturate it with Yakult Original
2. Dab a light layer of the probiotic on your face and let it dry until it’s tacky
3. Leave the mask on for 5 minutes
4. Rinse the sleeping mask off with warm water

Recipe adapted from Ok! and Project Vanity.

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2. Egg White Mask – tighten and hydrate skin

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Image credit: Beauty Glam & Glow

The eggs in your fridge can stop you from dropping $50 at one go on the latest anti-ageing mask at Sephora. To explain in more detail, the protein in egg whites are the solution for tighter skin. Plus, the vitamin A present can also help to iron out fine lines.  

For those who’ve dabbled with Dalgona coffee and souffles before, this recipe might give you flashbacks of your tiring non-stop whisking. You can chill knowing that whisking till stiff peaks isn’t needed at all. Soft peaks will do to give the mask structure and grit, enough to substitute a store-bought exfoliator. 

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1½ tbsp of any type of sugar

Instructions:

1. Add the sugar to the egg white in a bowl and whisk them to soft peaks.
2. Use your hand to apply an even layer across the face and massage in circular motions. Do avoid the eye area.
3. Leave it on for 10 minutes before washing the mask off with warm water.

Recipe adapted from Beauty Glam & Glow.

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3. Tea Peel-Off Mask – antioxidant properties

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Image credit: @farahdhukai

Enjoying a cup of tea in the morning gives your body a multitude of benefits, from improving your sleep to reducing your risk of cancer. You can also reap skin benefits by applying tea directly onto your face. Black and green tea varieties contain antioxidant properties that  soothe irritated skin and promote skin regeneration.

In addition, this DIY tea face mask recipe also comprises agar-agar powder – a nifty secret ingredient that’ll give you that satisfying face mask peel, removing dead skin cells from your face. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tea bags of your choice
• 2 tbsp of agar-agar powder
• 2 cups of water

Instructions:

1. Boil the water and pour it out into a bowl
2. Steep the tea bags in hot water for 2 minutes.
3. Add agar-agar powder to the tea and stir well until dissolved.
4. Leave the mixture to cool till warm to the touch.
5. Paint an even layer with your fingers onto your face, avoiding the eye area.
6. Leave the mask to completely set for 10-20 minutes.
7. Peel off completely, and wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any residue if needed.

Recipe adapted from @farahdhukai.

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4. Parsley Mask –  prevents UV skin damage

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Image credit: Truth In Aging

Although most of us know that parsley is common in Mexican and Chinese cooking, not many are aware that this herb can reverse the effects of UV damage. Additionally, it’ll help oily-skinned and acne-prone folk to reduce oil production and inflammation.

That’s not all – the potent herb prevents further skin discolouration as well as combat dark under-eye circles and wrinkles for night owls. To harness its full potential, try adding yogurt and apple cider vinegar, which work hand-in-hand to fight acne while gently exfoliating the skin. 

Ingredients:

• 3-5 heads of parsley
• 3 tbsp of plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

1. Chop parsley till fine and add to a bowl.
2. Add plain yogurt and apple cider vinegar, mix until well combined.
3. Apply an even layer across the face, avoiding the eye area.
4. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.
5. Rinse the mask off the face with warm water.

Recipe adapted from mindbodygreen.

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5. Cucumber Face Mask – reduces skin ageing

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Image credit: @lifewithkariii

In lots of old-school films, you’ll have characters putting cucumber slices on their eyes while they patiently wait for their clay masks to dry. That’s because of its known ability to de-puff your eyes. More than just an edible eye mask, cucumbers are packed with vitamin A, the magic behind most anti-aging skincare products out there.

Other than getting rid of puffiness and fighting skin ageing, the vitamin is also Mother Nature’s moisturiser so it’s great for those who have dry skin. You won’t have to worry about your foundation clinging onto dry patches when you’ve got a full face of makeup on. 

Ingredients:

• Half a cucumber

Instructions:

1. Roughly cut cucumber into small pieces.
2. Blend the cucumber pieces until smooth.
3. Strain the liquid and pour it into a bowl.
4. Soak cotton pads into liquid and place them onto your face for 15 minutes.
5. Remove and rinse your face with cool water.

Recipe adapted from Sio Beauty. 

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6. Nutella Mask – moisturise skin for a glowing complexion

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Image credit: @nutella

Nutella on bread is a delish breakfast food, but did you know the chocolatey spread can also be a quick moisturising face pack? Before you back down from this potential skincare hack, you should know that it’s been approved by the Queen of England and Duchess Kate Middleton.

The hazelnut spread has a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamin E that’ll give the skin a boost in elasticity and hydration. If that’s not all, the milk in Nutella also gives the skin an extra blanket of moisture to provide a glowing complexion for the whole week ahead.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tsp of Nutella

Instructions:

1. Apply a thin layer of Nutella across your entire face, avoiding the eye area.
2. Leave the mask on until it’s dry.
3. Peel the face mask off.

Recipe adapted from Business Insider.

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7. Rice and Banana Mask – brightens dull skin

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Image adapted from: C6 Beauty

White rice and bananas are staples in almost every household pantry, but not many know of its skin benefits when combined. When mashed together, these 2 ingredients create this skin food that has a plethora of vitamins like vitamin A, B3, B5, E, and C to help brighten dull skin by speeding up cell turnover and enhancing skin radiance.

When you need extra vitamin C, lemon juice does the trick to brighten dark spots while the rice and banana mixture hydrates and plumps the skin, and helps to eradicate fine lines during the process.

If you live the zero-waste life, there’s a way for you to make use of the banana peels after using the mask. Rub the inner part of the peels onto your skin for it to act as an antiseptic, able to help reduce skin inflammation and kill acne-causing bacteria living on the surface of the skin. 

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of cooked rice
• ¼ banana
• 2 tsp of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Mash cooked rice and banana together.
2. Add 2 tsp of lemon juice into the mixture.
3. Apply an even layer across the face, avoiding the eye area and leave on for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse off with warm water.

Recipe adapted from Be Spotted.

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Easy DIY face masks at home

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Wearing masks while getting takeaway or groceries might have aggravated our skin but we don’t have to wait till facial spas reopen to have our faces cleansed by aestheticians.

To cure skin woes like stay-home acne and UV damage, these 5-minute DIY face masks can give your skin the TLC it deserves. Plus, all of them can easily be made out of everyday consumables, so you’re not burning a hole in your wallet.

Check out these Netflix recommendations to kill time as we transition out of Circuit Breaker:

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