During this new normal, most of us are finding ourselves staying at home for copious amounts of time, what with the #quarantinelife and social distancing being encouraged. But your new normal should not be boring! Although it may take a hot minute to get used to this new normal (because I don’t think we’ll ever get back to the normal we were used to), you can use it to your advantage to learn a new hobby or embrace a new lifestyle. During my quarantine life on this side of the Sahara, other than cooking (everyone became a MasterChef), I came up with different approaches to skincare, hair care and all that’s in between. One of my favourites is homemade beauty masks, that you don’t need to dig deep into your pockets for.

After all, who doesn’t like to look and feel beautiful without breaking the bank? That’s what whipping up some homemade beauty masks will make you feel, and a bonus feeling of satisfaction if you are addicted to the natural lifestyle.

Homemade beauty masks are easy to make, and they can be a fun activity to do with other people (if you’re living in the same household) including the men in your life. From what I understand, nowadays men have developed a knack for looking after themselves. They call it grooming, we call it man-beaute`.

A Little History on Beauty Masks

Did you know that in ancient Egypt the folks over there used natural exfoliators made from aloe and sand? Yeah, sounds tough, but apparently it worked, if Nefertiti’s skin is anything to go by. On the other side of the globe, the Chinese saw beauty as a connection to nature and they used treatments made from seaweed and jellyfish. The Greeks, on the other hand, are believed to be the first to come up with facial masks (thank you, my Greek friends).

During the victorian era, women wore homemade beauty masks that they called toilet masks when they went to bed. The toilet mask was even patented by a woman named Madame Rowley. These masks looked more like Halloween costumes as compared to the beauty masks we see today, and they were quite popular and endorsed by celebrities of that era.

Back to my masks, I like whipping up different types of masks for different purposes. It’s like cooking, different recipes for different occasions (or simply because you cannot eat moussaka for the rest of your days). Some of these masks are for skin hydration, getting rid of superficial scars, skin tightening, antiaging, skin radiance, exfoliation, and pores.

Homemade Beauty Masks Straight from the Kitchen

Superficial scars mask

Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and apply on your face. Wait 15 minutes then rinse it off. Use daily until you achieve some desired results.

Radiance mask

For this mask, you’ll need 2 teaspoons of oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of honey and 2-3 teaspoons of milk. Mix the ingredients into a paste then apply on the face and leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water then.

Skin tightening mask

This is one of the simplest homemade beauty masks to whip up. Mix one egg white with one teaspoon of lemon juice and a few drops of vitamin E. Apply the mixture on your face and neck, let it dry, then rinse off.

Exfoliating mask

Mix 1 tablespoon of natural yoghurt (maybe Greek?) with 1 tablespoon of natural brown sugar then apply on the face and neck and leave for 15 minutes. Wet your fingers and gently rub the mixture in a circular motion for 2 minutes to exfoliate dead skin, then rinse with warm water.

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Fine lines mask

You’ll need a ripe avocado and 3 tablespoons of plain organic Greek yoghurt. Mix the ingredients then apply on your face and neck. Wait for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.

I think we’ll stop there for now, but keep your eyes peeled for my renewed love for essential oils, as well as the ones I’m loving at the moment. That said, do you have some simple homemade beauty masks that make your skin feel like a million Drachma? Feel free to share in the comments below. Also, do a patch test before trying any of the above masks just to make sure you’re not allergic.