Homemade face masks are one of my favorite ways to both treat problem skin and pamper it like a day at the spa. They’re super easy to make on the fly and can be customized to fit your skin’s needs like hydration, blemish treatment, reduced fine lines, or oil control.

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5 DIY Face Mask Recipes Using Essential Oils

Making and applying a homemade face mask should be a relaxing and almost ritualistic experience.

This is a 20-30-minute period meant for a nice dose of “me time”, so treat it as a moment to de-stress, relax, and clear your mind of negative thoughts.

Turn on some lovely music, light your favorite candle, and ready the space where you can relax.

Before applying your homemade mask, be sure to gently cleanse the skin to remove makeup, excess oil, and other impurities. This will allow the mask to sink into the skin and do its magic.
Use either a fan brush (my favorite!) or clean hands to apply the mask in a thick even layer to the skin.

After application, lay down in a comfortable position with your feet elevated to help encourage healthy blood flow to the face. This increased circulation is what helps the essential oils sink in and enter the body – which is exactly what you want!

Leave the mask on for a good 20 minutes or until the mask dries. Let your mind wander. Think about positive things or simply let your mind go blank as you relax and take this moment to let go of the day’s hustle and bustle.

To remove the mask, you can either use a warm damp cloth to gently wipe away the mask or use warm water to rise it away. Afterward, splash your face with cooler water to close the pores, pat dry, then spritz the skin with rose water to rebalance the skin’s PH.

You can follow this with your regular moisturizer, or, you can do what I do and apply a good rosehip seed oil to seal in moisture.

Repeat 1-2 times per week or more as desired.

My Top 5 Face Mask Recipes Using Essential Oils

1. Anti-Aging Face Mask Recipe

This mask uses both the skin tightening properties of clay and the hydrating power of oatmeal to achieve its anti-aging effects. The essential oils in the face mask recipe are known for their powerful skin regenerative and restorative properties and will help reduce the signs of aging.

To make this mask, you will need:

• 1 teaspoon facial clay (use one that your skin likes like bentonite, rhassoul (aka moroccan red clay), French green, or kaolin)
• 1 teaspoon ground oatmeal (you can make this in a coffee grinder in a pinch, or you can buy it already ground here)
• 1 teaspoon raw honey (manuka honey is also great as it’s more medicinal than regular honey)
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil (use one that your skin likes - I use hemp seed oil)
• ½ teaspoon water, hydrosol, milk, or plant milk
• 1 drop frankincense essential oil – this EO is especially good for encouraging collagen production!
• 1-2 drops rose absolute in jojoba oil

Mix all of the ingredients together until you form a paste. Add a few more drops of milk to thin it out if needed or a little extra clay or oatmeal to thicken if needed.

Apply in an even layer to the face and let it sit for 20 minutes or longer before removing.

2. Blemish Control Face Mask Recipe

This mask is wonderfully clarifying for acne-prone skin types and can be used 2-3 times per week to help fight blemishes, reduce redness, and reduce inflammation.

The white willow bark, if you have it on hand, is a natural form of salicylic acid and will help clear the pores.

The tea tree essential oil will help kill off acne-causing bacteria while the lemon essential oil brightens hyperpigmentation. You can swap out the lemon with lavender essential oil if you decide to use this mask during the day.

To make this mask, you will need:

• 2 teaspoon facial clay (I recommend rhassoul, bentonite, or French green)
• ½ teaspoon aloe gel
• ½ teaspoon raw honey (manuka honey is more acne-fighting)
• A few drops of water or hydrosol as needed to thin out
• One capsule white willow bark (optional)
• 1 drop tea tree essential oil
• 1 drop lemon essential oil (lemon EO should only be used at night as it makes the skin sensitive to sunlight)

Mix the ingredients well, then apply with a fan brush in an even layer. Let the mask sit for 20 or more minutes before rinsing it off.

3. Exfoliating Face Mask Recipe

This homemade mask uses the power of pumpkin puree to “chemically” exfoliate the skin. It’s a great way to gently remove dead skin cells and reveal bright new skin without harsh scrubbing.

To make this mask, you will need:

• 2 teaspoon pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon plain yogurt or plant yogurt (thicker ones like Greek work best)
• 1 drop Roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 drop lemon essential oil

The Roman chamomile essential oil will help encourage the skin to slough off dead skin cells and regenerate new ones while the lemon essential oil helps stimulate circulation and cell turnover.

Allow the mask to sit for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Apply once a week in the evening.

4. Hydrating Face Mask Recipe

Sometimes your skin needs a good moisturizing mask that helps quench dryness and plump the complexion and there are no two better ingredients than fresh avocado and raw honey.

Avocado is full of skin nourishing fats that infuse the skin with hydrating goodness while the raw honey ups the skin’s hydration levels due to its humectant properties.

For this mask, you will need:

• ¼ cup well-mashed avocado (try to get it as smooth as possible)
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 1 teaspoon plain yogurt or plant yogurt
• 1 drop sandalwood essential oil (increases cell turnover and relieves dry skin)
• 1 drop palmarosa essential oil (soothing and calming for dry irritated skin)

Mix the ingredients well until smooth and apply the mask in an even layer. Allow it to sit for 20 or more minutes before rinsing.

Repeat 2-3 times per week or as needed.

5. Oil Control Face Mask Recipe

This is one of my favorite homemade face masks since I have oily skin. The ingredients in this recipe help control sebum production while also shrinking pores and preventing blackheads.

To make this mask, you will need:

• 2 teaspoon rhassoul clay (can sub with bentonite or French green)
• 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel (I like this more natural version)
• A few drops of water or hydrosol to thin out if needed
• 1 drop geranium essential oil

Mix the ingredients until well combined, then use a fan brush to apply an even layer to the skin, focusing on the oiliest areas of the face.

Allow the mask to dry completely before rinsing.

Geranium essential oil is known to be one of the best essential oils for controlling excess oil production in the skin which is why it is the sole star in this recipe.

Have you used essential oils in your homemade face mask recipes? Please share them in the comments below!

You may also enjoy reading:

Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin
Essential Oils for Hormonal Acne
Essential Oils for Specific Skin Types
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
Is Manuka Honey Better Than Benzoyl Peroxide