8 DIY Summer Skin Ideas
Photo: Getty Images
By Krystin Arneson
When summer rolls around and your skin has to adjust to the new climate, things can go a little haywire, from breakouts to sunburn. But rather than run to the drugstore or beauty counter and load up with expensive products, we have an alternative solution: a few DIY concoctions from a few of our favorite beauty pros that are as fun to make as they are to use. And you know how fresh food is always better than processed? Well, that same logic might apply here! The benefits of active ingredients found in fresh fruits and foods are sometimes exactly what the fancy labs try to replicate, says Alexis Wolfer, founder of TheBeautyBean.com and author of Recipe for Radiance: Discover Beautys Best-Kept Secrets in Your Kitchen.
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Best of all, a lot of these at-home treatments aren't hard to put together, which makes them the perfect summer project. But as with any new product, we advise doing a spot test to make sure your concoction won't irritate the skin. And, don't forget: "It's very important to have clean skin before applying a mask to ensure you get maximum benefits from the facial," says Laura Ann Conroy, Bliss Spa's lead educator and spa technician.
Check out these quick and easy DIY beauty recipes below!
1. A Simple Steam
What It Does: After a day outside, your pores are bound to be clogged with sweat and sunscreen. The ultimate—and seriously simple—fix? Get a deep clean going with one of beauty entrepreneur Sonia Kashuk's favorite treatments.
What You'll Need: "All you have to do is break out a quart-sized pot and fill it with hot water," Kashuk says.
The Steps: Take your pot off the heat once the water is at a rolling boil, then (carefully!) hover your face over it, placing a towel over your head to trap in the steam. "This trick is so good for getting everything out and really opening up the pores for a deep clean," Kashuk says. "Plus, it's an amazing way to get spa-worthy skin while feeling like you are indulging in a treatment." Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make it an aromatic experience.
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2. The Papaya Pumpkin Facial
What It Does: "If you have visited spas and resorts in exotic locales such as the Pacific Rim, Bali, Hawaii, and Tahiti, you've probably seen a facialist select and mash fresh fruit in front of you for a fresh enzyme mask," says Conroy.
What You'll Need: 2/3 cup fresh papaya, mashed, a 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin, and 1 egg, beaten until frothy.
The Steps: Mix the egg with the papaya, then add the pumpkin and whip it all together. (Doing this in a blender or food processor will make it extra-smooth!). Then, apply all over the face and let it sit for five to fifteen minutes. "You'll feel some tingling as the enzymes in the pumpkin go to work immediately, gently exfoliating your top layer of skin," Conroy says. "It works like a scrub, just less abrasive."
3. Sweet Watermelon Body and Face Serum
What It Does: "This recipe will saturate your skin with hydrating and healing properties that will both help to prevent long-term sun damage and alleviate the immediate discomfort of sunburn," says Wolfer.
What You'll Need: 1 tablespoon fresh watermelon juice and 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
The Steps: Mix the watermelon juice with honey until well combined. Then apply to clean, sun-kissed areas in gentle circulation motions. Let the serum penetrate for 20 minutes before rinsing residue off with cool water.
4. Lemon Lightening Body Scrub
What It Does: "This will break down dead, dull, dry skin," says Wolfer. (Goodbye post-beach peeling!)
What You'll Need: 1 lemon, 1/4 cup white sugar, and 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin cold pressed coconut oil.
The Steps: Cut the lemon in two, then squeeze about half of the juice from each half into a small bowl. Rub the exposed side of the squeezed lemon halves on any dry, dull skin. "Don't be afraid to really dig your elbows, knees, or heels into the rind," Wolfer says.
Next, add sugar to the bowl with the lemon juice. Stir to combine, without letting the sugar melt. On the areas already primed with lemon juice, rub in the sugar mixture to scrub away dead skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry before massaging skin with coconut oil.
5. Tropical Resurfacing Scrub
What It Does: Unlike the other recipes here, this isn't for sensitive or sunburned skin. But if you're a few days past the pink skin caused by sun damage, this is a good way to speed up the healing process.
"The yogurt is high in lactic acid to break down the outermost layer of damaged skin while the probiotics balance bacteria," Wolfer explains. "Plus, the strawberry is packed with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and papaya is rich in vitamin A, an essential ingredient for healthy skin cell turnover. The honey is a natural humectant, which means it makes moisturizers penetrate more deeply, and it's antibacterial to prevent breakouts."
What You'll Need: 1 tbsp full fat Greek yogurt, 1 tsp puréed papaya , 1 tsp puréed strawberry, 1 tsp raw honey , and 2 tsp granulated sugar.
The Steps: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir. Then apply a thin layer to all sun-damaged skin, avoiding the eye area. Let the mixture sit for 8-10 minutes before gently scrubbing it off and rinsing.
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6. Soothing Lavender Cleanser
What It Does: This simple cleanser from Susan Curtis, director of natural health at Neals Yard Remedies Organic, is great for sensitive or dry skin. The oats mix with water to create an enriching wash while the almond oil nurtures the complexion and helps prevent moisture loss. Lavender rounds off the trio by soothing skin and smelling great.
What You'll Need: Scant 1 oz. organic oats, a little mineral water, 1 egg yolk, 3 1/2 tbsp. almond oil, and 5 drops lavender essential oil.
The Steps: Put the oats in a bowl, then pour in enough mineral water to cover them. Let them soak for at least an hour. While theyre soaking, whisk the egg yolk in a food processor or blender, adding a drop of almond oil at a time until the mix has thickened. Next, add in the lavender oil one drop at a time. After the hour's up, strain the oats, catching all of the liquid (aka "oatmilk") in a bowl. Add it into the egg mixture slowly, so that it thins into a lotion-like consistency. Store it in a lidded glass bottle and use within three days.
7. Avocado-Mango Mask
What It Does: For girls in hot, dry climates, summer can be just as unforgiving on the skin as the cool, harsh winter! Celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas (who works with always-glowing Karlie Kloss) has a little recipe to help put moisture back in the pores. "Olive oil naturally keeps skin hydrated and softens skin," says Vargas. "It's even great to just use alone! Avocado really helps keep skin persistently hydrated and is awesome for sensitive skin because it rapidly calms inflammation."
What You'll Need: 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp avocado, 2 tbsp olive oil, and 1 mashed mango.
The Steps: Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and apply to the face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with cool water.
8. Strawberry Mask
What It Does: Hot, humid weather amps up oil production in your glands, but Vargas is here to save the day with this super-simple treatment. "Strawberry is awesome for all skin types because it cleanses and acts as an astringent, so it really cleans the pores and tightens them back up again," she says. "It also contains salicylic acid so it brightens dull skin and exfoliates away dull dead cells."
What You'll Need: 1/4 cup mashed strawberries, 3 tbsp yogurt, and 1 tbsp rice powder.
The Steps: Mix the ingredients together and apply. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with cool water.
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