When I need an affordable, all-natural skincare pick-me-up, I turn to ingredients I already have at home. While any DIY face mask will help you feel pampered, they’re not all created equal. So I asked renowned facialist Joanna Vargas for her go-to DIY face mask recipe.
Vargas gives high-end facials to celebrities like Eva Mendes, Naomi Watts, and Julianne Moore and has a line of sheet masks. But she isn’t afraid to try a DIY at-home face mask from time to time. “Believe it or not, it’s very easy to use kitchen ingredients on the face,” Vargas told me. One of her favorites includes strawberries. Rich in vitamin C and ellagic acid, strawberries can act as a skin-softening agent and help the skin repair molecular damage caused by sunlight. These properties help make Vargas’s DIY face mask recipe effective. And it’s easy — requiring only three ingredients.
Joanna Vargas’s DIY Strawberry Face Mask Recipe
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup mashed strawberries
- 1/4 cup honey
Mix together and apply to face and neck for 10 minutes.
The Results
Vargas likes this mask because it soothes and tightens pores. I can attest to that! I tried it after a weekend spent outside in the sun drinking rosé. As I applied the mixed-up yogurt, strawberries, and honey, it exceeded my expectations. It wasn’t sticky like I thought it would be. I didn’t expect to feel so much happening as I waited for it to dry. My skin started to tighten and the lovely-smelling mask went from transparent to hot-pink. The tightening sensation reminded me of clay masks.
The tightening sensation reminded me of clay masks.
After 1o minutes, I rinsed it off easily. I used a damp cotton pad to remove any excess from around my hair line. The tightening quality of this DIY face mask helped address some of my puffiness from the weekend. Compared to other masks I’ve tried, it’s not the most moisturizing. But it did leave my skin feeling smooth.
An Exfoliating Version
“If you want to add some extra exfoliation, put two tablespoons of almond power into this one and scrub it onto the skin,” Vargas suggested. As you apply, she recommended spending extra time scrubbing the t-zone, where most blackheads are found. Then leave it on as a beauty mask. “The results will be amazing,” she promised. I believe her.