With parties and wedding events coming up this holiday season, I wanted to share with you all an easy do it yourself face mask to achieve that bright and glowy skin all in the comfort of your home. This has been my go-to face mask when I feel like my skin is looking dull, tired, and needs instant brightening without spending too much money. This is also a great recipe if you are trying to lighten suntans!
Most of the ingredients are probably already sitting in your kitchen cabinet.
WHAT YOU NEED
+ 2 tbsp Gram/Chickpea/Garbanzo Flour
+ 1 tbsp Plain yogurt
+ Pinch of turmeric
+ ½ Lemon
+ ½ tbsp Honey (optional)
*Apply this face mask at least once a week consistently for best results.
HOW IT WORKS
Mix all the ingredients together to form a smooth paste. Next, apply the mask to a clean face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. While your skin is slightly damp, apply your favorite face cream to lock in the moisture.
Gram flour’s granular quality acts as a gentle exfoliator that can remove excess sebum, and dirt settled on your skin and inside pores without causing any irritation. My mom told me back in her teenage years when they couldn’t afford fancy skincare creams she would apply “channa ka atta” also known as gram flour on her skin because it helped clear acne and achieve an even skin tone. Gram flour has been an ingredient used for this purpose for centuries in South Asian countries.
Dermatologist Dr. Judith Hellman says yogurt helps to rejuvenate and soften the skin. You may not be able to see the fine lines and wrinkles on your face yet, but it’s never too early to prevent them! Exfoliating properties of lactic acid in yogurt are useful for fading lines and wrinkles, in addition to dissolving dead skin cells and tightening pores. When I was doing my research on the benefits of yogurt, I found out that it also has mild bleaching powers, perfect to smooth out any discoloration!
A pinch of turmeric is the power ingredient, it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. These characteristics will revive your skin and bring out its natural glow. Turmeric is also known for reducing scarring, which is the main reason I like it in my mask. Consistent use may help your skin clear up from acne breakouts, and save you from a trip to your dermatologist.
Lemon naturally contains vitamin C which is an excellent antioxidant for reducing skin damage, brightening and lightening your acne scars. Any leftover paste I have, I like to put it on my elbows and knees to keep them from getting scruffy and dark.
The addition of honey is optional, but I like to add it to boost the skin’s moisture level. Lemon can be a bit drying, whereas honey can balance that out by preventing your skin from drying out and leaving your skin soft and supple. According to Clean Beauty co-founder Dominika Minarovic, honey is a wonder ingredient that heals, diminishes the appearance of scars, and increases tissue regeneration.
Before 
After
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Make sure all the ingredients are fresh and not expired! Rule: If you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your face. Just like any other facial mask, doing a patch test on your arm or neck to see how your skin reacts is worth it. You don’t want to end up with red blotched skin, that would not be cool. Lastly, before anyone asks…no, you cannot store the paste for future use. It is best to use this mask within the hour you make it.
Let me know in the comments if you try out this DIY face mask or if you have any questions. Cheers!
