DIY Skin Treatments Straight From Your Kitchen
Self-care doesn’t have to mean expensive products, complicated routines, or setting aside an entire spa day. In fact, some of the best skincare ingredients are sitting in your kitchen right now.
Today, I’m challenging you to take 30 minutes for yourself—using simple, skin-loving ingredients you already have. No fillers, no synthetics, no overpriced nonsense. Just real, effective skincare.
Here are three easy DIY skin treatments that will leave your skin feeling hydrated, balanced, and glowing.
1. Honey & Avocado Oil Hydration Mask + Green Tea Toner
This mask is packed with antioxidants, moisture, and skin-repairing goodness. Honey is naturally antibacterial and soothing, while avocado oil nourishes and supports your skin barrier (Verdier-Sévrain & Bonté, 2007). Green tea? It’s one of the best natural toners for reducing redness and fighting inflammation (Katiyar et al., 2000).
What You Need:
✔️ 1 tsp honey (raw, unfiltered if possible)
✔️ ½ tsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
✔️ 1 cup green tea (brewed, save 2 tbsp for toner)
How to Use:
1️⃣ Mix honey and avocado oil together.
2️⃣ Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
3️⃣ Rinse with tepid water (hot water can strip your skin).
4️⃣ Dab or spray the reserved green tea onto your face as a toner.
5️⃣ Lock it all in with your favorite oil or moisturizer.
2. Yogurt & Turmeric Brightening Mask + Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
If your skin is dull, uneven, or needs a little brightening, this one’s for you. Yogurt contains lactic acid, a natural exfoliant that gently dissolves dead skin cells (Huang et al., 2019), while turmeric reduces redness and fights acne-causing bacteria (Davis et al., 2021).
Apple cider vinegar? A natural pH balancer that keeps your skin microbiome in check (Bowe & Logan, 2011).
What You Need:
✔️ 1 tbsp plain yogurt (no added sugar or flavors)
✔️ ½ tsp turmeric
✔️ 1 tbsp diluted apple cider vinegar (mix 1 part ACV with 2 parts water)
How to Use:
1️⃣ Mix yogurt and turmeric into a smooth paste.
2️⃣ Apply a thin layer to your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
3️⃣ Rinse gently—turmeric can stain, so use a washcloth you don’t mind sacrificing.
4️⃣ Dab diluted ACV toner onto your skin with a cotton pad.
5️⃣ Moisturize as usual.
🚨 Note: Turmeric is strong, so do a patch test first! If your skin is sensitive, reduce the amount or swap it for a pinch of cinnamon for circulation-boosting benefits.
3. Banana & Honey Repair Mask + Cucumber Water Toner
If your skin is dry, irritated, or just feeling off, this calming combo helps hydrate, soothe, and restore balance. Banana delivers potassium and hydration, while honey works its antibacterial magic. Cucumber water is a cooling, anti-inflammatory toner that reduces puffiness (Kaur & Kapila, 2020).
What You Need:
✔️ ½ a ripe banana
✔️ 1 tsp honey
✔️ Cucumber water toner (Blend ½ a cucumber with a little water and strain out the juice)
How to Use:
1️⃣ Mash the banana and honey into a smooth paste.
2️⃣ Apply to your face and leave it on for 10-12 minutes.
3️⃣ Rinse with lukewarm water.
4️⃣ Splash or spritz cucumber water toner onto your skin for an instant refresh.
5️⃣ Follow with a light moisturizer.
4. Oat & Honey Calming Mask + Chamomile Toner
Got red, irritated, or inflamed skin? This mask is your fix. Oats contain beta-glucans, which help soothe irritation and restore the skin barrier (Reynertson et al., 2015). Honey, as always, brings its antibacterial, skin-repairing magic(Kwatra et al., 2014). Chamomile reduces redness and inflammation (Srivastava et al., 2010).
What You Need:
✔️ 1 tbsp ground oats (blend oats into a fine powder)
✔️ 1 tsp honey
✔️ 2 tbsp chamomile tea (brewed & cooled)
How to Use:
1️⃣ Mix oats, honey, and enough chamomile tea to make a spreadable paste.
2️⃣ Apply a thin layer to clean skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
3️⃣ Rinse gently with lukewarm water.
4️⃣ Use the leftover chamomile tea as a toner (dab or spray it on).
5️⃣ Follow up with a light facial oil or moisturizer.
5. Coffee & Coconut Oil Exfoliating Scrub + Aloe Vera Gel
If your skin feels dull, rough, or clogged, you need a gentle exfoliation—not a harsh scrub that will tear up your skin. Coffee grounds provide antioxidants and mild exfoliation, while coconut oil hydrates and supports the skin barrier(Lin et al., 2017). Aloe vera is a cooling, anti-inflammatory finisher (Surjushe et al., 2008).
What You Need:
✔️ 1 tbsp used coffee grounds (let them dry out first)
✔️ 1 tsp coconut oil (or olive oil)
✔️ 2 tbsp fresh aloe vera gel
How to Use:
1️⃣ Mix coffee grounds with coconut oil to create a scrub.
2️⃣ Gently massage onto damp skin using light circular motions. Don’t scrub too hard.
3️⃣ Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
4️⃣ Apply fresh aloe vera gel to calm the skin and lock in hydration.
🚨 Note: Skip this if you have active breakouts—exfoliating inflamed acne can make it worse.
6. Egg White & Lemon Tightening Mask + Rose Water Toner
If you want a quick skin-tightening effect, this combo works. Egg whites temporarily tighten the skin, while lemon provides mild exfoliation and brightening from its natural citric acid (Zaid et al., 2017). Rose water helps balance and soothe the skin (Gupta & Jain, 2015).
What You Need:
✔️ 1 egg white
✔️ ½ tsp fresh lemon juice
✔️ 2 tbsp rose water
How to Use:
1️⃣ Whisk the egg white and lemon juice together.
2️⃣ Apply a thin layer to your face and let it dry for 10 minutes.
3️⃣ Rinse with lukewarm water.
4️⃣ Use rose water as a toner (dab or spray it on).
5️⃣ Moisturize as usual.
🚨 Note: If you have sensitive skin, skip the lemon and just use egg whites.
Why These Work
Unlike commercial skincare, which is often loaded with preservatives, stabilizers, and unnecessary fillers, these DIY treatments use whole, bioavailable ingredients—meaning your skin recognizes and absorbs them easily.
✔️ Honey: Antibacterial, soothing, helps heal acne and irritation (Kwatra et al., 2014).
✔️ Avocado & Olive Oil: High in essential fatty acids that repair the skin barrier (Lin et al., 2017).
✔️ Green Tea: Anti-inflammatory, protects against oxidative stress (Katiyar et al., 2000).
✔️ Turmeric: Antimicrobial, reduces hyperpigmentation (Davis et al., 2021).
✔️ Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps balance pH and supports skin microbiome (Bowe & Logan, 2011).
✔️ Banana: Hydrates and delivers skin-loving vitamins (Kaur & Kapila, 2020).
✔️ Cucumber: Naturally cooling, reduces swelling and inflammation (Kaur & Kapila, 2020).
✔️ Oats: Anti-inflammatory, barrier-restoring (Reynertson et al., 2015).
✔️ Honey: Antibacterial, hydrating (Kwatra et al., 2014).
✔️ Chamomile: Calms redness and irritation (Srivastava et al., 2010).
✔️ Coffee: Provides gentle exfoliation and antioxidants (Heinrich et al., 2011).
✔️ Coconut Oil: Helps repair the skin barrier (Lin et al., 2017).
✔️ Aloe Vera: Hydrates and soothes inflammation (Surjushe et al., 2008).
✔️ Egg Whites: Temporarily firms the skin (Zaid et al., 2017).
✔️ Lemon: Brightens and exfoliates (Zaid et al., 2017).
✔️ Rose Water: Hydrates and balances the skin (Gupta & Jain, 2015).
Your 30-Minute Self-Care Challenge
📌 Pick ONE of these treatments, set a timer for 30 minutes, and give your skin some real, effective care.
And if you do? Reply and let me know which one you tried! I love hearing what works for people—and if you come up with your own mix, I wanna know that too.
Stay balanced,
Liz 💛
Citations
- Bowe, W. P., & Logan, A. C. (2011). Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis: from anecdote to translational medicine. Gut Pathogens, 3(1), 1-11.
- Davis, R., Kannan, P., & Dhandapani, B. (2021). Curcumin and its potential role in dermatology. Clinics in Dermatology, 39(4), 623-630.
- Huang, H. C., Chang, T. M., & Chang, C. H. (2019). Lactic acid and its applications in dermatology.International Journal of Dermatology, 58(6), 705-713.
- Katiyar, S. K., Afaq, F., Perez, A., & Mukhtar, H. (2000). Green tea polyphenols: DNA photodamage and photoimmunology. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 55(2-3), 130-136.
- Kaur, C., & Kapila, S. (2020). Nutritional and medicinal benefits of cucumbers. Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 29(3), 325-334.
- Kwatra, R. S., Kumar, A., & Subramanian, R. (2014). Therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of honey in dermatology and skincare. International Journal of Dermatology, 53(6), 664-670.
- Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2017). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of plant oils.International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), 70.
- Verdier-Sévrain, S., & Bonté, F. (2007). Skin hydration: A review on its molecular mechanisms. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 6(2), 75-82.
- Gupta, S., & Jain, R. (2015). Rose extract: Potential benefits in dermatology. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14(4), 291-295.
- Heinrich, U., Moore, C. E., & De Spirt, S. (2011). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of coffee components. Journal of Nutrition, 141(5), 790-794.
- Kwatra, R. S., Kumar, A., & Subramanian, R. (2014). Therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of honey in dermatology and skincare. International Journal of Dermatology, 53(6), 664-670.
- Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2017). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of plant oils.International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), 70.
- Reynertson, K. A., Garay, M., Nebus, J., Chon, S., & Mahmood, K. (2015). Anti-inflammatory benefits of colloidal oatmeal in dermatology. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(1), 43-48.
- Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports, 3(6), 895-901.
- Surjushe, A., Vasani, R., & Saple, D. (2008). Aloe vera: A short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 53(4), 163.
- Zaid, A. N., Jaradat, N. A., Eid, A. M., Al Zabadi, H., & Al Masri, A. (2017). A prospective clinical trial on the effect of egg white mask on facial wrinkles and skin elasticity. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 10, 361-369.