Would you eat your skin care products? Ew, didn’t think so! Most facial products on the market contain toxic ingredients such as artificial fragrances and colours, alcohol, parabens and preservatives that can often irritate your skin.

If your skin is begging for a pick-me-up, nourish your face with an all-natural homemade mask, which will absorb the antioxidants and help soothe, moisturize, and protect skin from harsh daily elements.

Whether you have sensitive, dry, oily, ageing or problematic skin, the secret ingredient to perfect complexion might be hidden away in your kitchen cupboard.

Oily skin

Those with oily or combination skin require products that remove excess oil without drying out your skin.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are great for oily skin due to their cooling, clarifying and astringent properties. They are rich in vitamin A and C as well as natural oil absorbing acids, which help reduce the greasy appearance of the skin.

• 1 ripe tomato.
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1 tbsp oatmeal

Combine ingredients in a food processor until smooth paste is formed. Apply mixture on face and leave on for 10-15 minutes before removing with lukewarm water. The acids from the lemon juice and tomatoes work by removing excess oil and dead skin cell, while the oatmeal soothes the skin and calms any patches of redness

Dry skin

Those of you with dry skin will need ingredients that add hydration and moisturise.

Avocado

Avocado is rich in vitamins A and E and other antioxidants that can help repair the skin. Moreover, avocados are high in essential fatty acids, the building blocks of collagen- a structural protein contained in the skin essential for elasticity. It moisturises, hydrates and nourishes the skin, making it an ideal ingredient for dry and dehydrated skin.

• 1/2 ripe avocado, mashed until smooth and creamy
• 1 tbsp organic honey
• 1 tsp pure olive oil

Combine the ingredients and apply to your face, avoiding your eye area. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Wipe away with a damp cloth or splash of warm water. The added olive oil acts as a fantastic hydrator, while honey acts as a humectant helping your skin retain the goodness of the avocado and moisture of the olive oil.

Dull skin

If you have dull skin, you’ll be looking for a facemask with exfoliating and whitening properties for a brighter, more glowing complexion.

Papaya

The key nutrient in papaya is papain, a powerful enzyme that has skin-lightening and healing abilities. Together with hydroxy acids also found in the fruit, papain works as a gentle exfoliator that can scrub away your skin’s inactive protein and dead cells, leaving smooth and supple skin.

• 1/4 papaya, soft and ripe to overripe
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• 1/2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Blend the ingredients into a smooth paste, apply to face for 15-20mins and wash off with warm water. Papaya, combined with the antibacterial properties of honey, and skin lightening effects of the lemon juice, helps evens out skin tone for a more glowing complexion.

Problem skin 

If you suffer from problem skin, opt for a purifying mask to draw out your imperfections and keep your pores clear from bacteria

Bananas

Bananas are packed with nutrients such as vitamin A to promote skin-cell turnover, potassium, which hydrates the skin, and other antioxidants including lectins, which kill bacteria, reduce swelling and heal blemishes.

• 1 mashed banana
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Combine the ingredients into a smooth paste, apply to face for 15-20mins and wash off with warm water. Adding turmeric powder helps kill acne-causing bacteria, and the baking soda absorbs the excess oil in your skin.

Mature skin

If you have mature skin, you’ll need a firming mask that will tighten and lift the appearance of your skin by softening the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Egg White

As skin ages, it produces less sebum and the fat layer under the skin surface starts to fade, resulting in wrinkles. Eggs are very effective in tightening skin and shrinking pores. This is because, the protein in egg whites helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore elasticity. Moreover, the vitamin A of eggs may promote wound healing and also reduce wrinkles.

• 1 egg white

Separate the egg white from the yolk and whisk the white thoroughly. Apply to cleansed skin for about 15 minutes and wash off with warm water. Egg whites can be used alone as a facial mask or mixed with other potent ingredients (any of the above, depending on your skin type) for radiant and youthful skin.