Want to get in the festive spirit?
There’s no reason why your skin shouldn’t benefit from the magic of Christmas too.
We’ve got two perfect festive face masks to get you in the mood for Christmas and keep your skin looking at its best.
Before we share our best festive face mask recipes with you, it’s worth knowing what benefits they offer.
Fortunately, facial masks can be created to target different areas of skin health.
For example, some face masks can be used as an exfoliant, which the American Academy of Dermatology states can help your skin to look brighter and potentially improve the effectiveness of skin care products by enhancing absorption.1
Face masks can also be designed to have a hydrating effect, by using moisturising, emollient ingredients like coconut oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, argan oil and shea butter.
Providing they contain natural, non-irritating ingredients, DIY face masks should be safe for most people to use.
Although those with sensitive, blemish-prone skin may wish to speak to a doctor before trying out any new facial mask recipes.
We recently made the commitment to ban the use of single-use facial masks in a bid to do our bit for the planet.
And that’s where DIY face masks come in.
Without the need for any plastic packaging, homemade face masks are a much more eco-friendly option.
That’s why we’ve shared seven of our favourite DIY mask recipes to use over the festive season – so you don’t have to miss out on cosy self-care nights.
Read on for our favourite homemade face masks...
Did you know that cranberries are a super fruit and contain impressive amounts of antioxidants?
We’ve picked this recipe because it looks and smells amazing.
Just like you can’t have turkey without some good cranberry sauce, a festive face mask wouldn’t be complete without these bright red berries.
This face mask also has a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, to make it smell extra festive and comforting.
Ingredients
1
Blend the berries and grapes before adding in the other ingredients one by one
2
Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing off
Next up we have a face mask that will remind you of a winter pudding.
What’s not to love?
It contains oatmeal, which is great for sensitive skin because it is gentle and has soothing properties.
It’s also super moisturising which is handy in the winter when your skin can feel a little dry and in need of moisture.
Ingredients:
1
First peel the apple and cut out the core, taking care to remove any pips
2
Then grate the apple and add remaining ingredients
3
Mix together and apply to your face, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off
Who said gingerbread was just for eating?
If this is one of your favourite treats during the festive period, this could be the perfect facemask for you.
As well as smelling great, the ginger in this face mask may be beneficial as gingerol, the main bioactive compound in ginger has powerful antioxidant effects.2
Ingredients
1
Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl until the mixture is fully combined and a thick texture
2
Use a cotton pad to apply it to your face, leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
One of the most common ingredients used over the Christmas period is orange, but did you know you can use it on your face too?
Orange essential oil in particular has been found to have cleansing effects, which protects against certain forms of sport causing bacteria.3,4,5,6
It may also be able to assist with blemish-prone skin.7
Ingredients
1
Stir all of the ingredients in a small bowl until combined
2
Apply to a clean and dry face, then leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water
Inspired by a childhood classic, this homemade face mask made using peppermint oil should take you back to Christmas as a kid eating all the candy canes.
Like orange oil, peppermint oil has also been found to have mild cleansing effects.8
Ingredients
1
Heat the coconut oil for 5-10 seconds in the microwave until it has melted
2
Then add the tea tree oil and peppermint oil and mix with a spoon
3
Ensure that the mixture is cool enough to touch comfortably, and apply to your face
4
Leave on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing off
Another popular ingredient used in many different foods and drinks at Christmas time is hazelnut!
Fortunately, it also makes for a great skincare ingredient.
The fatty acids and vitamin E found in hazelnut oil means it has a moisturising effect on skin.9
As well as this, the tannins found in hazelnut oil have astringent effects and can therefore help to dry oily skin, remove dirt and shrink pore-size.10
Ingredients
1
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl until fully mixed
2
Apply to clean, dry skin and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water
There’s no better time than Christmas to indulge in a big mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire.
But did you know that cacao has the potential to benefit your skin?
Studies show that applying cacao directly to the skin positively effects your skin’s elasticity and tone – who knew!11
Ingredients
1
Mash the banana with a fork until smooth before adding the other ingredients
2
Mix well so that there are no clumps, then apply the mix to your face
3
Leave for 10-20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water
Last updated: 5 November 2021
Joined Holland & Barrett: Aug 2005
Michelle joined Holland and Barrett in 2005 as a Customer Services Advisor where she worked for a total of 6 years.
She left H&B to pursue a career within the public sector and later returned in 2013 where she continued to support the Customer Services department and further developed by qualifying as an advanced product advisor working alongside a team of nutritionists.
She then moved to buying as a FNSS Raw Materials Coordinator before joining the Regulatory Affairs Department in 2017 as a Regulatory Affairs Associate. After 3 years in this role, she then moved to the Beauty team where she expanded her knowledge to focus on the beauty industry.
Michelle is now working on both own-label and branded beauty lines, ensuring that these products and all relating marketing material comply to the EU, UK and International Cosmetics Regulations.
Michelle has 3 children who take up a lot of her time, but when she has a few spare minutes she enjoys walking, fitness and cooking.