I’m absolutely loving oatmeal as of late. It’s just so comforting and classic, and especially good for sensitive skin. While I wouldn’t exactly call my skin sensitive, sometimes I don’t want a face mask that’s quite as tight and drying as my mostly clay ones tend to be. So why not oatmeal, honey, and milk?
Oatmeal is, oddly enough, moisturizing. It contains lots of healthy fats that your skin just loves. Honey is hygroscopic, which means that while it isn’t technically moisturizing like oils are, it attracts water to it out of the air, helping your skin stay hydrated (and keeping the mask from getting quite so tight). And milk, thanks to all the vitamins and fats it contains, is also great for dry, damaged skin. Brilliant, eh?
I do love my DIY projects coffee grinder!
So, this mask is about two thirds clay, and one third honey/milk/oatmeal, all blitzed together in a coffee grinder. I added essential oils of chamomile, helichrysum, and lavender to up the soothing factor.
The final mask smells mostly of oatmeal with a hint of milk, and is probably the best approximation of baby poo I’ve ever created. It’s not nearly as smooth as clay masks are thanks to the insoluble fibre in the oatmeal, so it’s got a grainy texture that makes for a nice bit of exfoliation when you scrub it off.
Gentle Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey Face Mask
1½ tbsp zeolite clay
1 tbsp fuller’s earth clay (or 2½ tbsp of any clay you happen to have hanging around)1 tsp dried honey, or 2 tsp liquid honey
1½ tbsp rolled oats
1 tsp dried milk powder
1/16th tsp vitamin C powder (optional)1 drop lavender essential oil
1 drop helichrysum essential oil
3 drops South African chamomile essential oilBlend everything together in a coffee grinder.
To use, mix with warm water—add it slowly to ensure you don’t overdo it, as it’s easy to go from too stiff to too runny in an instant. Once you’ve got a texture that’s like cake frosting, spread it on your face. Let it dry for 15–25 minutes before rinsing off.
How do you like me so far?
I love your “face mask” pose. I also have an innately silly personality. This often surprises people until they get to know me better because I am naturally quiet, or more reserved I guess. BTW, even if you’re going to design your own website to sell your products, you might want to consider having an Etsy shop as well. I know a number of people who have an Etsy shop, and another website. This is because Etsy is a good place to make connections and get advice, it increases your visibility, it’s actually pretty cheap, and why the heck not?
I will also tell you about all of Health Canada’s annoying requirements when you start selling. You will also qualify for a small business discount through Canada Post. When I first heard about it I thought it would require providing all sorts of paperwork but all you need to provide is your Business name and address! It makes me wonder if someone applied with the business name Bobo’s House of Fun they’d get the discount…
Well, I figure if I’m going to photograph myself looking like I’ve got baby poo smeared all over my face, I might as well look like I’m having fun 😛
Ugh, Health Canada Regulations… yet another reason to just keep to developing recipes and letting people make things at home 😛
Thanks for the idea of the mask, I used this recipe to create a dry face wash and I absolutely love it. It keeps easily and I just add a little water when I’m ready to wash my face. Thanks for your blog!
How funny, Kate—I have a recipe for a facial scrub that’s quite similar to this mask recipe coming out soon 😛 Great minds think alike 😉
Have you ever added feverfew to this mask? When I made a similar mask, I found feverfew a nice addition to help reduce redness and puffiness especially for people with rosacea or lupus.
I haven’t! I’ve never even heard of it. Do you know where I can get some? I’d love to play with it, but none of my suppliers have it (unless it has another name?). Thanks for the tip!
Sorry. I sent the reply too quick. Feverfew tends to smell like nettle.
I will keep an eye out for it!
great idea cant wait to try it! How long does it last?
Before you add the water it’ll last ages, but after you add the water you should use it all up right away. If you can’t, it’ll probably keep for about two days in the fridge 🙂
Hi Marie, I really like your DIY ideas.
Regarding vitamin c powder, which one do you use exactly ? I mean I have seen vita c ascorbic powder, and few others like that. So please tell me which one do you use? Regards
Hi Krupa! I use this one 🙂