As the weather cools down in Hong Kong, don’t let the dry air wreak havoc on your skin. Sure, there are plenty of beauty products out there that can soothe and hydrate, but the chemicals in many of them can further irritate your skin.

There’s definitely a better way – make your own beauty products at home using ingredients you already have! We’ve rounded up eight DIY recipes for you to get the glowing winter skin of your dreams.

1.

Banana Face Mask

This mask is the trifecta of goodness: bananas help to keep skin hydrated and moisturised thanks to Vitamin A that also reduces rough skin texture, milk contains lactic acid that cleanses skin and removes inflammation-causing surface bacteria that can cause acne, while raw honey is basically Nature’s healer, balancing acne-causing bacteria, speeding up skin cells’ healing processes and naturally exfoliating skin. Win-win-win!

Ingredients 

• 1 ripe banana, mashed up
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl to form a creamy blend. Be careful to use the correct amount of milk so the mixture doesn’t get too thin and watery!
2. Apply the blend on your face and neck and leave it for 20 and 25 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

2.

Green Tea & Yoghurt Face Mask

Plain yoghurt moisturises and hydrates your skin, plus it’s anti-inflammatory. Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to reduce skin irritation, redness and swelling. Meanwhile, the apple cider vinegar exfoliates, absorbs excess oils and clears pores. 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons yoghurt
• 1.5 tablespoons oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Strongly-brewed green tea (brewed for two minutes)

Instructions

1. Pour apple cider vinegar into a mixing bowl.
2. Add oatmeal to the bowl.
3. Stir the mixture until the vinegar coats all the oatmeal.
4. Add the yoghurt, mixing well and then let sit for two minutes.
5. Drizzle in honey and mix until evenly distributed.
6. Add green tea and stir mixture until it forms a paste.
7. Apply the paste to your face and neck and leave for 15 minutes. Remove with lukewarm water and a soft washcloth. 

3.

Coffee Face Mask

Coffee is a wonder ingredient, both brewed in a cup and put on the skin – it’s a great source of antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties. It also brightens your complexion and minimises dark circles and puffiness. Applied in a circular motion, the caffeine also stimulates blood flow that can help fade facial marks. 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of coffee powder
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 2 teaspoons of milk

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients to form a smooth paste. Apply it on your face and neck and leave it on for 20 to 25 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.

4.

Fruit Enzyme Cleanser/ Exfoliant

Fruit enzymes are fantastic for the winter: they’re natural alpha-hydroxy acids which gently exfoliate the skin. Pineapple is a great option – it contains bromelain which is known to be anti-inflammatory. It also contains high levels of Vitamin A, B1, B6 and C. 

Ingredients

• ¼ cup pineapple, blended
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ¼ cup cane sugar

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Massage the mixture into damp skin and let it sit for five minutes. Rinse well with warm water, then cool, and pat your skin dry.

5.

Avocado Mask

Forget toast – avocado face masks are the real delight. Avocados nourish, soften and hydrate the skin, which can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and boost skin’s immunity against stress and other environmental factors. It also contains vitamins E and C to protect cells from free radical damage, and they also promote skin elasticity. 

Ingredients

• ½ avocado 
• 2 tablespoons yoghurt
• 1.5 tablespoons oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

1. Simply mix the ingredients into a mixture and apply to the face and neck, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes and rinsing off with lukewarm water.

6.

Milk Compress

As mentioned, milk has anti-inflammatory properties, making for an effective cleanser. Milk compresses offer great relief for irritated, itchy skin. It’s super simple to make, too: simply soak a clean cloth in a bowl of cool milk and hold it over any dry areas for five to 10 minutes at a time.

7.

Oatmeal & Honey Mask 

We know honey is amazing, but so is oatmeal, which makes a great gentle exfoliator. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoon oats
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• Dash of water 

Instructions

1. Mix the ingredients into a smooth mixture.
2. Warm up the mixture (lukewarm!)
3. Apply it to your skin. You can use it just to exfoliate and wash it off right away, or leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes as a mask.

8.

Olive Oil Facial Cleanser

As expected, olive oil is wonderfully hydrating and helps to repair damaged skin tissue. To use as your first cleanse, simply rub the oil into your skin and place a warm, damp cloth over your face until it cools.

Sign up for the 8Shades weekly newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox!

See also: Go Natural: Eco-Friendly Deodorants That Actually Work