Homemade Turmeric Face Masks

Turmeric is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used for hundreds of years in natural beauty treatments and for fighting various skin problems. Today, it is one of the principal components in many commercial skin products. Turmeric is also one of those ingredients that you can take out from your kitchen any time and use in a natural homemade face mask for bright, unblemished skin.

It is good for all skin types as it acts as an anti-aging remedy, helping to get rid of wrinkles, dark circles, dark spots, and stretch marks. Its natural antibiotic properties also make it beneficial for psoriasis, eczema and cystic acne.

DIY Turmeric Face Masks for Acne and Scars

1. Turmeric, Honey and Milk

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon turmeric (powder or ground), 1 teaspoon organic honey, 1 teaspoon milk (or natural yoghurt)

Application: Put turmeric and honey in a bowl and add milk to make a firm paste (that does not drip and stain your clothes). The amount of milk you add may be adjusted to get the right consistency. Evenly apply on the face, including under the eyes. Let it dry for around 20 minutes and then rinse off with cool water. Pat dry your face. Any leftover mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

Tips: For those with dry skin, you can replace honey with a spoonful of olive oil. For a vegan turmeric face mask, use lemon juice instead of milk.

If you want to get rid of persistent acne scars, you can use a tablespoon of neem (margosa) leaf paste instead of milk. Add a spoonful of sandalwood powder for oily skin or one teaspoon sandalwood oil for dry skin. After application, wash off the mask with lukewarm water.

2. Turmeric and Bentonite Clay

Ingredients: 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 2 teaspoons bentonite clay, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Application: Mix the ingredients with a plastic or wooden spoon (avoid using metal). Apply on face (leaving out the areas under the eyes), wait for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off gently using a soft, wet washcloth. The mask may leave your face a little red, but the redness goes away within an hour. You can use this mask once every week for better results.

Homemade Turmeric mask for Skin Lightening

1. Turmeric, Garlic and Honey

Ingredients: 6 garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

Application: Peel and smash the garlic and mix with honey and turmeric in a clean bowl. Apply on face and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 minutes. Feeling a mild burning sensation is normal as the mask contains garlic and turmeric.

Garlic’s antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, combined with the turmeric, contribute to even-toned, soft and glowing skin.

Tips: If you don’t want to use garlic, you can use a tablespoon of gram flour and yoghurt each to form a skin toning mask. Make sure to add just 1 teaspoon of honey if you are using yoghurt, or you can add an extra spoon of honey along with water (as required) if making without yoghurt.

You can also add some oatmeal instead of gram flour to get a nice moisturizing effect.

2. Turmeric, Milk and Tomato

Ingredients: A pinch of ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon rice powder, 1 teaspoon raw milk, 1 teaspoon tomato juice

Application: Mix all the ingredients to make a pack, apply evenly on face and neck and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water for soft, brightened skin.

Tips: For oily skin, you can replace the rice powder with sandalwood powder. Vegans can add more tomato juice to avoid milk. Orange juice can be a substitute for tomato in this one.

How to Make a Turmeric mask for Facial Hair Removal

Ingredients: A pinch of kasturi turmeric, 1 teaspoon chickpea flour, Milk or water

Application: Mix kasturi turmeric (you can also use regular ground turmeric) and chickpea flour with milk or water, apply on face and wait for 15-20 minutes before washing off with cool or lukewarm water. Use the mask regularly to reduce the growth of facial hair.

Turmeric, Egg and Olive Oil for a Moisturizing Mask

Ingredients: A pinch of turmeric, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Application: Mix egg yolk, turmeric and olive oil and apply to your face with a brush. Keep it on for 20 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water. This face mask is excellent for dry skin as egg helps in skin repairing while olive oil hydrates the skin.

Turmeric, Green Tea and Lemon Juice for Eczema

Ingredients: A pinch of turmeric, 2 tablespoon of cooled green tea, 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Application: Mix the ingredients and apply to the face using a clean cotton ball. Let it dry and apply again. Keep doing this until you have applied all of the mixture you made. Wait for another 10 minutes and wash your face with cool water. This is an effective remedy for eczema while it also reduces dark spots, and sunburn.

Other Simple Ways for Applying Turmeric to the Face

• The simplest way to get the benefits of turmeric for your skin is to mix a bit of turmeric powder with water and apply the paste on your face. This can be used for all skin types, including combination and sensitive skin.
• Add a pinch of turmeric to a spoonful of buttermilk and apply around your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes to get rid of dark circles.
• Peel and smash some fresh turmeric root to make a paste and apply on acne prone areas.
• You can mix some turmeric (powder or paste) with some coconut oil and apply on face for keeping your skin healthy every day.
• A turmeric-cucumber juice paste can be used for melasma during pregnancy.
• You can also mix 1 egg white with a pinch of turmeric and a tablespoonful orange juice to make a skin brightening pack for oily skin.

Tips to Avoid Staining

Mixing the turmeric with other ingredients like gram flour, oatmeal, and sandal helps to dilute the turmeric, keeping it from staining your skin. Moreover, applying a thin layer of the mask can also help.

Try not to wear your favorite clothes or use your best linens when you are applying the mask.

If you experience skin irritations due to an allergy to turmeric or any other ingredients in a mask, wash it off immediately with cold water.