We tested out the DIY face masks of our dreams (spoiler: there’s chocolate and red wine involved)

Date September 23, 2014

Putting food on our faces isn’t entirely new. Nearly every beauty product now boasts about some natural ‘miracle’ ingredient. But can putting the raw ingredients directly onto skin have the same effect, or at the least a positive one? I investigated by trying three at-home DIYs using pantry and grocery store ingredients.

1. Potato Mask
Recipe:
– 2 slices of uncooked potato

My first thought was that I was about to smear cold mashed spuds all over my face and watch chunks of it fall off like some kind of horror movie monster, leaving tiny bits of potatoes all over the kitchen and washroom. However, this promising recipe simply called for uncooked slices used as an eye mask in the same vein as cucumber slices. In a moment of inspiration, I cut an extra slice to use as a lip mask. Though I did look like a weird version of Mrs. Potato head, the slices felt cooling and did manage to make me look slightly more refreshed, though that could possibly have been the 20 minute rest I took. Less “wet” than cucumber, potato seems an odd choice, but it felt soothing and though maybe a placebo effect, I really enjoyed how well rested I looked and felt afterwards. It’s super easy and hassle-free. I’m a fan and will try it again.

2. Red Wine Mask
Recipe:
– 2 tablespoons of wine
– 10 grapes

My notes for this mask read: “Wine is fun!” and no doubt, it is. The best part of it is that it only takes two tablespoons of red so the rest is all yours to sip (for your health, of course). The antioxidants in wine and grapes are restorative and helpful for preventing sun damage and wrinkles. Blended into a kind of frothy liquid, simply smooth it over your face and neck and let sit for 5 minutes.

It was so liquidy that a simple swipe with a cotton pad was all it took, and was more of a toner than a mask. There was a slight tingling sensation for the final 2 minutes, and my skin felt a little tightening. Though it smells pretty boozy, and felt a little awkward, it did make my skin feel super soft right after rinsing. The recipe made a lot of mask and so I saved the rest and used it on my body the following day pre-shower to pretty impressive (read: smooth) results, though I’m not sure if I’d ever make this again. It felt weird.

3. Chocolate Face Mask
Recipe:
-1/3 cup of cocoa
-3 tablespoons heavy cream
-1/4 cup of honey
-2 tablespoons oatmeal
-2 tablespoons of milk

I once made a version of this mask for a video shoot and the remaining product ended up on the snacks table and was shortly devoured by one of the crew members who assumed it was chocolate pudding. Though I didn’t go that route, it is a delicious and fun mask that is better when shared. It’s perfect for a girl’s night in.

Simply mix the ingredients together, except for the milk, which is used after the mask is rinsed off. You can grind the oatmeal down into a powder (which I didn’t do but I definitely recommend). This recipe was pretty messy, so a couple of towels on hand are a must. The sticky honey texture made it feel like I’d smeared icing all over my face and it smells delightfully like chocolate cake. Rinsing was less of a treat, as the cocoa powder basically dyed my face, giving me a splotchy bronzed look, and I needed a good sponging to get rid of it all. I then followed up with the milk on a cotton pad as toner which also helped to remove the remaining residue. My skin was softer to the touch after the mask, though it was hard to tell if the cocoa actually did anything. I imagine most of the softness came from the honey or the oatmeal.

The recipe made so much that I saved the remainder and used it as a body mask pre-shower the following day. I suggest doing the same or to half it and buddy up.

Overall, it’s a fun mask to do, albeit messy and I actually preferred it as a body mask. I’d try it again for a girl’s night with a pal because it’s pretty fun, but on my own I’d try something else.