If you have oily skin, you're not alone: It can be frustrating when excess oil leaves you with a greasy, shiny face just a couple of hours after your morning routine—or when said sebum builds up and causes breakouts. This can be worst in warm weather, when humidity makes everything oilier and stickier than before, yet that same heat has us wanting to gravitate towards minimal makeup routines. The good news is there are ways to nix greasiness and bring your skin into balance, and some of them involve ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen. Keep reading to see 10 DIY face masks for oily skin, so you can get your glow on at home.
Meet the Expert
- Troy Pittman, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Washington, D.C.
- Kimberly Gallo is a clinical esthetician and the founder of Kim Gallo Aesthetics in Naples, Fl.
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Watch Now: 3 DIY Masks to Target an Oily T-Zone
What Oily Skin Needs from a DIY Face Mask
While oily skin can be frustrating at times when it leads to greasiness and breakouts, this doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your complexion. "Though having oily skin might be annoying at times, it is not always a terrible thing," Gallo tells us. "Sebum is created to maintain healthy and hydrated skin, aiding in the formation of a stronger barrier for immunological function."
The key to a good DIY face mask regimen for oily skin types is choosing ingredients that decrease excess sebum without drying you out—and gently hydrate without clogging your pores. It's a careful balance, but some ingredients you'll see a lot here are calming aloe and cucumber, moisturizing and antibacterial honey, and astringent, brightening lemon. By mixing ingredients like these with other nourishing, toning, and balancing agents—paying attention to what your skin needs that day—you'll find these mixtures can work wonders with gentle and consistent use.
Aloe Face Mask
Why it works: Aloe vera is a skin-saving all-star that boasts incredible antimicrobial and reparative properties, but did you know that the plant can also aid in oil absorption? Paired with skin-soothing cucumbers (which are high in vitamins A and E), the gently exfoliating, oil-absorbing lactic acid found in plain yogurt, and the moisturizing and declogging properties of honey, the powers of aloe reach an oil-fighting high.
What you'll need:
- An aloe leaf or store-bought aloe vera gel
- A cucumber, sliced
- Honey
- Plain yogurt
How to make it:
- Extract the gel from an aloe leaf (a store-bought gel works, too).
- Blend the aloe vera gel with a handful of sliced cucumbers. Next, add equal parts honey and yogurt (about one tablespoon of each works)
- Apply the mixture to your face just after washing it.
- Veg out (pun intended) and relax for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Usage: Use this mask every other night. For especially oily skin, try a more concentrated version with just the honey and aloe. Let the paste sit on your skin for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Byrdie Tip
For an extra cooling effect, refrigerate your mask before you use it—especially if it contains a naturally cooling ingredient like cucumber or aloe vera.
Cucumber Face Mask
Why it works: Cucumbers are heroic when it comes to soothing skin—they’re incredibly cooling and also an oil-busting astringent, so there’s a reason they’re seen on eyes as much as salads. Combine this with egg whites, which tone and tighten skin thanks to vitamin A, and lemon juice, which acts as a gentle toner and pH balancer with citric acid, and you have a concoction that's ready to fight your oiliest days without drying out or irritating your complexion.
What you'll need:
- One cucumber
- One egg white
- Lemon juice
- Freshly chopped mint
How to make it:
- Thoroughly wash your cucumber, then puree half of it together with one egg white, as well as one teaspoon each of lemon juice and freshly chopped mint.
- Apply the mixture to your face, relax, and enjoy the spa-like scent for up to 20 minutes as the DIY face mask goes to work.
- Rinse off with warm water, followed by a douse of cold water.
Usage: Start by applying this mask once per week—you can expand up to three times per week based on your skin's tolerance. Try refrigerating the pureed mixture for 10 to 15 minutes before application for a seriously cooling, extra-indulgent treat.
Apple Face Mask
Why it works: Fruits have countless skin-loving acids, vitamins, minerals, and oils—and apples are one of the best options to use on an oily complexion. Chock-full of AHAs (including glycolic acid, which is found in many pricey, store-bought acne fighters), the fruit gently exfoliates and thoroughly cleans out the clogged pores responsible for oily summer skin. If you combine that with bacteria-killing honey, your excess sebum won't stand a chance. Craving another apple option? Swap out the honey for plain Greek yogurt and lemon juice.
What you'll need:
- One medium apple
- Raw honey
How to make it:
- Puree one-half of a clean, medium-sized apple—make sure to remove any seeds first so the mixture isn't abrasive.
- Then, combine one tablespoon of raw (preferably organic) honey. Stir well.
- Evenly apply the mask to your face, and let it sit until the mixture has completely dried (usually between 10 and 15 minutes).
- Wash off with warm water, and pat dry.
Usage: Start by using this mask once per week, and expand to three times per week based on your skin's tolerance.
Oatmeal Face Mask
Why it works: Oatmeal masks offer a range of benefits for the skin, says board-certified plastic surgeon Troy Pittman, MD. "Oatmeal is a great ingredient that can soak up excess oil and help treat acne," he explains. "It also calms inflamed skin, contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help get rid of dead skin cells, and leaves your complexion bright and smooth."
What you'll need:
- Half to one cup of oatmeal
- Water
- Honey
How to make it:
- Pittman says to combine half a cup or one full cup of oatmeal with warm water to form a paste.
- "Then, stir one tablespoon of honey into the paste," Pittman tells us.
- Massage the mixture onto your face for about three minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
Usage: Whenever you're dealing with breakouts, start by using this mixture every other day, then continue or build as necessary.
Honey Face Mask
Why it works: "Honey is an excellent ingredient for oily skin because it helps moisturize the skin without making skin oily, clears pores, reduces excess oil, and has natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties that may benefit acne-prone skin," Pittman says. "Honey also has antioxidant benefits, protects the skin from harmful effects of free radicals, nourishes the skin from within, and can balance the skin's pH level."
What you'll need
- Just honey!
How to make it: "You can spread a thin layer of honey on your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water," Pittman says.
Usage: This mask is gentle enough for everyday use, so feel free to make it part of your routine or incorporate it as needed.
Baking Soda Face Mask
Why it works: "Baking soda contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities that aid in the treatment of greasy skin," says clinical esthetician Kimberly Gallo. "It is a natural, gentle abrasive that will gently exfoliate your skin while absorbing excess oil and impurities."
What you'll need:
- Baking soda
- Water
How to make it:
- "Form a fine paste by mixing one tablespoon baking soda with two to three tablespoons of water," says Gallo.
- "After it has dried, apply this paste to your face and wash it off after a couple of minutes."
Usage: "Baking soda can irritate your skin and dry it out, so start at a couple of minutes and build up if needed," Gallo tells us. "Do this up to three times a week, with a day off in between. It's all right if you want to use your regular face wash in between those days, but I don't advise it: Your face might benefit from some downtime to recuperate and figure out what it really wants."
Coffee and Honey Scrub
Why it works: "Honey has been used as a skincare treatment for centuries," Gallo notes. And its powers reach an invigorating new level with coffee: "This delightful scrub is an excellent exfoliant that is especially beneficial for oily skin."
What you'll need:
- Coffee grounds
- Honey
How to make it:
- "To make a scrub, combine coffee [grounds] and honey in a bowl, about a tablespoon of each," Gallo says.
- "Apply this scrub all over your face and gently massage in circular movements for two to three minutes. Wash it off with warm water when it has dried."
Usage: This scrub is gentle enough for everyday use.
Lemon Juice Face Mask
Why it works: "Lemon juice brightens your skin quickly, and its citric acid acts as an astringent, toning and controlling greasy skin," Gallo says. "Lemons have antimicrobial characteristics, making them an excellent choice for oily skin treatment."
What you'll need:
- Lemon juice
- Distilled water
How to make it:
- "Use a cotton ball to apply a combination of one teaspoon lemon juice and one-half teaspoon distilled water to your skin," Gallo says.
- Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.
Usage: You'll want to be more sparing with lemon juice. According to Gallo, "This has the potential to be drying, so apply it just once or twice a week or during acne flare-ups."
Banana and Honey Face Mask
Why it works: "Honey is a natural humectant, which means it keeps your skin moist but not greasy," says Gallo. "This is due to the fact that humectants absorb moisture from the skin and do not replenish it." Together with bananas, you have an ultra-nourishing face mask that rejuvenates your complexion without clogging your pores.
What you'll need:
- One ripe banana
- Honey
How to make it:
- Mash one ripe banana in a bowl, and incorporate two teaspoons of honey, forming a paste.
- Apply the mixture to your skin and leave for 10-15 minutes before washing it off.
Usage: Apply this mask two or three times a week, as oily skin persists. This may be a good hydrating option to alternate with one of the more exfoliation-focused DIY face masks.
Balanced Face Mask
Why it works: Aloe and honey are both soothing and antimicrobial, but they won't strip the skin of all of its oils—which is a good thing. Lemon aids the skin with its astringent properties, and by mixing it with gentle aloe vera and honey, it's easier to get some of the benefits without drying out your skin.
What you'll need:
- Honey
- Aloe vera leaf or gel
- Lemon juice
How to make it:
- Mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon aloe vera and one teaspoon lemon juice, then slather it all over the skin.
- Leave the mixture on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Usage: This DIY face mask is gentle enough for everyday use. But as with any homemade treatment, Gallo advises: "If a homemade recipe worsens your symptoms, discontinue use and consult your doctor or a dermatologist. If your oily skin symptoms, such as acne, are severe, you should seek medical attention since they can lead to infection or scarring."
Oatmeal Is a Natural Savior for Dry Skin, According to Dermatologists
