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DIY Turmeric Face Mask for Glowing Skin

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

June 4, 2021

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One of my favorite DIY skin masks is made using benefit-rich turmeric. Turmeric has been all the craze for dietary reasons but did you also know that it can also help your skin?

Turmeric, traditionally known as Indian saffron because of its deep yellow-orange color, has been used throughout history as a condiment and textile dye. Turmeric also provides amazing healing benefits, not just inside the body, but for your skin. Indian brides have long used turmeric body scrubs and face masks to purify and cleanse their bodies as well as provide a healthy glow by brightening their skin right before their weddings.

Are you wondering, how can I use turmeric for glowing skin? This turmeric and honey face mask is definitely one option, and it’s a really good one.

Turmeric, a herb used as a main ingredient in curry, can benefit your skin as a home remedy for acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, dark spots, and wrinkles. How often should you use a turmeric mask? I recommend using this turmeric face mask recipe at least once a week, but twice a week can really speed up results.

Benefits

In general, turmeric has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties so it’s no wonder that research has shown it can have such therapeutic benefits on the skin.

This is a perfect turmeric face mask for acne, and it’s also an ideal turmeric face mask for acne scars. Given turmeric’s ability to help reduce inflammation and provide skin boosting antioxidants, it can help to clear up breakouts and reduce those reminders of past pimples.

Using turmeric topically may also help to reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone, which means this is a perfect face mask for dark spots in addition to acne scars. (This is why you might have heard of people using a turmeric face mask to lighten skin.)

What makes turmeric work so well? Turmeric has shown significant anti-inflammatory activity because of its volatile oil and its yellowish orange pigment, which is called curcumin. Curcumin, a phytonutrient, contains anti-inflammatory abilities that have been shown to be comparable to many drugs on the market today, but unlike drugs, curcumin produces no toxicity.

This is a honey lemon turmeric face mask so you also get the moisturizing and antibacterial benefits of raw honey plus the brightening effects of vitamin C-rich lemon juice or lemon essential oil (depending on which one you choose to use).

This mask also provides the probiotic benefits of yogurt. Yogurt (or milk) also contains lactic acid while apple cider vinegar contains malic acid. Both acids are commonly used in skincare products for their highly effective exfoliation abilities.

Is turmeric face mask hair removal really a thing? Turmeric has traditionally been used in India to remove unwanted hair and to inhibit hair growth. Some sources say it may help to reduce fine hairs, but I wouldn’t expect any difference in areas of obvious or thicker unwanted hairs.

How to Make

There are a lot of different turmeric face mask recipes, but this one definitely includes some of the top skin boosting ingredients. Along with turmeric powder, you’ll be combining apple cider vinegar, yogurt or milk (opt for full-fat versions to up the moisturizing abilities of this mask), honey and lemon oil or juice.

This mask is just so easy to make and use! Mix all of the ingredients together to form a paste and apply it to clean skin. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes.

In case you’re wondering, can I use turmeric on my face every day? I wouldn’t recommend a turmeric face mask everyday, but some people like to use it for several days in a row to track turmeric face mask benefits with back-to-back daily usage. I recommend using this DIY turmeric face mask twice a week for best results.

With consistency, this all-natural turmeric powder face mask will have your skin glowing so don’t be surprised if people start noticing the improvements in your skin!

Precautions

This turmeric face mask is very easy to make right at home with just a few ingredients. However, it is important to note that some people have reported allergic reactions to turmeric after skin exposure.

I recommend testing turmeric powder mixed with a little water (enough to make a paste) on a small area of your skin first to see if you have a reaction. Of course, if you already know that you’re allergic to turmeric than avoid using it on your skin.

Have you tried a turmeric mask and experienced yellowing of your skin before? It’s normal for turmeric to stain the skin yellow temporarily. If this occurs from performing the patch test above or from using the face mask, don’t be alarmed. There is an answer to this question: How do I get rid of turmeric stain from my face? Simply use your normal face wash or if that doesn’t work, wiping the discolored area with jojoba oil (or another skincare oil of your choice) should do the trick.

Be careful not to get this mask on your clothing as well, since it may stain.