Masks are one of the easiest-to-make and most satisfying at-home facial treatments. There's nothing quite like smearing clay all over your face and neck and kicking back with a good book or your favourite show while you wait for the clay to dry, tightening your skin and sucking impurities from your pores in the process.

Try one of these simple masks from a couple of our favourite books and enjoy half an hour of super-satisfying self care!

Basic Recipe

Mix 1 tbsp white clay with enough cream (for dry skin), milk (for normal skin) or water (for oily skin) to form a smooth, spreadable paste. Spread on face, neck and décolleté (if desired), and allow to dry completely for 20-30 minutes. Rinse.

From Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles

Ready-for-Action Mask: Basic Recipe & Variations

Basic Recipe

• 2 oz green clay
• 3 tsp cornflour

Mix together and keep in a jar, ready for combining in one of the formulas below. Or, use 1 tbsp of this mixture to enough of the liquid ingredients below to form a paste, and add your chosen essential oils to this.

With any of the following formulas, blend the ingredients together to form a smooth paste and leave on the skin for 15 minutes. Rinse off and apply a facial treatment oil. Dab the face with a tissue.

Normal Skin

• 1 tbsp Basic Mask
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp water
• 1 drop geranium essential oil

Dry Skin

• 1 tbsp Basic Mask
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp sweet almond oil or evening primrose oil
• 2 drops carrot oil
• 2 tsp water
• Combine and use 1 drop:
  • 1 drop chamomile essential oil
  • 1 drop rose essential oil

Oily Skin

• 1 tbsp Basic Mask
• 1 tbsp brewer’s yeast
• 1 tbsp water
• Combine and use 1 drop:
  • 1 drop rosemary essential oil
  • 1 drop lavender essential oil

Revitalizing Mask for Dehydrated Skin

• 1 tbsp Basic Mask
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp brewer’s yeast
• 1 tsp jojoba oil
• 1 tbsp water
• Combine and use 1 drop:
  • 1 drop chamomile essential oil
  • 2 drops carrot essential oil

Acne

• 1 tbsp Basic Mask
• 1 tsp water
• Combine and use 1 drop:
  • 1 drop chamomile essential oil
  • 1 drop lavender essential oil
  • 1 drop juniper essential oil
  • 1 drop patchouli essential oil

Substitute an appropriate hydrosol for water in any of these recipes.

Adapted from The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood