Turmeric Face Mask: Benefits, Recipes + Methods

Ruby T

Nov 21, 2022 • 6 min read

You may or may not have heard of the beneficial powers of turmeric. It's of course used in food, but it's also been known to Ayurvedic medicine as a healing spice for ages and recently has become popular to use as a supplement and for other healing uses.

In this article we're going to go into the many different ways it can benefit your skin including for acne, dark spots or even for bruises and wounds. Enjoy.

What is turmeric?

It’s the bright yellow spice generally used in Indian cuisines, but has a lot of healing powers. It’s an antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and there is so much more beneficial properties it has to offer. Curcumin is found in turmeric and is what causes it to be orangish yellow and what gives it its healing properties.

Not only can you put it on your skin as a mask or scrub, but t’s also taken as a supplement and there are also many tonics or drinks people consume for it’s benefits such as the anti-inflammatory “Golden Milk” turmeric tea.

Below I share the top benefits of using turmeric as a beauty product on the skin, but it’s also been shown to help with joint pain, stomach aches, cold, allergies, vertigo and even for those who suffer from hormone imbalances - and so much more!

You will also find some turmeric face mask recipes in this article and how to make turmeric paste for spot treatments or simple things like bug bites.

Enjoy.

diy turmeric face mask, woman putting on face mask — image credit: @sunandearthaus

Benefits of turmeric on the skin?

1. Helps reduce dark spots (hyperpigmentation) on skin and even out skin tones: see below for how to make turmeric paste - turmeric for dark spots is a popular at home remedy that even I have had success with personally. Does turmeric and lemon remove dark spots? This is the recipe I've used, see it below.

2. Helps reduce dark circles under your eyes: apply turmeric paste or mask under eyes, be careful not to get into eyes. (See recipes below for diy turmeric face mask or see below for how to make turmeric paste for just using under the eyes)

3. You can use it to treat acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the spread of bacteria: see mask recipes below or see below for how to make turmeric paste for spot treatments.

4. Helps reduce redness or swelling caused by acne & blemishes: see mask recipes below.

5. Helps boost collagen production which helps with premature aging: see mask recipes below.

6. Has been shown to help with eczema and psoriasis: see mask and paste recipes below.

7. Helps with insect bites such as mosquito bites: it can help soothe the itching that comes from an insect bite and the strong smell might deter insects from coming near you. See below for how to make turmeric paste which you can apply to insect bites.

8. Helps heal bruises: make a turmeric paste with either 6 drops of water or yogurt and 1/4 tsp of turmeric and apply to bruise or wound.

9. Might be helpful for treatment of boils: see below for how to make turmeric paste and apply to the boil twice daily and leave on for at least 10 min. It can help drain the pus from your boil. If your condition worsens, seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

make your own turmeric face mask - diy facial — image credit: @sunandearthaus

Turmeric Face Mask diy Recipes

Aloe Turmeric Face Mask

1 tsp aloe vera gel
1/8 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

Mix and apply to your face, leave on for 10-20 minutes and remove with warm water. If you need more mask, double or triple the recipe.

Honey Lemon Turmeric Face Mask

1 tsp honey
3 drops of lemon juice
1/8 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

Mix and apply this turmeric and lemon mask to your face, leave on for 10-20 minutes and remove with warm water. If you need more mask, double or triple the recipe.NOTE: If you find your skin is ultra sensitive you might want to skip the lemon because of the acidity of the lemon might irritate your skin.

Yogurt Turmeric Face Mask

1 tsp yogurt
1/8 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

Mix and apply to your face, leave on for 10-20 minutes and remove with warm water. If you need more mask, double or triple the recipe.

Banana and Turmeric Mask

1/2 ripe banana
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tsp honey
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

Mash the banana as best as you can, then add honey and turmeric (and cinnamon if using), mix well. Apply to face, leave this banana and turmeric face mask on for at least 20 minutes and then wash away.

How to make Turmeric Paste (simple recipe)

1 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp ground oats
enough water to make a paste

Mix and you have a simple paste you can apply to your face. This paste is good for skin issues such as bruises, dark circles under your eyes or spot treatments. You can also use this as an exfoliating recipe because of the ground oats, scrub it on your face for a couple of minutes, then leave on for 10-20 minutes and wash off with warm water. Double or triple this recipe if you need more. You can also add yogurt in place of the water. You can also store this in your fridge for a few days if you make too much and want to use it in a couple of days again.

turmeric face mask, before and after — image credit: @love_balance_wellness

Tips for getting the most out of your Turmeric Face Mask:

ALWAYS do a spot test before putting over your whole face just in case. You wouldn’t want to have a bad reaction and not have tested it. For best results, wait 24 hours until you apply to your full face.
ALWAYS apply a facial moisturizer after removing your face mask. Dry your face and apply.
Because of the bright color of turmeric you might find your face will be stained a little (and your clothes and sink might get stained as well) after washing away your turmeric face mask or turmeric paste. You can always wash your face after removing the mask. I sometimes wash it twice and it seems to help, but always moisturize after. Another option is using less turmeric when making your face mask.
If you have health issues such as stomach ulcers, hyperacidity, gallstones, or bile duct obstructions, you might want to talk to your doctor about using turmeric for it’s healing properties and wether or not it’s good for your ailments.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, there has been links to infertility and turmeric and you probably should avoid using turmeric supplements while trying to conceive. I think applying it to your skin should be fine, but ingesting it might get in the way of fertility.

How often to use turmeric face mask?

If you use it daily, it might stain your skin. Therefore try to only do it every few days at minimum.

Will turmeric face mask stain face?

Yes, it could definitely stain your face, especially if you're doing a turmeric mask daily. Try to only do it 2-3 times a week and you can always wash your face after removing the mask. Sometimes I even wash with face soap twice and I've found that helpful.

Cons of using a turmeric face mask

You might have a skin reaction if you have sensitive skin. Your skin also might get stained from the yellow spice. You might also stain your sink or shower from washing it off. The stain will fade eventually and can also be washed away using a gentle face soap.

diy turmeric face mask, how it can help your skin — image credit: @trabeauli

CONCLUSION

We hope you've found this article helpful in deciding if turmeric facial is for you. The benefits of turmeric for your skin and how to use it on your skin for its healing properties were all here in this article to help you on your way to healing your skin issues on your own in your own home. There are so many benefits of turmeric and even if you're only consuming it in your food, you will still reap the rewards it has to offer.

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