Lots of things contribute to our breakouts. Stress, hormonal changes, diet, sleep deprivation (sounds about right for us college students…) There are tons of different face masks out there (and since it’s 2020, let me clarify, I don’t mean the COVID masks). Some claim they’ll clear your zits overnight, but they don’t come without a price. Today I want to share my favorite face mask that you can make yourself using ingredients that are all under $15.

Introducing the star of the show:

You can buy this tub of Indian Healing Clay at Target, Amazon, or other retailers, with prices depending on the size you choose. I’ve had this clay for almost a year…it will last you a while. Bentonite clay can help draw out impurities such as pores filled with excess oil, dirt, and/or makeup. When I have a big pimple that is painful and under-the skin, using this mask helps draw it out to a whitehead.

I eyeball how much liquid to add to make it the desired consistency, but I usually do half water and half apple cider vinegar.

Warning: If you don’t know already, apple cider vinegar smells really bad. If you can’t stand the smell, or have very sensitive skin, you can just mix the clay with plain water.

After you have mixed the apple cider vinegar and water with the clay to form a paste-like consistency, I like to add some natural aloe vera gel from my plant. You can also purchase aloe vera from the store in a bottle, but I recommend going with the most natural option possible.

Aloe Vera has calming, anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, and I find that my skin is less sensitive from the apple cider vinegar when I also include the aloe.

Here is the gross looking mixture…but trust me the results are worth it.

Spread the mixture on your skin (Aztec Indian Healing Clay tub recommends 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch thick) and don’t leave it on longer than 15-20 minutes. It doesn’t have to dry completely and crack to be effective, but as time passes, you will notice your face feeling tight. Listen to your body and rinse it off within the first 10 minutes to see how your skin reacts, and if it’s not too red or uncomfortable, leave it on for a couple of extra minutes the next time.

To remove the mask, I use warm water and a wash cloth, and tone my face with organic rose water on a cotton pad afterwards.

I try to use this mask once a week, and I think that it’s helped keep some of my severe breakouts under control. I hope that it helps you too!