Growing up, my mom would make a miracle-working homemade face mask for a special treat self-care ritual. This was before the phrase “self care” was used, so we used to call the ritual “spa night” where we’d wear our coziest PJs, give ourselves a pedicure, and finish with this delicious facial. When I say delicious, it’s true - this facial because it was good enough to eat! I just made a batch and, well, update - I can confirm it is still amazing. This is a simple concoction that I always swore my mom could bottle up and sell. It would always make my face feel somehow brighter, balanced, and freshly scrubbed.

My skin has not been in the best shape for the last 2+ weeks or so, and I can tell it’s all correlated…I haven’t been exercising as much, I have been really busy, and I haven’t been as disciplined with healthy eating. So I decided to do a total skin CLEANSE by being very intentional…not touching my face, eating better, drinking lots of water, getting good sleep, etc. It really is all connected! To give myself one little extra boost, I made my own twist on my mom’s famous homemade face mask.

My Mom’s Famous Homemade Buttermilk Oat Face Mask

First let me say that my measurements are ALWAYS off. I feel like it’s easy to mess up, but it is so forgiving that it doesn’t really matter. I would say that all ingredients should go in even parts, and 1-2 tablespoons is a good place to start.

Buttermilk
Rolled oats (or fancy McCann’s oats - I opted for these because they are nonGMO and just superior quality)
Honey (mine sourced locally from Hollow House Farm) - local is best!

In a jar or bowl, gently stir buttermilk and honey. With your oats, try to crush them as much as possible (perhaps with a mortar and pestle) and then add them in. We would microwave our buttermilk face mask to the point where it was warm (30 seconds). The consistency of the mask should feel like thick frosting! Apply on with a spoon or your fingers, dabbing gently and avoiding the eyes. It’s a little sticky, so try to pull your hair back beforehand.

I always add too much buttermilk and then just end up storing it in the refrigerator. The oats do a great job of soaking up the buttermilk, and the honey helps it all adhere together. It’s a great little recipe. I find that my face is a bit calmer and refreshed after wearing the mask. The honey feels like it strips away all impurities and dirt, and the buttermilk might be the most important ingredient of all: it does SO MUCH! Buttermilk has lactic acid which sloughs off dead skin cells - it leaves your skin so soft. It also has been said to lighten dark spots and overall promote a brighter, more even skin tone.

This mask is a GREAT way to reset your skin and give it a little hydrating treat in the winter. It’s a great and inexpensive way to throw a girl’s night, spa night, or post-shower treatment. It’s so good - and if you’re like me, I bet you’ll try to lick some of it off your face!