Winter is known as “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the dry air can really take a toll on our skin, leaving us feeling flaky, itchy, dry and irritated.

Sometimes even the best skin regimen including high-end moisturizers and serums cannot combat the harsh effects of the season. Although there is no escaping the cold during the season, there are steps we can take to survive the side effects.

Save your skin this season by trying these three rejuvenating DIY face masks!

3 DIY Face Masks

1. Hydrating Face Mask

Knowing the difference between hydrating and moisturizing is critical when trying to correctly treat your skin. Dehydrated skin is when your skin lacks water, and dry skin is when your skin lacks oils.

Most people experience dehydrated skin during the winter months due to the low humidity level. When the air outside has little to no moister, the water in your skin evaporates more quickly, resulting in dehydrated skin. When treating dehydrated skin, it is essential to use products and masks that have water-based ingredients to replenish the water that has evaporated. An extremely efficient hydrating DIY mask only includes two components, aloe vera gel & cucumbers. Aloe vera is a naturally hydrating and healing ingredient, while cucumbers are over 90% water!

Making the Mask:
Step 1: Cut half of a cucumber into slices
Step 2: Blend cucumber slices until watery
Step 3: Add 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
Step 4: Blend mixture until smooth

Once the mask is created, cover your entire face with a thin layer of the mix. Let the mask dry completely, about 30 minutes, before rinsing your face with cold water. Pat your skin dry and enjoy your hydrated skin!

2. diy Redness Reducing Face Mask

Dehydrated skin increases your skin’s sensitivity, meaning your skin might react differently. For example, if you use a facial cleanser during the winter, your skin might respond negatively, even if you used the same cleanser during the summer season and experienced nothing out of the ordinary.

A common side effect of sensitive skin is redness. Whether you use an acne wash that doesn’t agree with you, your skin is overly dry, or maybe you are windblown from a long day on the ski slopes, rosy cheeks and noses are everywhere this time of year!

An easy (and yummy) way to reduce your red skin is by using a breakfast inspired oatmeal and yogurt face mask. Oatmeal and yogurt are both great redness-reducing and anti-inflammatory agents. Also, plain yogurt can help balance the oils in your face, which can help calm our skin.

Making the mask:
Step 1: Make 1/3 cup of water-based oatmeal
Step 2: Let cool for 3 minutes
Step 3: Mix in 1 tablespoon of yogurt (add 1 tablespoon of honey for extra moisturizing!)

Apply your mask to clean skin and let dry for about 20 minutes. Once the mask has completely dried, rinse off with warm water. Splash cold water on your face once the mask is off to reduce redness even further and pat dry.

3. Exfoliating Scrub

Another winter skin characteristic is flakiness. Excessive dry skin, dehydrated skin, or reactions are all causes of flakiness. Hopefully, the use of our suggested aloe cucumber mask and oatmeal yogurt mask will prevent you from getting to the flaky skin stage this winter, but if these masks just aren’t enough, you’ll have to exfoliate!

Many household products are commonly made into facial scrubs such as sugar, sea salt, or oatmeal, but one of the best pantry items to use for exfoliating is baking soda. Baking soda has fine granules that actually break down even further as you scrub, which really helps get all those little flakes and dead skin cells that are on your face.

Making the Scrub:
Step 1: Add two pinches of baking soda to a mild cleanser
Step 2: Massage the scrub into your face in circular motion
Step 3: Continue scrubbing as you rinse your face with warm water

Once you have removed the scrub from your face, pat dry and enjoy your glowing, smooth skin!

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Lindsey Czajkowski works as a Design Coordinator at the Free People home office. Her interest in fashion influenced her move to Philadelphia, but the delicious food scene, diversity, and opportunity within Philly is what made Lindsey immerse herself in the city. You’re likely to find Lindsey at work in the Navy Yard in South Philly, out to eat around Northern Liberties, or shopping in Center City or in a park trying to pet a strangers dog. View all posts by Lindsey Czajkowski