10 Simple DIY Mud Masks For Beautiful Skin

We’re all familiar with mud masks—we’ve heard about them from friends, and maybe even tried one at a spa. What you might not know is that you can make an amazing mud mask right at home!

It might sound daunting, but making a homemade mud mask is actually super easy. So don’t be afraid to try! In this post, the beauty experts at SiO reveal 10 simple DIY mud masks for beautiful, glowing skin.

Are Mud Masks Actually Made From Mud?

Mud masks seem a little crazy at first. You put mud—which is literally just dirt and water—on your face? And it’s supposed to clean your skin? Umm, no thanks.

We get it. If you’re not into the whole masking thing (yet), we can see why it might seem weird. Before you decide that you’re never going to try a mud mask, let us convince you to give it a shot.

First of all, we’re using the word “mud” rather loosely here. We are definitely not talking about grabbing a handful of dirt from your backyard, mixing it with water, and rubbing that filthy mixture all over your skin.

What we’re really talking about is clay. When mixed with water, clay makes a substance that’s probably best described as…well, mud.

So what makes clay so special? For starters, it’s been used as an ingredient in skin care products for thousands (yes, thousands!) of years. Legend has it that even Cleopatra used Dead Sea clay to treat her skin way back in ancient Egypt.

And Cleopatra is basically a goddess, so any skin care treatment that’s good enough for her is good enough for us!

There are many different varieties of clay available, each from a different spot on the globe, with its own unique set of compounds and minerals.

Here’s a list of the most popular kinds of clay used for mud masks:

• Fuller’s earth
• Bentonite clay (Multani mitti)
• Dead Sea clay
• Aztec healing clay
• French green clay
• Rose Clay (French pink clay)
• Rhassoul Clay (Moroccan lava clay)
• Cambrian Blue Clay
• Irish Moor mud
• Kaolin clay

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s enough to give you an idea of how many types of clay are out there. They’re all a bit different in their mineral makeup. But all mud masks have the same basic properties and benefits. Let’s talk details.

What Are The Benefits Of A Mud Mask?

While the skin care benefits of a mud mask vary a little depending on which clay you use, all mud masks work the same way. Here’s a short explanation of how mud masks help your skin!

Clay contains tons of important minerals, including iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium, among others. When water gets added to clay, the H20 molecules interact with the minerals to give the mud mixture an overall negative charge.

Why does this matter? Because it means mud masks are basically huge magnets for all of the bad stuff in your skin.

Toxins, free radicals, and other nasty molecules that can clog your pores all carry a positive charge. So when you put a mud mask on your skin, the mud basically sucks out all the harmful particles from your skin cells. Amazing, right?

On top of that, clay seals your pores and tightens up your skin, which helps reverse the effects of aging. And if you want to really make the most of those anti-aging benefits, add SiO beauty patches to your nightly routine.

SiO Beauty patches boost moisture and reduce wrinkle depth overnight, every night! They’re clinically proven to provide real results and are the perfect complement to a weekly mud mask treatment.

If you’re not convinced of the incredible effects of mud masks by now, we have one last advantage to offer you: they’re super simple to make! Keep reading for some easy mud mask recipes.

10 Simple DIY Mud Masks

The first step in making a DIY mud mask is to choose a clay. And don’t worry, buying clay for a homemade facial mask is way cheaper than going to the spa. You can find every type of clay online without having to spend an arm and a leg.

Now that you’ve got a clay to work with, you’re ready to make a mud mask! There are plenty of ingredients you can use to create your mask.

Here are 10 simple recipes for mud masks that will leave you with smooth, radiant skin!

1) Apple Cider Vinegar Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

With just two ingredients, this mask is the perfect place to start if you’re DIY masking for the first time.

Mud mixtures that seem too thin can be thickened up by adding a tiny extra pinch of clay. If your mixture seems too thick, just add a few extra drops of apple cider vinegar. It’s that easy!

2) Yogurt Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of warm water

We love Greek yogurt because it’s one of our 27 best anti-aging foods as well as the primary ingredient in yogurt face masks. And when yogurt and clay combine, they become an unstoppable force of skin-healing power.

3) Lemon Juice Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of warm water

The citric acid in lemon juice makes this the perfect mask for oily skin types. But if your skin tends to be on the dry side, this isn’t the mask for you.

4) Honey Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of warm water

Sticky as it might be, honey is a fabulous ingredient for a mud mask. It’s a natural antioxidant and helps keep moisture locked into your skin. A terrific option for dry skin types!

5) Fruit And Veggie Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 2 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable puree
• ½ tablespoon of warm water (if needed)

For this mud mask, you can use cucumber, coconut, papaya, avocado, or strawberries. Just pick your favorite and give it a try! You may need to add a little more or slightly less water to get the consistency right.

6) Activated Charcoal Mud Mask

• 1 tablespoon of clay
• 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal
• 2 tablespoons of warm water

You’ve probably heard about activated charcoal masks and all their amazing benefits. When teamed up with clay, charcoal makes a mud mask that will rid your skin of every last toxin and blackhead.

7) Whole-Milk Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 2 tablespoons of whole milk

Similar to yogurt, whole milk is a terrific addition to a mud mask because the lactic acid helps remove dead skin cells and excess oil. This mask is suitable for all skin types.

8) Aloe Vera Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera 
• 1 tablespoon of warm water

Ahh, aloe vera, what can’t you do well? There are tons of aloe vera masks you can try, but an aloe vera mud mask is always a smart choice.

9) Essential Oils Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 1½ tablespoons of warm water
• A few drops of essential oil

There are plenty of essential oils to choose from for this recipe, but we’re particularly fond of lavender, chamomile, fennel, and rosemary.

10) Green Tea Mud Mask

• 2 tablespoons of clay
• 2 tablespoons of warm green tea

Green tea is a strong antioxidant, so it’s naturally beneficial in mud masks. Simply steep some green tea, let it cool, and mix it with your favorite clay!

SiO Beauty Patches: The Perfect Mud Mask Partner

DIY mud masks are pretty simple, but there’s nothing quite as easy (or effective!) as SiO Beauty patches. All you need to do is apply the patches after you’ve finished your nighty skin care routine and get your beauty sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll have smooth, dewy skin that’s full of moisture and radiance!

SiO Beauty patches have been scientifically proven to work in clinical trials on over 200 women. And with the SiO Facelift, you can treat all the areas most vulnerable to the effects of aging—your neck and brow, as well as the sides of your eyes and mouth.

Between mud masks and SiO Beauty patches, your skin will be as smooth and gorgeous as ever!