Raw Kitchen Ingredients for Skin Care: 3 Face Masks I Make With Honey and Avocado

Some of the best things for your skin are not in a fancy bottle. They are in your fridge.

I write about food. My book, From Kitchen to Bedroom, is about slow evenings, good food, and looking after yourself. One night, while dinner was in the oven, I put honey on my face instead of my toast. That was the start.

Now I make three masks, and they all begin with the same two things: honey and avocado. Then I add one more ingredient from my kitchen. Green tea. Kombucha. Egg yolk.

This guide shows you exactly how to make them. It is written so anyone can follow it, even if you have never made a face mask before.

This is beauty and lifestyle advice, not medical advice. If you have acne, eczema, rosacea, allergies, cuts or any skin condition, talk to a skin professional before trying homemade masks.

What Raw Kitchen Ingredients Are Good for Skin Care?

The two best raw kitchen ingredients for skin care are honey and avocado.

Honey makes skin feel soft and holds water in. Avocado is creamy and feeds dry skin.

The easiest way to use them is in a simple mask. Mix honey or avocado with one more kitchen ingredient, such as cold green tea, a splash of kombucha, or an egg yolk. Leave it on clean skin for 10 minutes, then rinse.

Always test a small spot on your arm first. Never put lemon juice, baking soda, cinnamon, or salt scrubs on your face.

Why Honey and Avocado?

I tried a lot of things on my face before I settled on these two.

Honey is thick and sticky and a little bit magic. It holds water in the skin, so your face feels soft and plump. Honey has been studied for its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why people have put it on skin for thousands of years. I use raw honey, not the clear runny kind. In Australia, we have manuka and Jarrah honey, which are both known for being extra strong. A small jar lasts months because you only need a teaspoon.

Avocado is creamy and full of good oils. When my skin feels tight after a windy walk or a day in the sun, this is what fixes it. I use the ones that are a bit too soft for toast.

Avocados are cheapest here from late winter to spring, so that is when I use them most.

Together they make a base that works for almost everyone. Then one extra ingredient changes what the mask does.

The 3 Masks I Actually Make

Each one takes less time than boiling pasta. Pick the one that matches how your skin feels today.

Mask 1: Honey and Green Tea Glow Mask

For: Tired skin, red skin, hot summer days. This is the gentle one.

Green tea is full of antioxidants and feels cool on the skin. Mixed with honey, it is light and calming.

What you need:

• 1 teaspoon raw honey

• 1 teaspoon cold green tea

How to make it:

1. Make a cup of green tea and let it go completely cold. Cold, not warm.

2. Put the honey in a small bowl. Stir in the cold tea until it is smooth and a bit runny.

3. Wash your face.

4. Spread the mask on with clean fingers. It will be thin. That is fine.

5. Leave it for 10 minutes.

6. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

When I use it: After a day at the beach, or any night my face feels hot.

Be careful: Use plain green tea, not sweet bottled tea. Keep honey away from your eyes.

Mask 2: Avocado and Egg Yolk Rich Mask

For: Dry skin, tight skin, winter skin. This is the rich one.

Egg yolk is full of fats and vitamins. My grandmother used it. Mixed with avocado it is thick and creamy, like a little pudding for your face.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon ripe avocado

• 1 egg yolk

How to make it:

1. Mash the avocado with a fork until there are no lumps.

2. Crack an egg. Keep the yellow part and put the white away.

3. Stir the yolk into the avocado until smooth.

4. Wash your face.

5. Spread a thin layer on with clean fingers.

6. Leave it for 10 minutes.

7. Rinse very well with warm water. Then wash your hands and the sink.

When I use it: The night before a dinner party, or when my skin feels like paper.

Be careful: Raw egg can carry germs. Use a fresh egg, keep it away from your mouth and eyes, and never use it on cuts. Skip it if you are allergic to eggs. It can feel heavy if you get pimples, so use a small amount first.

Mask 3: Honey, Avocado and Kombucha Fresh Mask

For: Dull skin, oily skin, skin that needs waking up. This is the fresh one.

Kombucha is a fizzy fermented tea. It is a little bit acidic, like a very mild toner. A small splash helps lift dull skin, and the honey and avocado stop it from feeling harsh.

What you need:

• 1 teaspoon raw honey

• 1 tablespoon ripe avocado

• 1 teaspoon plain kombucha

• 1 teaspoon water

How to make it:

1. Mix the kombucha and water together first. Always.

2. Mash the avocado until smooth.

3. Stir in the honey, then the watered-down kombucha.

4. Wash your face.

5. Spread the mask on with clean fingers.

6. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. Start with 5 the first time.

7. Rinse with cool water.

When I use it: Sunday night, when the week has left my skin looking flat.

Be careful: Never use kombucha without adding water. Use plain, not flavoured. Do not use it on red, sore, or broken skin.

I use kombucha, kefir and rice water on my skin too. Read Fermented Beauty From Your Kitchen for how.

Other Kitchen Ingredients You Can Add

Once you know the three masks, you can play. These are safe extras. Add one at a time, not all at once.

• Oats (ground into a powder): Add 1 teaspoon to Mask 1 or Mask 2 if your skin is sensitive or itchy. Never scrub with it.

• Plain yoghurt: Swap it for the kombucha in Mask 3 if kombucha feels too strong. Use unsweetened, no fruit.

• Cucumber: Not for the mask. Lay cold slices on your closed eyes while the mask is on.

• Aloe vera gel (from the plant): Smooth a little on after rinsing if your skin feels warm.

• Turmeric: A tiny pinch in Mask 1 for brighter skin. It stains everything yellow, so only if you have tested it before.

• Olive oil: Not for the face. Rub a few drops into dry elbows, knees and hands.

• Coffee grounds: Not for the face. Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 teaspoon olive oil and use as a body scrub in the shower.

Which Mask Should I Use?

Dry or tight skin: Mask 2 (avocado and egg yolk).

Tired, red or sunburnt-feeling skin: Mask 1 (honey and green tea).

Dull or oily skin: Mask 3 (honey, avocado and kombucha).

Sensitive skin: Mask 1, with a teaspoon of ground oats added. Skip Mask 3.

Pimple-prone skin: Mask 1 or plain honey on its own. Skip Mask 2.

If you are making it a whole evening, pair your mask with one of these romantic dinner recipes for two.

Kitchen Ingredients You Should NOT Put on Your Face

Just because it is natural does not mean it is safe. These are popular online but can burn or sting:

• lemon juice

• baking soda

• cinnamon

• apple cider vinegar straight from the bottle

• salt scrubs

• sugar scrubs on the face

• egg white (it dries and tightens; yolk is the gentle part)

• chilli or strong spices

• essential oils straight on the skin

Lemon juice is the worst one. It can make your skin burn more easily in the sun. For your face, gentle always wins.

Safety Rules Before You Start

Patch test first. Put a little on the inside of your arm. Wait 24 hours. If it goes red, itchy, or hot, do not use it on your face.

Use fresh, clean ingredients. If you would not eat it, do not put it on your face.

Never use masks on broken skin. No cuts, burns, rashes, or sore spots.

Once a week is plenty. More is not better.

Rinse well. Then use your normal moisturiser if your skin wants it.

Are Kitchen Masks Better Than Shop Skin Care?

No, not always. Shop products are measured, tested, and made to last. Kitchen ingredients are not.

I use both. These masks are for slow evenings and little rituals. My normal cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen do the everyday work. If you have acne, eczema, rosacea or ongoing irritation, see a skin professional instead of relying on homemade masks.

Food, Beauty and Slowing Down

These masks are not really about skin. They are about slowing down.

A spoon of honey. Half an avocado left from dinner. A cold cup of tea. These small things can turn a normal night into something that feels like care.

That is the whole idea behind From Kitchen to Bedroom. The kitchen is not just where you cook. It is where the evening begins.

You will find more ideas in the food, wine and beauty blog and in Honey for Face: I Replaced My $40 Moisturiser With Raw Honey.

FAQs About Raw Kitchen Ingredients for Skin Care

What kitchen ingredients are good for your face?

Honey and avocado are the best two. Cold green tea, a splash of diluted kombucha and egg yolk work well mixed with them. Always patch test first.

Can I put honey and avocado together on my face?

Yes. Mix 1 teaspoon raw honey with 1 tablespoon mashed ripe avocado, leave on clean skin for 10 minutes, then rinse. Add cold green tea, diluted kombucha or an egg yolk to change what it does.

Is green tea good for your skin?

Yes. Cold green tea is cooling and gentle. Mixed with honey, it makes a light mask for tired or red skin. Make sure the tea is completely cold.

Is kombucha good for your skin?

A small amount of diluted kombucha can freshen dull or oily skin because it is mildly acidic. Always mix it half and half with water, use plain kombucha, and keep it off sensitive or broken skin.

Is egg yolk good for skin?

Egg yolk is rich and softening for dry skin. Mix one yolk with mashed avocado, leave on for 10 minutes, rinse well, and skip it if you are allergic to eggs or have broken skin.

What kitchen ingredients should not be used on the face?

Lemon juice, baking soda, cinnamon, undiluted vinegar, salt scrubs, harsh sugar scrubs, egg white and essential oils used straight on the skin.

How often should I use a homemade face mask?

Once a week is enough for most people. Stop if your skin feels dry, sore or itchy afterwards.

Is manuka honey better for skin than normal honey?

Manuka and Jarrah honey are known for being extra strong, but any raw honey works on skin. Use what you have.

Good skin care can start in your kitchen. Honey and avocado are the two ingredients I trust most. Add green tea, kombucha, or an egg yolk, and you have three masks for three different kinds of skin days.

Keep it simple. Test first. Stay away from the harsh stuff.

The best mask is the one you actually make. Tonight, maybe, while dinner is in the oven.

For more ideas that bring food, beauty and slow evenings together, explore From Kitchen to Bedroom, a lifestyle cookbook about flavour, wine, beauty rituals and the way an evening unfolds.