Multimasking: The Beauty Editor Secret to the Best Skin Ever

Move over, contouring: Multimasking is the latest Instagram-fueled beauty trend, and it just might be the greatest thing that could ever happen to your complexion.

The basic idea stems from the fact that skin varies across the face. Your forehead might be oily while your cheeks feel totally parched—so why try to use a single mask to combat these two completely different issues? As skin mapping has shown, each area of the face is essentially its own ecosystem. Instead, of trying to kill a fish in the water and a bird in the trees with one stone, this is one case when more is more.

Versus a single all-in-one treatment, a medley of masks can treat spot-specific issues more effectively and efficiently. Ready to try the ultimate DIY? Here are some our best mask recipes—made from all-natural, edible ingredients—to address common skin issues. The beauty of multimasking is it’s inherently all about customization, so it’s easy to put together a combo designed specifically for your own skin’s needs.

Whip up these masks, smooth them on, and let them do their thing for about 15 minutes. We bet you won’t be able to resist snapping a selfie of your patchwork facial.

Oily, acne-prone zones

Any area that’s oily or prone to breakouts—for most people, that’s the T-zone, or forehead and nose—could use a pore-cleansing detox treatment. Bentonite clay is a beast at deep pore cleansing, thanks to negative ions that act like magnets to draw out dirt and impurities. Combine 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay powder with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and slather on.

Dry patches

For zones that need extra moisture, a detox mask might do more harm than good. On parched patches, try this skin-softening recipe: Mash or purée ¼ ripe avocado (pureeing helps it spread more smoothly) and mix in ½ tablespoon olive oil, and ½ teaspoon raw honey. That’s it! The avocado and olive oil—two all-star healthy fats—are super hydrating, and raw honey adds an anti-inflammatory quality.

Dull spots

A good brightening treatment, especially on the cheeks and labionasal folds—the sides of the upper lip area which can eventually turn into laugh lines—perks up the entire face. Try this citrus face mask made with papaya. It’s loaded with enzymes and antioxidants, and vitamins E and C, to make skin glow like crazy. The concoction is also great for lightening sun damage on the most-exposed parts of the face, like the forehead.

Eye area

Got dark circles? Go for a soothing, antioxidant eye mask to rejuvenate the delicate skin in this area and combat fine lines. Start with 1 tablespoon chilled, whipped coconut oil as a moisturizing base, and add in 1 teaspoon pomegranate powder and a drop or two of anti-inflammatory raw honey. Then dab on gently. Pomegranate helps brighten and also protects fibroblasts, the proteins that work to produce skin-tightening collagen. Not to mention the superfruit is loaded with healthy-for-skin antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolics.

As with any skin treatment, it’s good to do a small patch test first; if you notice any irritation or breakouts, skip it.

And take a cue from Japanese and Korean skin care, generally credited with pioneering this trend, and integrate multimasking into your routine rather than using it strictly for damage control. Diligent masking can help keep skin balanced and beautiful before issues flare up.

Since detoxifying masks can strip skin, it’s probably best to limit those to once or twice a week, but other nourishing and hydrating masks can be good for skin even more often. Good thing—because this is the kind of healthy obsession we can really get into.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho