If the current global situation has you stuck at home, then give yourself a little pick-me-up with a homemade hair or face mask. These natural beauty treats can be made with food leftovers or pantry staples and you can play your favourite game of bingo while you wait for them to work their magic. Sound good? Here are a few recipes to try:

Avocado Smash

If you struggle with dry skin then one of the best things you can do is whip up a fresh avocado face mask that is both moisturising and easy to make. For this marvellous mask, you’ll need 1 avocado, 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1  tablespoon of honey. Mash the avo in a small bowl, add the other ingredients and apply to your face. 
The avocado and olive oil contain omega fatty acids which help to hydrate skin cells while honey and yoghurt act as soothing ingredients to calm irritation or skin sensitivity. Rinse well after about 20 minutes (that’s probably enough time to play slots online), specifically around the hairline.

The Spice Girl

Aromatic and exfoliating, this mask is the perfect option for those with oily or normal skin. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of honey, ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ a teaspoon of nutmeg. Mix these well and do a patch test first, as some people react to the spices. If after 20 minutes your skin seems fine, then apply to your face with small circular motions (for that exfoliating effect). Grab a cup of tea, your mobile or tablet (favourite online casino game at the ready), and after 20 minutes, wash the mask off gently with some warm water.

Strawberry Burst

While you are making some natural face masks, why not throw a hair mask or two into the mix? This au natural strawberry mask is practically a smoothie for your hair; all you need to do is blitz up a handful of strawberries, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and then apply it to damp hair. Keep it on for about 20 minutes (stick to the theme with a game of Fruity Burst or another type of slots while you wait) and then rinse off. Try to keep it on for the full amount of time as it allows your scalp to reap the benefits of all the nutrient-rich ingredients. 

This stunning homemade mask smells delightful and the vitamin C from the strawberries helps to control your scalp’s PH and natural oil production, which leads to glossy locks. Don’t skimp on the coconut oil—it provides a rich barrier to ensure the strawberries don’t strip your hair of moisture.

The Cucumber Cooler

Struggle with oily, inflamed or acne-prone skin? Don’t worry, there’s a stellar homemade mask that’s just waiting to brighten your day. But, as a note, it does call for a teaspoon of bentonite or kaolin clay. You’ll need ½ a cucumber, 1 tablespoon of honey and the clay, all of which you will need to blend together to create a paste. Once you feel the consistency is right, apply the mixture to your face, grab your phone and enjoy a quick game of online bingo. After about 20 minutes, rinse with some warm water.

The Pantry

If you are one of those people who can’t bear the thought of raw egg on your hair, then know this; eggs are packed with vitamins, iron, protein, potassium and calcium and can make your hair beautifully shiny and lush. It’s a little gross, but it’s worth it. 

This uncomplicated hair mask centres purely on household staples which makes it as easy as it is beneficial. All you need is 1 egg (or 2 if you have very long or thick hair), a cup of milk (less for shorter hair), ½ teaspoon of lemon juice, 2 teaspoons (or tablespoons if necessary) of olive oil and a shower cap. 

Separate the egg white and yolk — this recipe only calls for the whole egg if you have normal hair. If your hair is oily, you will need the egg whites, if your hair is dry, use only the egg yolk. 

Place the part of the egg best for your hair in a bowl and whisk. Then add the milk and olive oil and mix. Add the lemon juice and mix well again. Massage into your scalp and work the mask through to your ends. Let it sit for 15 minutes with a shower cap over it (to prevent dripping, but you may want to consider doing this one while you are in the bath). Then rinse. This mask needs to be rinsed out very well in cold water (not hot, nobody wants scrambled egg-hair) and it’s best to wash your hair once the mask is out, with a natural shampoo to eliminate any egg smell.  For best results, use this mask once a month.

Egg on Your Face (Mask)

On the theme of eggs, this is another egg-cellent beauty mask for you to try, but this time on your face (if you can handle it). Once again, if you have oily skin, use only the egg white (you can add a dash of lemon or honey to it), if you have dry skin use just the yolk and if normal skin, the whole egg. Beat the egg (or the part you deem best for your skin), apply the mixture to your face, wait 30 minutes and rinse off. 

Don’t like the idea of raw egg on your face? Then you could opt for a simple mayonnaise mask instead for a soothing treatment. All you need to do is apply the mayonnaise to your face, wait 20 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Yo-ghurt Girl

If your tresses are looking a little isolation-worthy, then it might be time to give your hair a moisture boost with this yoghurt hair mask. Yoghurt is packed with a myriad of beneficial nutrients (from vitamins and protein to antioxidants) and while it’s moisturising, it also helps to control excessively oily hair. 

You can add a banana—another moisturiser—or a few strawberries—to combat oil—to enhance the benefits of this mask further, otherwise you can just keep it simple with ½ cup of plain, probiotic yoghurt (or a little less if your hair is short or fine), 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey. Mix the ingredients together well, apply to your hair (roots down), leave for 15 minutes and then wash out with warm water. If you are worried about the smell of yoghurt, you can follow the mask with a natural shampoo. 

The Banana Mama Mask

No one likes to eat brown bananas (right?) but they do make for an excellent beauty mask ingredient. Bananas are moisturising and leave the skin feeling beautifully soft. You can simply use a ripe banana (mashed into a smooth paste and then applied to your face and neck) for this recipe or, you can jazz it up with ¼ cup of yoghurt (plain) and 2 tablespoons of honey (which is actually a natural acne remedy). Mix those ingredients together and apply. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes (you can while away the time with an online scratchcard perhaps?) after which you can use cold water to rinse it off

The Milk Mask That Brings all the Boys to the Yard

If the history books are to be believed, one ancient lass seemed bent on the healing properties of milk. If it’s good enough for Cleopatra, will it be good enough for you? If you are willing to find out, then this mask, which should help to rejuvenate your skin, is a great place to start. All it takes is a little bit of water and ¼ cup of powdered milk. Mix the water and powder together until a paste forms and then gently apply to your face. Leave it to dry—this should allow you enough time to play at least one online bingo game—and then rinse off with warm water. 

10-minute Oats

Using a scrub 1-2 times a week is generally a good idea for most skin types but it’s especially true for people prone to flaky skin (the same does not apply to sensitive skin though). If you don’t usually use a face scrub, try this one out once and see how your skin fares. 

This simple, nourishing facial scrub face mask calls for 1 tablespoon of each of the following: finely-ground oatmeal, finely-ground brown sugar, raw honey and your favourite carrier oil (like jojoba oil). To elevate your pampering experience you can also add a few drops of essential oil (or a combination thereof, such as 2 drops of frankincense, 2 drops of geranium and 1 drop of lavender).

This is a fabulous mask for all skin types. Oatmeal and sugar are wonderfully exfoliating but the latter is great for hydration as well. Honey cleanses without stripping skin of moisture and a carefully selected carrier oil (like jojoba) will add moisture (without clogging pores) and essential oils are great for the overall experience, but many of them also have healing properties. You can use a coffee grinder to grind the oatmeal and sugar to give them a finer, more gentle consistency and then add all the ingredients together in a bowl. Wet your face slightly with warm water and apply the mixture in circular motions. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

We all need a little pampering once in a while and these homemade recipes are great additions to your self-care regime. What’s more, they provide the ultimate opportunity to indulge in your love for online gaming (what else are you going to do while you wait for them to set?). Pick your favourite recipe, whip it up and head to Mecca Bingo for a little entertainment while you wait. From online slots and scratchcards to bingo, jackpots and more, you’re sure to find the ultimate game to help you pass the time. Who knows, today might just be your lucky day.