PSA: Jonathan Van Ness’ DIY Anti-Inflammatory Face Mask Uses *Just* 2 Pantry Staples

Queer Eye, Netflix's hit reboot of early-aughts-set Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is the gift that keeps on giving. Sure, it's a feel-good show that brings glimmers of hope for acceptance to the current state of disarray and bigotry in the country, but it's also chock-full of practical tips and advice on everything from self-esteem to self-care tips and the perfect smoothie recipe. Jonathan Van Ness, resident grooming go-to on the show, returned for the just-released second season with a new arsenal of wellness tips—including a very easy-to-DIY face mask.

On episode three of the new season, Van Ness shared his all-natural, gently exfoliating recipe, which you can whip up with nothing but oats and bona fide wellness superstar Manuka honey—the anti-inflammatory ingredient that's known to fight allergies, make hair shine, and fight cystic acne. "I'm a big fan of DIY masks, so I just took oats, and I ground them up in a food processor," Van Ness says in the episode, explaining that ingredient works as a gentle exfoliant. Then he mixes the oats with Manuka honey, which "promotes skin healing even more than normal honey would." Though he doesn't share exact measurements, the instruction is to mix in enough honey to make a paste. After applying the sweet-tasting and textured blend to your face, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off, and go about your normal skin routine of shaving, cleansing, or anything else.

"I'm a big fan of DIY masks, so I just took oats, and I ground them up in a food processor," says Jonathan Van Ness. Then he mixes the oats with Manuka honey, which "promotes skin healing even more than normal honey would."

So, when you sit down to watch (not binge) the new season of Queer Eye, visit your pantry first in order to get your mask on. Fresh out of Manuka? Don't worry, any high-quality honey will likely work just fine, so long as it's not heavily loaded with chemical fillers, that is. And, bonus, if you need a spot treatment as well, you can whip up this DIY recipe to layer on (honey is also a featured ingredient!).

This post was originally published on June 18, 2018; updated on July 31, 2020.