Elemental Balance, Radiant Skin: Secret Facial Mask Recipes Based on Chinese Elements and Seasons

Tailor Your Element, Transform Your Skin: Secret Mask Recipes Based on Your Birth Element and Chinese Seasons
Many of us have experienced this: a cream or mask once delivered great results, but over time, its effectiveness wanes. Sometimes, a friend’s skin appears flawless after using a product that didn’t work the same on us. It isn’t always the product’s fault—it may be due to differences in one’s elemental constitution, as well as the impact of changing weather and seasons. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), achieving lasting skincare lies in adapting choices to both personal constitution and nature’s rhythms.

“Birth Element” and the “Five Chinese Seasons” stem from ancient Chinese philosophy, including the Five Elements (五行 – Wǔxíng). These elements form the foundation of disciplines like TCM and Chinese astrology. The belief is that beauty and health flourish when aligned with one's inner nature (personal element) and outer nature (seasonal environment).

Personalized beauty is a booming trend in 2025—not just skincare according to skin type, but adjustments based on your elemental nature & the changing seasons.

What Is Your Birth Element?
In Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements (Wǔxíng) are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These can be determined using Chinese astrology (Bazi), but you can also intuitively gauge your element from your emotions, skin characteristics, and health habits.

Chinese seasons also influence skin and organs differently. Here’s how they align:

Personalized Mask Recipes by Element & Season
Harness easy-to-source ingredients from your kitchen or herbal shop. Here’s a streamlined version:

How to Use the Masks
If needed, pre-boil herbs or roots.
Apply to cleansed face; leave for 15–20 minutes.
Rinse off with clean water.
Use 2–3 times a week.
For sensitive skin, perform a patch test (e.g., inner arm).

Wood Element (木 - Mù)
Characteristics: Emotionally sensitive, prone to stress accumulation, dull skin, oily T-zone.

Spring
Main herbs: Dried chrysanthemum flowers + mung bean powder + honey
Preparation: Boil chrysanthemum flowers for 5 minutes, let cool.
Mix with mung bean powder and honey until it forms a paste.
Tips: Massage temples and jawline 5 minutes daily to relieve stress.
Drink chrysanthemum or Malabar spinach tea to support liver detoxification.
Exercise outdoors in the morning to absorb Wood energy.

Summer
Mask recipe: Grated cucumber + cold green tea + white clay (kaolin)
Preparation: Brew green tea, cool it down.
Mix with grated cucumber and white clay until smooth.
Tips: Avoid extreme heat and fried foods.
Add sour foods like lemon to help liver function.
Use cold compresses around eyes to reduce sun-induced stress.

Autumn
Mask recipe: Honey + fresh aloe vera gel + chrysanthemum tea
Preparation: Mix fresh aloe vera gel with cooled chrysanthemum tea and honey.
Tips: Practice deep breathing to stimulate liver and lungs energy.
Eat apples to hydrate skin and calm irritability.
Cultivate positive emotions.

Winter
Mask recipe: Fresh ginger juice + honey + egg yolk
Preparation: Grate ginger and extract juice, mix with honey and egg yolk.
Tips: Massage legs and soles to improve circulation.
Drink warm ginger water in the morning.
Maintain calm and avoid impulsiveness.

Fire Element (火 - Huǒ)
Characteristics: Easily flushed skin, rash-prone, sensitive, quick temper.

Spring
Mask recipe: Ground gotu kola leaves + honey + white clay
Preparation: Pound fresh gotu kola leaves, mix with honey and clay until thick.
Tips: Ensure adequate rest, reduce alcohol.
Eat watermelon or pumpkin soup.
Avoid strong sunlight.

Summer
Mask recipe: Watermelon + aloe vera gel + pearl powder
Preparation: Blend watermelon pulp with aloe vera gel and pearl powder.
Tips: Take cool showers in afternoon.
Drink Osmanthus tea to soothe heart fire.
Apply cool masks weekly.

Autumn
Mask recipe: Mashed apple + honey + white clay
Preparation: Fresh apple mashed, mixed with honey and clay into a cream.
Tips: Practice meditation and slow breathing.
Use mineral water spray on skin.
Rest heart by listening to soft music.

Winter
Mask recipe: Ground black sesame + fresh milk + honey
Preparation: Toast and grind black sesame, mix with warm milk and honey.
Tips: Drink warm black tea.
Use rich moisturizers.
Avoid strong emotions.

Earth Element (土 - Tǔ)
Characteristics: Dull uneven skin tone, facial puffiness, dark circles under eyes.

Spring
Mask recipe: Steamed pumpkin puree + yogurt + honey
Preparation: Steam pumpkin and mash finely, mix with yogurt and honey.
Tips: Eat easily digestible food, reduce sweets.
Drink brown rice or rice water.
Massage abdomen gently in the morning.

Summer
Mask recipe: Fresh lotus leaf juice + honey + yogurt
Preparation: Blend lotus leaf and strain juice, mix with honey and yogurt.
Tips: Walk after meals.
Drink warm water after eating.
Take breaks and avoid fatigue.

Autumn
Mask recipe: Mashed banana + white clay + fresh milk
Preparation: Mix all until smooth and apply evenly.
Tips: Avoid fried starches; eat light grains.
Practice deep abdominal breathing.
Use leg pillows to improve digestion during sleep.

Winter
Mask recipe: Boiled ginkgo puree + honey + soy milk
Preparation: Boil ginkgo nuts until soft, mash and mix with honey and soy milk.
Tips: Drink ginger and jujube tea.
Soak feet in warm water.
Wear warm clothes to protect stomach from cold.

Metal Element (金 - Jīn)
Characteristics:
Dry, flaky skin, dust allergies, whiteheads.

Spring
Mask recipe: Ginseng powder + honey + fresh milk
Preparation: Mix powdered ginseng with milk and honey into paste.
Tips: Stretch to strengthen lungs.
Drink warm water throughout the day.
Use rich moisturizers.

Summer
Mask recipe: Boiled chrysanthemum tea + aloe vera gel
Preparation: Brew chrysanthemum, cool, mix with aloe gel.
Tips: Stay in ventilated places.
Spray mineral water on face during day.
Wash face only twice daily.

Autumn
Mask recipe: Mashed pear + honey + yogurt
Preparation: Mash pear finely, mix with honey and yogurt.
Tips: Eat lung-nourishing foods like pear soup.
Avoid strong winds.
Drink 6–8 glasses of water daily.

Winter
Mask recipe: Boiled lotus seeds + ground white sesame + honey
Preparation: Boil lotus seeds until soft, grind, and mix with sesame and honey.
Tips: Drink warm black tea.
Use winter cream or olive oil on skin.
Gently massage face before bed.

Water Element (水 - Shuǐ)
Characteristics: Pale skin, dark under-eye circles, poor circulation.

Spring
Mask recipe: Roasted black bean powder + fresh milk + honey
Preparation: Roast and grind black beans, mix with milk and honey.
Tips: Strengthen kidneys by heel raises.
Drink jujube tea.
Sleep 7–8 hours per night.

Summer
Mask recipe: Grated cucumber + watermelon juice + white clay
Preparation: Mix until thick, apply after bathing.
Tips: Avoid heat that weakens kidneys.
Drink natural electrolyte drinks like coconut water.
Use cold compress on neck.

Autumn
Mask recipe: Aloe vera gel + honey + yogurt
Preparation: Blend fresh aloe gel with honey and yogurt.
Tips: Walk slowly 20 minutes after meals.
Apply warm compress on waist.
Reduce salty and spicy foods.

Winter
Mask recipe: Boiled Job’s tears puree + black sesame + honey
Preparation: Boil Job’s tears, mash finely, mix with sesame and honey.
Tips: Soak feet in warm salted water.
Regularly eat warm soups.
Do light exercise to induce sweating.

Facial masks in TCM are not merely skincare—they are a holistic practice that balances elemental energies and seasonal changes. Using elemental herbs and formulas aligned with one’s constitution and the time of year supports emotional balance, strengthens immunity, and harmonizes body and mind. Attuning to both internal and external factors like season, weather, and personal elemental nature is key to sustainable health.


Main References:
Huangdi Neijing (《黄帝内经》 – The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic): Classic TCM text describing relationships between organs, elements, seasons, and emotions.
Zhang, Q. et al. (2012). Five Elements and TCM Theory. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Xu, Y. (2019). Seasonal Skin Care Based on TCM Theory. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine.
Bensky, D., Clavey, S., & Stöger, E. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (3rd ed.).
Yang, Y. et al. (2020). Natural Products Used in TCM for Skin Care. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Chen, H. et al. (2021). Herbal facial masks in traditional Chinese beauty practices. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University – Thai Herbal Database.

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Article by:

张丽真 中医师
TCM Dr. Dayu Sathukijchai (Zhang Li Zhen)
Department of External Medicine, Dermatology and Healthy Skin Clinic
Huachiew TCM Clinic