DIY Beauty

There is no need to spend heaps on money on expensive beauty face masks when there are so many recipes you can whip up with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Added bonus: you know exactly what you’re putting in, so no need to worry about preservatives or other hidden chemicals…

Face

There is no need to spend heaps of money on expensive beauty face masks when there are so many recipes you can whip up with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Added bonus: you know exactly what you’re putting in, so no need to worry about preservatives or other hidden chemicals.

A good basic DIY facial mask that is suitable for most skin types can be made by combining one egg yolk, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon of Greek yogurt and a few drops of olive oil. This will hydrate and nourish your skin after just 10 minutes.

If you have problem skin, tweak your recipes to target your skin’s weaknesses. For example, oily skin clears up beautifully with weekly use of lemon juice (this works great when mixed with a mashed up banana). Dry skin can be nourished with the healthy oils in mashed up avocado. Sliced strawberries (or lemons for oily skin) can be gently rubbed over the face to act as a natural toner.

Hair

I’ve recently converted to using coconut oil in my hair as a weekly treatment. My hair was quite dry and damaged from regular highlights, and is becoming softer, shinier and healthier with every passing week. Just take a few tablespoons of coconut oil and work through the lengths of your hair. Start with a little and add until your hair is just saturated. Then twist your hair up into a bun, cover with a shower cap and relax. I normally leave my mask on overnight, but anything from 30 minutes onwards will give you benefits. Remove with your normal shampoo.

Other great deep conditioners for hair are olive oil, egg yolks or mayonnaise.

Body scrubs

Exfoliation is very important, especially before you use self-tanner. You don’t need to buy a fancy body scrub – all you need is brown sugar and some oil (I prefer coconut oil, but olive oil works well too). Combine one cup of sugar with just enough oil to form a paste. You can then either add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil, or some spices. For a festive scent, try mixing in some nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Apply in the shower or bath to easily rinse away the sugar.

A few extra tricks

  • Apple cider vinegar is great for clarifying your hair – it restores your natural shine by removing product build-up.
  • Mix ½ a cup of sea salt with a tablespoon of olive oil and a few drops of rose water, and dissolve in a basin of warm water for a foot soak to reveal soft, beautiful skin.
  • Oatmeal is very soothing for skin and is great for acne-prone skin, or for soothing sunburn.
  • Rub half a lemon on self-tanner streaks or blotches to make them fade.
  • If you make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and rub it on fingernails, it will help treat yellow stains caused by dark nail polish. (And next time, remember to use a good quality base coat!)
  • enjoy this beauty tip!

Article by: Laura Jane http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/whimsy-is-forever

 

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