DIY Beauty – Tried and Tested Treatments
The beauty industry is booming. Many of us are willing to part with considerable amounts of our hard earned cash to purchase creams and potions which promise we will have skin like Eva Longoria and hair like Jennifer Aniston. The scientific jargon bandied around in the adverts sounds impressive, therefore the products must work – right?!
This may well be the case. However, there may be cheaper and easier alternatives we can put together ourselves. Ingredients from our kitchen cupboards we could combine to create our own DIY beauty treatments. Face masks and foot scrubs which smooth away our wrinkles and dead skin without the exorbitant price tag of some high end skincare brands. Admittedly, things could get a little messy; but for the sake of a little clearing up, it’s worth a go. You may produce something spectacular that works better than the high-class pot you have in the bathroom. And if all else fails, you may even be able to eat it afterwards!
Mask That Face…
A face mask is a weekly treat that allows us to feel we are truly indulging ourselves. We are replacing some of the goodness we’ve scraped off during the week with harsh makeup removers and cleansers. Combining blitzed oats with honey and an egg yolk is an anti oxidising, age-defying mask which will make you look like you’ve gone face down in a bowl of porridge (no one said DIY beauty was pretty!) However, it will make your face feel smoother than a baby’s backside. Just sit tight for 15 minutes (avoiding any contact with a mirror) then rinse off with warm water.
Removing Your War Paint
Talking of makeup remover, let’s discover the world of oils. I know it sounds daft that smearing oil all over your face cleanses it, but it does indeed work. You can use something basic like olive oil if that’s all you have, but other oils such as coconut, avocado and sunflower are also effective. It’s worth experimenting with your own combinations. Simply massage into your face for a few minutes, then use a hot wet flannel to remove. Your skin will be nourished and glowing and you may never go back to traditional make up removers again.
Treat Those Feet
Let’s now turn to our poor neglected feet. We’re on them all day, they’re hidden away in dark, sweaty shoes and rarely see the light of day. They need a little TLC to bring them back to life and ready to show off to the world this summer. Grab the oil again (olive, baby or coconut) and mix some with sugar or salt to form a thick paste. You can add some lemon oil for a lovely citrus hit if you like. Scrub this heartily into your aching feet for several minutes (which, in itself feels divine) and simply rinse in the shower (careful as you step in!) Eh voila – revitalised, smooth feet that smell like a lemon grove.
Heal That Hair
Our tresses suffer daily from heat abuse – straighteners, hair dryers and curling tongs all damage our beautiful locks. Add to that the chemicals we use to add shine, straighten and dye our hair and it’s a miracle we have any left at all! So to negate some of that harsh treatment, a DIY beauty hair mask will go a long way to restoring our natural shine and strength. Raid your fruit bowl and blend a mashed ripe banana with one tablespoon of olive oil until well blended – you don’t want big lumps of banana going down the plug hole. This can get messy so it might be worth applying whilst in the shower. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse out. A hydrating, moisturising mask that helps reverse damage and restore shine.
Perfect Pout
Lastly, a treat for the lips. Mix 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and honey with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Massage it into your lips for a few minutes. Let it rest for a few more minutes (resist licking it all off!) and then remove the residue with a warm flannel. If you put the rest in a jar it will store in the fridge for a couple of weeks and you can maintain an exfoliated and moisturised pout which is irresistibly kissable.
All of these homemade beauty products are easily created with ingredients many of us already have in our kitchen cupboards. Natural products are great for skin and hair and can save us a small fortune if we’re willing to get down and dirty! Give it a go – you may never need to buy a beauty product again!
