Want to venture to guess how much money you spend on beauty products every year? Don’t, no seriously don’t, you’ll give yourself a heart attack. I don’t even want to think about how much I spent this month alone! With summer’s arrival and all the peer pressure to look like someone who’s just leaped out from the pages of Elle Magazine, it’s so hard not to blow your wages on cosmetics. Time to think outside the box! There are probably 101 beauty treatments hiding in your pantry and refrigerator at this very moment, you’ve just never thought to look past a label to get your beauty fix. Well fasten your seatbelts ladies and be prepared to be amazed, because you just might find the answer to all your beauty andbudget woes right here!
1) Protein Hair Mask
Damaged hair is one of the most common ailments a hairdresser has to contend with. We dye it, we strip it, flat iron it, let’s face it, we put our hair through hell. Sure, you could blow hundreds of dollars on keratin treatments, or pricey beauty store hair masks, but why? You’ve got eggs! Throw three eggs into a bowl, give ‘em a good whisk, toss in a tablespoon or two of olive oil and work the mix into your damn hair. Toss a warm towel around your head and leave it for twenty minutes. Next, use regular shampoo to wash it out and voila, you’ve got yourself a protein rich, shiny head of luscious locks! Do it once a week, and you’re hairdresser will start to think you’re cheating on them!
2) Hand & Foot Sugar Scrub
There are thousands of exfoliating products out there, some more expensive than others and they all essentially do the exact same thing. There is a difference, however, when it comes to using products for the delicate skin on your face. You need to use products that have silty exfoliants, but for your hands and feet, sugar and sea salt are the perfect combination. Grab a bowl and pour in equal parts sugar and sea salt (kosher salt works great too). Then pour in a capful or two of olive oil, just to make it easier to spread. Leave it on for about ten minutes and then rinse with warm water. Voila, just like an expensive spa treatment.
3) Coconut Stretch Cream & Moisturizer
Coconut anything is all the rage right now. But it’s brilliant healing powers are definitely no trend, and if you’ve been struggling with stretch marks or unusually dry skin, coconut oil is literally nature’s miracle. For extra silky skin, especially during those unforgivably dry summer and winter months, massage coconut oil onto your feet, throw some socks on and wake up to buttery soft feet.
4) Strawberry Toothpaste
No, that isn’t a typo, that definitely says strawberry toothpaste! Apparently, Catherine Zeta Jones swears by this neat little at-home whitening remedy. Mash one super ripe strawberry and mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Blend it up, and brush it onto your teeth. Let it sit for five minutes, then brush with toothpaste. The seeds from the strawberries act as a natural scraper and the baking soda is a natural whitener! Repeat this once a week, and enjoy your Hollywood smile.
5) Acne Scar Lightener
Not everyone is blessed with flawless skin, and as we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to blemishes, adult pimples and scarring. Some of us heal quickly, and some of us are left with a somewhat permanent reminder of our skin’s incompetence. There are plenty of aggressive medicated creams out there to combat scarring, but one of the best remedies is good ‘ol fashioned potato juice. Potatoes contain unique enzymes that are known to reduce scarring and improve the tone of your skin. Take one large potato, slice it up, and rub the slices over the affected areas. Leave the remnants on for 15-20 minutes, than rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat twice a week for deep scars.
6) Bad Tan-Be-Gone
Who hasn’t had a mishap with a bottle of self-tanner once or twice? It’s bound to happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to share your mishap with the whole world. In a bowl, mix in half a cup of plain yogurt, and half a cup of oatmeal, apply it to the affected area. Let it dry completely, then wash it with cold water. Next mix a teaspoon of honey, and equal parts lemon juice and milk powder. Toss in a half a teaspoon of almond paste, and scrub the area gently. Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Voila, the world will never know!
7) The Pore Shrinker
Who the heck wants large pores? They’re certainly not on our must-have list for the summer, but as we mentioned above, not everyone has the good fortune of strutting around town with with enviable skin. You can’t fight genetics, but, you can prevent large pores from taking over your whole face. Crack one egg into a bowl, keeping the white only. Next, whisk in one teaspoon of cornstarch. Apply the frothy mix to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and repeat twice a week. The astringent properties of the egg white help clear out your pores, as well as tighten your skin, and the corn starch is a natural skin softener.
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