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At-Home Beauty
Effective & Low Cost Beauty Treatments You Can Do At Home
Between the five dollars a gallon we’re paying for gas and the stress of a rough economy, it’s safe to say we are all looking for ways to save a few bucks. Before cutting your beauty budget completely, take a look at some of the treatments you can do at home, using things you may already have around the house.
SKIN
Turn your bathroom into a sauna. All you need is an essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus. Pour some into your tub and then run the shower (with the door closed) at the hottest temperature. The entire room will fill with a steamy, relaxing, wonderfully scented vapor.
If you’re paying big bucks for cellulite creams, wake up and smell the coffee! Caffeine is the main ingredient in most of these expensive products, so I offer you an alternative. Take your used coffee grinds (if you’re not a coffee drinker, find someone who is that is willing to donate) and mix them in a bowl with some olive oil. You will need plastic wrap for this next part, so be sure to have it handy. Head into the shower and massage the coffee grind mixture into your thighs. Cover with the plastic wrap and leave on for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing. After drying off, apply some aloe gel to your legs to seal in the results.
You can make your own face and body scrubs by adding baking soda to your face cleanser and shower gels. It works just as well as the store-bought scrubs, but at a fraction of the cost.
Looking for a great under-eye treatment? Italian women have known this secret for centuries. Dab a little olive oil under the eyes before bed. You only need a couple of small drops. If you have dark circles, use flaxseed oil instead. It contains fatty acids to repair the capillaries.
HAIR
Forget expensive salon highlights. You can get subtle, natural-looking highlights at home with teas. Just be sure to pick the right kind of tea for your hair color: chamomile for blondes, black tea for brunettes, and rooibos tea for red tones. Take about half a dozen tea bags and pour a couple of cups of hot water over them. Let the bags steep and allow them to cool to room temperature. When you are in the shower, pour the liquid over your hair. It’s not necessary to rinse, just use a dark towel to dry your hair.
Want silky-smooth hair? An all-natural deep-conditioning hair mask can be made from half a cup of unsweetened coconut milk and a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil. Stir the two together and then massage into freshly washed hair. Leave in for five to ten minutes and rinse.
MAKEUP
Are you still paying $8 for makeup remover wipes? You can get twice as many unscented baby wipes for half the price. They work just as well as their counterparts—even on your waterproof mascara.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive all-natural lip plumper, just get some cinnamon oil and massage it into your lips. It does the same thing as the expensive lip plumper products, but only costs about $5.
Strawberries contain gentle acids that whiten and brighten teeth. Just bite into one and rub it on your teeth. This is a lot safer for your teeth enamel, and also a lot cheaper than harsh bleaching systems.
Enjoy these tips and tricks, and use them to save yourself money that could be better spent elsewhere (like on that killer pair of stilettos you’ve been eyeing)!
