You’re staying safely at home this May. But – horror – you’ve run out of beauty essentials. We’ve rounded up some help … straight out of the pantry. Here are 25 home-made recipes that actually work
By: Rialien Furstenberg
Body beautiful
To soften bathwater, throw a cupful of milk powder beneath the running taps. If you like, add your favourite aromatherapy oils, but the milk in itself is beautifully skin-softening because of the lipids in the milk.
Olive oil is a fantastic body moisturiser (add a few drops of a favourite essential oil if the scent’s a bit grassy for your taste).
You can create a spa-like experience in your shower. Choose a relaxing essential oil (think lavender) or an uplifting oil (neroli’s a great choice) and add a few drops to a damp flannel or sponge. Place this on the floor in front of you as you shower to allow the steam to release the scents.
To create a free body scrub, mix in leftover coffee grounds with your usual shower gel and use in the shower for a free pamper session.
Kissable lips
Exfoliate your lips gently – try a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth. Apply a thin layer of raw honey on your lips before going to bed, then wake up to soft, smooth lips.
Use cucumber to soothe chapped lips — mash a few slices and apply directly to your lips like a mask. You can also gently rub with slices of the cooled veggie. Leave the juice on your lips for 10 minutes before washing away with water.
Replenish and hydrate your lips by mixing one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons mashed avocado! Apply lavishly, leave on for a few minutes and rinse. Great to treat smoker’s lines.
After steeping green tea, remove the bag and rub it over your lips to exfoliate them. Not only is green tea rich in antioxidants and minerals, but also reduces inflammation.
Eyes bright
Mix one tablespoon of turmeric and one tablespoon of buttermilk, apply the orange-coloured mixture to your dark circles with a brush – and expect to look infinitely better-slept after just 15 minutes.
Caffeinated teabags have been shown to reduce under-eye puffiness. Steep two bags, squeeze out the excess liquid, allow them to cool, and you’re good to go.
Bright smile
Calling all coffee, red wine and fizzy drink lovers — if strawberries don’t quite do the job of whitening your teeth, then try rubbing apple cider vinegar on them and rinsing (thoroughly) with water.
Get an A-list smile for less with a bit of lemon juice and bicarb of soda. Mix them together and rub over your teeth then rinse. If you do it every day you’ll see whiter teeth in as little as a week.
Face fabulous
Those of us who haven’t been blessed with tiny pores are always looking for ways to make them less noticeable. Combine two to four drops of lemon juice with one spoon of tomato juice, apply and leave on for 15 minutes.
Say hello to papaya, your new BFF. This fruit acts as a natural exfoliator and reduces blemishes while hydrating the skin. Mash it up with a dollop of honey and yogurt and you’ll have one multitasking face pack.
Apple cider vinegar can also double up as a pore-perfecting toner. It can regulate your skin’s natural pH, meaning your skin will fight breakouts and strike the perfect balance between dry and oily. Dilute the vinegar with two parts water and swipe over the skin with a cotton wool ball.
Turmeric is great for helping to fade skin discoloration and post-acne scarring. Simply mix it with a few drops of lime juice and leave on the skin for 20 minutes.
Do you suffer from blotchy, oily skin? Whip up an egg white until frothy, apply it to your face and let it dry. Repeat and add another layer and leave it on for 15 minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water.
Help for your hair
Put the life back into limp or damaged hair by combining one teaspoon apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons olive oil and three egg whites. Rub into your hair. Keep your hair covered for about 30 minutes, shampoo and rinse.
Revitalise your hair with bananas. Simply blend together two ripe bananas and half a cup of coconut milk. Coat your hair in the mixture and let it sit for half an hour, then wash the mask out of your hair.
You may think of tea as a sore throat remedy, but you can also use it to give hair a natural shine. Use a cup of warm, unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) as a final rinse after your regular shampoo.
Show-off hands & nails
Mash together an avocado and small banana (they’re mineral-rich and full of anti-oxidants) and pop inside plastic gloves (or sandwich bags) to minimise mess. Not only will it make your hands super-soft, but the mixture will nourish your nails and cuticles, too.
A manicure wouldn’t be complete without showing your cuticles some TLC and there’s no better way to kick them into touch than with some cooking oil spray. Yep. Just make sure it’s garlic-free!
Lemon’s a wonder product and a great nail strengthener — rest hands in a bowl containing lemon juice and warm water to strengthen nails and remove any leftover colour.
Playing footsie
Cracked heels? Warm a cup of honey and stir in two tablespoons of milk. Add juice from half an orange to form a paste. Apply on your heels and leave on overnight. Wear socks, obviously!
For soft feet you’ll need a half cup of vinegar, pinch of salt, a half cup of Listerine mouth wash (yes, really), one cup of hot water and a few drops of peppermint oil. Soak your feet for 15 minutes. With a brush or pumice rub the dead skin right off.
For more home-made beauty recipes that actually work, visit https://getitmagazine.co.za/
