Solve your biggest beauty problems with these simple treatments made with foods and oils you can find around the house.
Perfect for smoothing and hydrating skin, thickening tresses and all-over cleansing, these natural “products” will prep your skin and hair for summer months.
Use high-quality, organic ingredients when you can, and always test the solution on a small patch of skin to avoid any unwelcome reactions.
Hydrating Face Mask
- 2 tablespoons avocado, mashed
- 2 tablespoons natural raw honey
- 1 egg yolk
Combine equal parts mashed avocado and honey with the egg yolk. Apply to clean skin, avoiding the eyes, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Avocado is not just a mega-moisturizer—it also helps fade age spots and won’t clog your pores. For oily skin, swap out the honey for pure lemon juice, and use the egg white instead of the yolk.
Moisturizing Body Scrub
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Simply mix the sugar and extra-virgin olive oil to make this super-easy exfoliating scrub. Rub the mixture into your skin, and wash off in the shower. “It takes two seconds to do, it’s using products you always have in the house and it works,” says Nicole Pearl, Founder of TheBeautyGirl.com. As the olive oil moisturizes, the sugar scrubs away dead skin cells, leaving you with softer, silkier skin in less than 10 minutes.
Clarifying Scalp Treatment
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil, softened
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice
Remove product buildup, relieve dry, flaky skin, treat dandruff and stimulate hair growth with this combo. “It’s basically like a facial for your scalp,” says Destri Bufmack of TheMotherHuddle.com. Start by gently rubbing the entire scalp with a scalp treatment brush to lift away dead skin. Next, part the hair and start on one side of the head, using the application brush to apply the mixture in one-inch sections. Use your fingertips to massage the mixture into your scalp. Let sit for 20 minutes, and wash with a clarifying shampoo. Bufmack recommends this treatment at the start of each season.
Cleansing Peppermint Face & Body Wash
- 1 cup unscented liquid castile soap
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
- 1 teaspoon jojoba oil (for acne-prone skin substitute hazelnut oil)
Pick up all of these natural ingredients and combine in a clear container with a flip-top lid. This energizing wash, created by Heather Dessinger, author of “DIY Organic Beauty Recipes,” is gentle enough to be used as a facial cleanser, but powerful enough to work as an everyday body wash. The moisturizing effects of jojoba oil make this wash a winner for a range of skin types.
All-Purpose Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
- 1 cup pure filtered water
- 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
Mix apple cider vinegar and water, and apply twice a week with a cotton ball. Apple cider vinegar works miracles on your complexion, and this solution can treat red marks and acne, and help soften, tone and balance skin. “Soaps are wonderful, but they make our skin work overtime to restore their natural pH after use,” Dessinger says. “To give your skin a break, naturally restore pH with this simple toner and follow with moisturizer.” Optional: Add 10-20 drops of essential oil. We love soothing lavender or healing chamomile for dry skin and acne.
Priming Lip Scrub
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Combine equal parts honey and sugar and gently rub on lips before starting your beauty regimen. “It gets all that dry skin off the lips and preps them for the lipstick,” Bufmack says. Rinse with water, and your pucker will be perfectly primed for your lip color. Optional: Lighten the mixture with a few drops of water.
