Got a skin or hair issue to solve? Before you make a beeline for the beauty aisle of your department store, you should actually open your kitchen cabinet. For there is a whole world of ingredients that would actually solve almost every beauty problem there is. It takes no time to whip up and won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Check out these completely natural beauty recipes that you just have to try!
1. Toner for problematic skin: Green tea
If your skin is oily, breaks out or get marks and spots, it’s best to stay away from harsh chemical toners that do more harm than good by stripping your skin. Instead try good old green tea to soothe, calm and clear your skin. Just use it regularly for a few weeks to see the difference.
Ingredients: Green tea leaves (or teabag) + fresh water.
Method: Brew a fresh cup of green tea. Let it cool. Pour it into a bottle and refrigerate. This lasts for just 3 days, so keep making small batches.
Application: Soak cotton pads with the green tea and swipe all over your face. Use morning and night after washing your face.
Why it works: Green tea is brimming with anti-oxidants that soothe and heal angry, red, irritated skin. So it reduces the redness and swelling caused by pimples as well as the size of your pores.
2. Sun burn soother: Yogurt with sugar.
A sunburn is painful. It hurts. It peels. It looks terrible. But now that you have one, how do you get rid of it super quick? Yogurt mixed with sugar to the rescue!
Ingredients: Yogurt + sugar.
Method: Mix a tablespoon of sugar in a cup of yogurt.
Application: Apply a thick layer all over the sunburn. Leave on for 15-20 mins and rinse off.
Why it works: The lactic acid in the yogurt calms skin and reduces redness and swelling, while the glycolic acid in the sugar gently exfoliates the dead skin and reduces inflammation. Now that’s pretty awesome!
3. Cellulite fighter: Coffee scrub.
Most cellulite creams contain caffeine – the classic cellulite fighter. So why not make use good old coffee straight from your kitchen to reap its amazing smoothening and toning benefits? Need another reason? This scrub smells way better than any store-bought cream!
Ingredients: ½ cup ground coffee + ½ cup coconut oil + ¼ cup sugar.
Method: Mix in a bowl until everything is combined. Store it at room temperature in an airtight container.
Application: Start massaging the scrub in a circular motion from your feet and work your way up to your neck. Let it ‘sit’ for 15-20 minutes and rinse. Repeat 2-3 times a week to see a visible difference.
Why it works: The ground coffee releases small amounts of caffeine, which is absorbed into your skin and spikes circulation and temporarily shrinks fat cells, improving your skin tone almost immediately. The coconut oil is packed with Vitamin E that moisturizes your skin. The sugar gently scrubs your skin making it instantly smooth and shiny.
4. Dark elbow lightener: Lemon halves dipped in oil and salt.
Got dry, dark elbows and no amount of moisturizer seems to work? Try this trick and your will see a difference almost immediately.
Ingredients: 1 lemon + 1 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp rock salt.
Method: Cut a large lemon into two equal halves. Dip the pulpy part first into olive oil and then into the rock salt.
Application: Scrub each lemon-half coated with oil and salt onto your elbows for 10 to 15 minutes.
Why it works: The lemon juice acts as a mild natural bleaching agent. The grainy salt gently exfoliates the dead, dull skin. The olive oil moisturizes dry skin. It’s a real win-win.
5. Long, thick lashes: 3-oil blend
Ok, who doesn’t want long, thick, endless, perfectly curled lashes?! Long lashes make you look younger, make your eyes pop and give you that oh-so-flirty gaze. It’s a no-brainer why the sales of mascara are so high. But you can totally do away with mascara (forever!) with these 3 simple ingredients.
Ingredients: 1 drop castor + 1 drop olive oil + 1 drop coconut oil.
Method: Mix these 3 oil together in a small bowl.
Application: Dip a clean mascara wand or a cotton earbud into the oil and apply on clean, freshly washed lashes. Focus more at the roots and then sweep the remaining oil over the tips. Apply this concoction about 30 minutes before you sleep so that your lashes absorb the goodness and not your pillowcase. Do this every night for a month to see a remarkable difference.
Why it works: Each of these oils are jam-packed with different sets of vitamins, fatty acids and nutrients that promote hair growth and thickness. When used together, you reap all their nourishing benefits so you see the results sooner.
Watchout: Always use 100% pure oils as you don’t want preservatives, chemicals or alcohol near your eyes.
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