(Meaghan is a guest blogger from Cook. Craft. Love.)
I just cannot stop telling every single person I know about the benefits of making your own beauty products are home. I haven’t always been a DIY beauty kind of girl, but when you compare the price cut of making these products at home and the health benefits of not putting all those store-bought chemicals on your face, it’s definitely a win. The best part is that you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry already!
Even if you’re washing your face every night it’s only removing surface dirt and grime so it’s important to treat yourself to a face mask once a week or so to draw out the impurities, dirt, and bacteria from under the top layers of your skin. It helps unclog pores so your daily washing is more effective. Plus, who doesn’t love to have an excuse to lay around for 30 minutes and pamper yourself?
Coconut Oil + Honey
Did you know that honey has anti-fungal properties? I love using it in my tea but my mind was blown when I started researching it’s benefits for use in beauty products. If you want to reap all the benefits of it then spring for raw or local honey because those options will be less processed than the kind you’ll find in the store. Coconut oil has small molecules that are perfect for penetrating your skin and moisturizing. Mix equal parts coconut oil and honey, heat a little to melt oil, and stir well. Apply gently to your face and let sit for 15 minutes.
Cucumber + Egg White
Confession time. I don’t like cucumber. At least not to eat anyway, but I love to add it to my face masks because the skin of a cucumber is a great source of vitamin C which is really important in producing collagen. That magical thing that keeps our skin looking young and healthy. Egg whites are not just for omelettes either. Adding an egg white to your face mask will help tighten and refine pores and increase circulation as it dries. Blend half a small cucumber (skin on) with one egg white until foamy and apply to your skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water.
Plain Yogurt
I’d love to meet the person who just decided to slather yogurt on their face one day so that I can thank them. This is something we always have in the fridge and I had no idea the benefits of it as a beauty product until I started doing more research. Yogurt has probiotics that are great for acne but the lactic acid that helps reduce redness and even skin tone is my favorite feature. Apply a thin layer of yogurt (greek yogurt works, too) and let sit for 20 minutes before washing off with warm water.
Unflavored Gelatin + Milk
I have a terrible problem with blackheads in my t-zone where I’m the most oily. I love using those Biore pore strips, but they’re pricey! Who knew I could make my own with a 50 cent packet of gelatin and a little milk? Take it from a pro and get the unflavored gelatin so you don’t walk around smelling like a Jolly Rancher all day. Add the gelatin packet to about 1 1/2 Tbs of milk and microwave until gelatin is completely dissolved. Apply to your face and let dry completely then slowly peel off.
Cinnamon + Nutmeg + Honey + Lemon Juice
This mask isn’t for the faint of heart. Putting cinnamon and nutmeg together is certainly a wake up call and this mask tingles on the skin. It’s worth it though if you’re interested in the anti-fungal properties of honey and lemon juice, the plumping abilities of nutmeg to help reduce fine lines, and the warming effect of cinnamon to bring blood to the surface of your skin to detoxify. Mix equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey and add a splash of lemon juice. Apply to your face for 15 minutes and wash off.
Exfoliating is important and homemade scrubs are great for that. It gets rid of dead skin so that new, fresh, healthy skin can grow in it’s place. I keep a homemade body scrub in an airtight jar in my shower so I can exfoliate a couple of times a week. It always makes my skin feel so fresh and clean!
Oatmeal + Honey + Almond oil
Oatmeal is a great exfoliant for sensitive skin because the grains are not going to be as abrasive as sugar or salt. Mix equal parts honey and almond oil for anti-microbial and moisturizing with enough oatmeal to form a paste. Gently massage over your skin and wash off for a youthful glow.
Brown Sugar + Honey
This is the one I have in my shower all. the. time. Grains of brown sugar are smaller than white sugar so it’s a more abrasive exfoliant. I love using it in the shower because brown sugar naturally soaks up moisture from the air which will help moisturize your skin. The honey helps with my acne because (are you tired of hearing me say it yet?) of the anit-fungal properties. Mix the brown sugar and honey until you have a good paste and massage gently.
Coffee Grinds + Olive Oil + Sugar
Yeah, coffee isn’t just for keeping you awake during your morning meeting anymore. The caffeine that you need to keep you going is just as good at getting rid of cellulite by bringing excess water to the surface of your skin and making your skin appear firmer. Combine that with the moisturizing properties of olive oil and exfoliating properties of sugar and you have a winner on your hands. Use already brewed coffee grounds for the best effect.
Coconut Oil + Sugar + Grapefruit Oil + Peppermint Oil
Need something to keep you awake besides coffee? Try this energizing and rejuvenating scrub that features my new favorite beauty and health tool: essential oils. Grapefruit oil has the same vitamin C in it that cucumber skin does so it’s a great way to produce collagen and keep your skin looking young. Peppermint oil cools and invigorates your skin making you look more awake. This is definitely a great morning scrub to keep you looking fresh and bright all day long. Make a paste with coconut oil and sugar and add a few drops of grapefruit and peppermint oils.
Sugar + Avocado Oil + Honey + Apple Cider Vinegar
Combat acne with a simple scrub that exfoliates dead skin cells with sugar, moisturizes with avocado oil, kills bacteria with honey, and tones, reduces acne scars, and regulates the pH of your skin with apple cider vinegar. Mix equal parts avocado oil, honey, and vinegar then add enough sugar to form a paste. You’ll want to keep this one on hand all year round!
