I love beauty products as much as the next girl and I have the cluttered makeup drawer to prove it! But I also love it when you can get really great beauty results using regular products you have around the house. For one thing, you know it’s natural- no dyes or chemicals- which is nice when it’s something you use on your skin. And then there’s also the economical payoff- specialized beauty products can get really expensive, and who doesn’t like to save a few bucks?
Here are some common household products that do double duty as beauty products:
- Sea salt: Sea salt has lots of minerals that are beneficial to the skin. It also absorbs toxins like acne-causing bacteria and is an excellent exfoliant. Gently pat onto wet skin and rinse, being very careful not to get in your eyes.
- Apple cider vinegar: This household staple balances the skin’s PH and kills germs. Dilute it with water and apply with a cotton ball, or keep in a spray bottle.
- Coconut oil: Great moisturizer and antibacterial product. This works so well as a deep hair moisturizer.
- Oats: This powerhouse works as an exfoliant, reduces inflammation, relieves itchiness, and leaves skin soft. Pour 1/2 cup into a bath and soak, or make a mask for your face.
- Sugar: Mix some sugar into your favorite body wash for an in-shower body scrub.
- Baking soda: Another household staple that is a super beauty product! Use it to get rid of odors, make a paste and use it to zap a zit, remove shampoo build-up in your hair, and add to toothpaste to help remove surface stains.
- Olive oil: Excellent skin cleanser and moisturizer.
- Green tea bags: The anti-oxidant ingredients here help reduce puffiness around your eyes and get rid of dark circles. Steep and chill a couple of tea bags and rest on your eyes for a few minutes.
- Lemon juice: Use it to lighten dark spots on skin and remove yellow stains from nails.
- Tartar control toothpaste: Works great to polish silver jewelry!
- Cucumber: Apply cucumber slices to your eyes to soothe and get rid of bags and circles.
- Dryer sheets: Gently rub your hair to freshen and remove static.
- Toilet paper: Don’t spend money on expensive skin blotting sheets- toilet paper works just as well to absorb oil from your face.
- Cooking spray: Use the unflavored kind to quick-dry nail polish.
- Cornstarch: Makes a great dry shampoo.
- Vaseline: Make fragrance last longer on your skin by applying a dab of Vaseline on your pulse points before spraying perfume
You’ll be surprised by how well they work and you’ll be happy with the money you save. Put some away so you can splurge on that absolutely fabulous lipstick you just can’t replicate at home!