Do-It-Yourself Natural and Inexpensive Makeover
Create an Inexpensive and Natural Beauty Spa – At Home!
Feb 15, 2009
With this frugal beauty advice, a trip to the local spa or the purchase of chemical-filled beauty products is unnecessary! Follow this advice to wake-up your body and mind and prepare for the sunshine.
Remember to make your home spa as relaxing as possible. Play soft music, light some candles, have a glass of champagne or a cup of tea, and do not rush!
Instant Beauty Tricks: Year-Round Necessities for a Healthy Glow
The number one must-do in beauty is hydration. Drink the recommended amount of water for skin and metabolism that is truly healthy and for an energy-filled lifestyle.
Take your vitamins! Health supplements including vitamin E and fish oil promote bright skin and a strong mind.
Get enough sleep and be sure to relax. Exhaustion and stress show themselves in our skin and facial features. Beauty sleep is no joke!
The Do-It-Yourself Facial: Exfoliate, Cleanse, and Moisturize
Begin with a clean face; make-up must be gently removed with lukewarm water. It is also a good idea to put on an old t-shirt that can get a little messy, just in case.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation scrubs away dead skin cells and reveals the fresh, bright skin beneath. Exfoliation should be a weekly routine; this maintains that clean glow. DIY exfoliators are easy to make and are a cheap replacement for that monthly chemical peel or home microdermabrasion kit. Natural elements can be combined for a balance that works right for oily, dry, or normal skin. Strawberry seeds and raw sugar are two natural exfoliants that may already be in the kitchen! See more ingredients and recipes for homemade facials.
Steam
This step is optional, but it is relaxing and prepares the skin to accept moisturizing. Heat a pan of water, perhaps adding a few sprigs of lavender or rosemary for their pleasing aromas. Much caution should be exercised in working with hot water! Once the pan is steaming (but not yet boiling), drape a cloth over your head and place your face in the path of the steam. Relax in the steam for five minutes. Alternatively, gently pressing a moist, warm towel to the face for two minutes accomplishes the same result.
Masks
Cleanse and condition the skin with a homemade facial mask. Basic elements combine to provide any skin type with a multitude of benefits. Try a mashed banana for tighter skin, egg whites to soak up excess oil, and fresh mint to revitalize mind and body.
The Do-It-Yourself Pedicure: Soak, Scrub, and Moisturize
Feet suffer great neglect throughout the winter. These easy steps will have those toes sandal-ready in no time!
Soak
Women rarely soak their feet, which is unfortunate because foot soaks can be so beneficial both to the skin and to the mind. Relax with sea salt, herbal soaks, or milk and honey.
Scrub
Exfoliation is a necessity for smooth, healthy looking feet. Shed dead skin cells, soften calluses, and treat your feet to a refreshing massage with a sea salt or coffee grounds foot scrub. Check out this list of ingredients for homemade natural scrubs. This process can be followed up and maintained by the daily use of a pumice stone, nature’s callus cure.
Moisturize
If it’s not already a nightly ritual, moisturizing should become a bedtime priority. Whether you have expensive foot moisturizers or a large, cheap tub of cocoa butter lotion, slather it on and cover it up with socks. Your feet with be moistened as you snooze. Try a pair of spa socks—they are affordable and better than plain cotton for keeping moisture in.
The Do-It-Yourself Hair Mask: Hair Conditioners for the Frugal Beauty
Go longer without heading to the stylist. Natural and simple hair mask recipes and ingredients can add that extra shine and moisture to hair for a Springtime-ready mane. From mayonnaise to beer to eggs, basic kitchen ingredients can provide stunning (and money-saving!) results.
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