Ditch the toxins in some of your favorite personal care products and enhance your natural beauty with these amazing recipes with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen! These recipes are super easy to make and work wonders. Who knew these kitchen ingredients would be so helpful in our beauty routine?!
Fresh coffee grounds:
Fresh ground coffee
What to do: Fresh coffee grounds can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. All you have to do is mix ¼ cup fresh ground coffee with 3 tablespoons of hot water and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes or until the water is absorbed and forms a paste. Then, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to help bind the grinds. Cleanse the problem areas in a warm shower, then turn off the water and massage the coffee mixture in circular motions for 2-4 minutes. Rinse with warm water, pat dry and moisturize. Repeat this process 2-3 times a week for 6 weeks for best results.
How it works: The fresh ground coffee has more antioxidants and caffeine than used coffee grounds. These are moderately effective to reduce the appearance of cellulite in the short term. Caffeine, a stimulant, dilates blood vessels, which temporarily tones and tightens tissue. The antioxidants in coffee may help release toxins which is helpful for overall healthy skin. The olive oil not only helps the bind the mixture, but it adds some moisture which leads me to one of my favorite beauty hacks.
Olive Oil:
Extra virgin olive oil
What to do: Aside from being a kitchen staple, extra virgin olive oil (hereinafter referred as olive oil) is fabulous for hair, skin, and nails. I’ve been using olive oil for its moisturizing properties for years now and I have yet to be disappointed. Here’s how I use it:
- Hot Oil Hair Treatment: Warm up about ¼ cup of olive oil and carefully apply it to your scalp. Massage the olive oil onto your scalp and work the oil down the length of the hair to fully cover every strand. Be very careful as the oil can get very hot! Keep the oil in your hair for up to 30 minutes. I usually do stuff around the house while the olive oil is working its magic. Then, gently wash your hair with a small amount of shampoo to remove the residual oil. Once that is rinsed out, repeat the lather but only on the roots. This prevents your roots from looking too oily and helps the drier ends stay moisturized. I do not apply any conditioner in the shower but I do apply a very, very small amount of anti-frizz leave-in conditioner. I do this once a week and it helps my hair stay soft and shiny.
- Body Scrub: I also use an olive oil and sugar scrub to exfoliate my body. Combine brown sugar, a dash of granulated sugar and olive oil in a small bowl and form a paste. If I am feeling luxurious, I add a few drops of lemon essential oil but this is optional. I usually eye ball the measurements as it depends on what I will be exfoliating. You can’t go wrong with the measurements as long as it a paste you can easily use. Massage the scrub mixture in circular motions for a minute or so and then rinse and pat dry. I don’t even need to moisturize! If you feel that the scrub is too harsh on your skin, next time add less brown sugar and more granulated sugar. I keep this mixture away from my face and I don’t recommend it as a face scrub as it can be too harsh on the delicate skin and cause irritation. I do not save any of the mixture but you certainly keep it in an air tight container. I exfoliate with this mixture every two weeks but it can be done every week. The bath tub can get slippery though, so be careful!
- Other uses: Although, I mainly use olive as a hot-oil hair treatment and body scrub besides being used in the kitchen of course, olive oil can be used as a cuticle conditioner for stronger and longer nails, as an eczema remedy since it is a moisturizer, and as a cracked-heel remedy by applying the olive oil to feet after being exfoliated (you can use my body scrub recipe!) and covering with socks. Olive oil is even safe for babies as it is perfect for sensitive skin. You can apply a small amount of oil on your baby’s bottom.
How it works: Olive oil is packed with inflammation-inhibiting and anti-aging antioxidants which helps moisturize. It also contains, squalene, which is known for its skin health benefits. Squalene revitalizes weakened body cells and helps revive cell generation. Because of this, squalene also acts as an anti-aging agent.
Avocado:
Halved avocado with leaves
What to do: Avocado, honey and oatmeal make a great face mask to help soothe, smooth and hydrate your skin. Mash half of an avocado in a small bowl and add ¼ cup of uncooked oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Combine the mixture to form a paste and carefully apply it to your face. Be careful around the eye area. Let the mixture sit on your face for about 15 minutes then rinse with warm water and moisturize.
How it works: Avocado is packed with vitamin E, healthy fats and antioxidants that help keep skin smooth. The lemon juice and apple cider vinegar contain citric acid which helps brighten the skin and reduce inflammation. Honey has antibacterial/antimicrobial properties so it helps cleanse the skin. The uncooked oatmeal helps to exfoliate the skin as it soothes any irritation.
Witch Hazel:
Witch Hazel flower
Although Witch Hazel is not something found in your kitchen or something you can make at home, it is a great, budget-friendly beauty solution you probably have somewhere.
What to do: Witch hazel can be used on sunburn, razor burn, bug bites, poison ivy, cuts, and diaper rash. Witch hazel is quite inexpensive and a must-have for skin. I have personally used it as a face toner to help with acne. After cleansing and pat drying my face, I would moisten a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply it to my problem areas. Once it settled in to my skin, I would moisturize. To me, witch hazel had a very distinct scent. I can’t exactly describe what it smelled like but it was a very earthy smell. None the less, it worked wonders on my skin!
How it works: Witch hazel is multi-task solution made from the leaves and bark of the North American shrub and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. It also has astringent properties that help soothe skin, shrink pores, and maintain skin elasticity.
Sources: Nutrition Stripped, Natural Skin Care Junkie, Women’s Health and Solivera
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Be on the lookout for more Homemade Beauty Recipes. In the meantime, be sure to check out our other blog posts!
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