DIY: 15 Amazing Beauty Products You Can Make At Home

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars a year on salon facials, only to halt the benefits by slapping make-up on your face every day. Mother Nature offers an abundance of ingredients for beauty products that you’re likely to have in your kitchen right now.

So give these natural alternatives a go instead of the usual expensive, chemically infused products:

1. Aromatherapy

Cut up a cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma.

2. Eye reviver

After cleansing, prepare a cup of chamomile or green tea and let it cool. Soak two round makeup sponges in the tea and squeeze out any excess liquid.

Place on each of your eyes for 15 minutes.

3. Cleanser (for all skin types)

Combine 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons olive oil and ½ a teaspoon lemon oil (not lemon juice!).

Massage over your skin (avoiding the eye area), then wipe it off immediately with a warm wet cloth.

4. Exfoliator (for all skin types)

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Separately, cook some plain oatmeal using minimal water so it forms a thick paste. Mix the honey and olive oil into the cooked oatmeal. Let it cool, then apply as a scrub, gently rubbing it in small circles over your skin (avoiding the eye area).

Rinse off with warm water.

5. Skin brightener (for all skin types)

After cleansing, cut a slice of ripe papaya, remove the seeds and pulp. Rub the inside of the papaya peel on your face (avoiding the eye area), focusing on lines around the mouth, eyes and neck.

After 15 minutes, rinse off with warm water.

6. Hydrating race mask (for dry skin)

Grind 1 tablespoon oatmeal in a blender and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon fennel seeds to ½ cup boiling water to make a tea. Leave for 10 minutes then strain the seeds and discard them.

Once the tea has cooled, combine with the ground oatmeal and 1 tablespoon of honey and apply to your face after cleansing.

After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water, then again with cold water.

7. Soothing race mask (for stressed skin)

Combine 2 tablespoons honey with 1 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to form a thick paste and apply to your face (avoiding the eye area).

After 30 minutes, rinse with warm water, softly scrubbing in circular motion for exfoliation.

8. Lifting and tightening face mask (for oily blemish prone skin)

After cleansing, combine 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and apply to your face and neck (avoiding the eye area).

Let it dry for 20 – 30 minutes (it will tighten on your face and neck), rinse with warm water, then again with cold water.

9. Hair shine mask

Massage ½ cup Greek yogurt into damp hair. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water, then again with cold water, then shampoo and condition hair as usual.

10. Dry hair treatment

Massage ½ cup honey with 2 tablespoons olive oil into clean, damp hair. Leave in for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

11. Raw egg hair mask

Normal hair — use ½ cup whisked eggs.

Oily hair — use ½ cup of whisked egg whites.

Dry hair — use ½ cup whisked egg yolks.

Apply to clean, damp hair. After 20 minutes rinse with cold water, then shampoo and condition hair as per normal. WARNING: Don’t rinse with hot water — it will cook the egg!

12. Deep conditioning hair treatment

Soften coconut oil into a paste in the microwave. Apply to hair and leave in for 20 minutes, then rinse. Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

13. Calming body mask

Grind mint leaves with warm water to make a paste, then add the juice of one lemon. Apply all over your body, leave on for 20 minutes, then shower.

14. Body scrub

Simply mix one part coconut oil and 2 parts coarse brown sugar. Scrub entire body.

15. Foot soak

Mix 1/2 cup Epsom salt, the zest of one lime and 3 drops of peppermint essential oil in warm water. Then sit back, relax and enjoy!