If you flip through any magazine, you’ll find at least a dozen advertisements for the newest beauty product that guarantees the best hair/skin/nails you’ll ever have. But when you actually go to try them, you find that they’re packed with ingredients that you can’t even pronounce. No one wants that!
Before you hit the drugstore to fix your next beauty woe, wander to your kitchen instead. There are a ton of natural beauty remedies that you can try, and the best part is you already have most of the ingredients at home!
1. Olive oil for dry skin
Olive oil is rich with vitamin E, which is amazing for you skin. Take 1 tablespoon of olive oil and combine it with three tablespoons of lemon juice and five tablespoons of sugar. Use this exfoliating mixture in the shower and rinse for soft, smooth skin. Just be careful while you finish showering because olive oil is extremely slippery!
2. Baking soda for yellow teeth
You could easily buy some whitening strips for a pearly smile, but they tend to be expensive and can damage your teeth. Instead, grab three teaspoons of baking soda and mix it with one tablespoon of water. Create a paste with your toothbrush and brush away! The baking soda will help remove stains and whiten your teeth with a couple uses.
3. Avocado for frizzy hair
Now your favorite guac ingredient can actually tame your unruly hair too! Mash up a half of an avocado with a banana and apply to your hair. Put on a plastic shower cap, wait ten minutes and then rinse with cool water. The fatty acids in both ingredients will make your hair silky smooth instantly.
4. Brown sugar for chapped lips
Forget your chapstick and try this quick fix for chapped lips! Put a teaspoon of brown sugar on a wet washcloth and gently rub your lips. The sugar will naturally exfoliate them so they’re nice and smooth. Want to keep your lips moisturized all day long? Apply a little bit of coconut oil. Both remedies are easy (and yummy!) ways to prevent dry lips.
5. Tea for dull hair
No matter what your hair color is, we can all use a little shine boost every once in a while. Steep 2 teabags (chamomile for blondes, rooibos for redheads and black tea for brunettes) in two cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Refrigerate the tea, jump in the shower and wash your hair. Then pour the cooled tea mixture on your hair and work it in root to tip. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse your hair off again. Apply conditioner and enjoy your shiny hair!
6. Lemon for blackheads
Blackheads are annoying, and pore strips can really hurt. Instead opt for a more natural remedy—all you need is a lemon and some honey! Cut the lemon in half and drizzle about a teaspoon of honey on it. Then rub the lemon on your face, focusing on the areas that are most prone to blackheads. Rinse your face off and apply moisturizer. Repeat this method a few more times if you don’t immediately see results.
7. Nutmeg for acne scars
What’s worse than pimples? The scars they tend to leave behind. To reduce the appearance of acne scars, combine half a teaspoon of nutmeg, a half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a quarter teaspoon of honey and apply to the scar. Let it sit for about 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off. For really stubborn scars, dab a small amount of aloe vera on them afterwards.
8. Egg whites for puffy eyes
You stayed up late last night and have to wake up early in the morning. Naturally your eyes will be a little puffy from lack of sleep, so use this easy remedy to reduce the swelling before you head out the door! Beat the whites from one egg in a bowl until stiff. Add a little witch hazel (if you have it) and then apply the mixture under your eyes with a small makeup brush. Let it dry for 15 minutes before you rinse it off. You’ll trick everyone into thinking you got a full night’s sleep!
9. Oranges for rough skin
Whether you have rough elbows, knees or heels, this super simple remedy will take care of it. Slice an orange in half and rub it on your dry areas in the shower. That’s it! Not only will you smell citrusy and fresh, the acid from the orange will get rid of all your rough skin.