It’s tough to maintain a successful skincare routine in college. Internships, late night studying, extracurriclars, and being active in the social scene all add to the stress that dulls complexion, create dark circles, and give the inconvenient zit. And if your like me and rather spend the extra paycheck on a pair of shoes than a crazy expensive beauty serum, than purchasing five $50 bottles of cleansers is out of the question. And even though drugstore brands are cheaper I find they are less effective and can be irritable to the skin. Luckily there are a few cheap, but very effective remedies that can give any girl’s face that extra boost of brightness and nutrition!
1. Yogurt Facial– Diminishes Redness, Brightens, and Hydrates the Skin
What You’ll Need:
- Any Brand of Original Greek Yogurt. Make sure it’s flavorless! I recommend Chobani Greek Yogurt- Plain.
Why It Works: Natural yogurt contains lactic acid that helps lock in moisture to give your skin a glowing look.
Directions:
- After doing your normal cleansing routine, apply a generous amount of the natural yogurt all over your face and neck. Be sure to avoid the eye area. I like to apply a thin layer and then add on making sure that no skin is exposed. You’ll immediately feel a relaxing cooling sensation.
- Let it soak in for about 25 minutes.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water. Right away you should feel and see a big difference in your complexion.
This facial works with every skin type and is a perfect way to refresh and revitalize your face after a late night out. Who would have thought that a healthy breakfast option could double as a moisturizing God send! I recommend using this very effective facial once or twice a week.
*This remedy also works very well as a hair serum. Let the yogurt set for 30 minutes before rinsing off and using shampoo and conditioner.
2. Oatmeal Cleanser– Exfoliates and softens skin.
What You’ll Need:
- Any Brand of Plain Oatmeal. I recommend Quaker Oats Whole Grain.
Why It Works: Oatmeal is an anti-inflammatory so it is great for irritated skin. It also absorbs dirt and removes impurities as well as exfoliating the skin leaving a brighter complexion.
Directions:
- Scoop up a handful of oatmeal and clench it into a fist.
- Let your fist of oatmeal soak under warm running water making sure to let the water run through your fingers and mix with the oatmeal.
- After dampening the oatmeal, unclench and sprinkle a few drops of water into the oatmeal so when you press down there is a milky liquid.
- Start cleansing your face with the oatmeal using it as a scrub. The oatmeal should feel soft.
- Be sure to massage it into your face and neck for about 5 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. Be warned, this remedy can be quite messy so be prepared to clean your sink afterward!
For whatever mess it makes, this remedy makes up for in results. I use oatmeal to cleanse my face almost every morning because it is so successful in softening my skin. I find that my acne problems have disappeared and my skin is less red from irritation. Unlike other exfolients and cleansers, this remedy is 100% natural and works great for all skin types. I highly recommend this for those with sensitive skin! This cleanser can be used both in the morning and before bed every day.
3. Egg Serum– Brightens and Tightens Skin.
What You’ll Need:
- One Organic Egg. I recommend Egg-lands Best because they are nice to their hens J.
Why it Works: Egg yolks are loaded with Vitamin A, protein, and nutrients that help tighten pores and give skin a temporary lift.
Directions:
- Make sure to have a clean and cleansed face before beginning this remedy.
- Carefully crack the egg open.
- Slowly slide the yoke back and forth making sure to separate the whites into one bowl and placing the yolk in another bowl.
- Beat the egg whites until frothy.
- Apply the whites all over your face being sure to avoid the eye area.
- Wait a few minutes to let it dry. You should be able to tell when it is ready because you won’t be able to smile.
- Rinse off the egg whites.
- Afterwards use the egg yolk to moisturize all over your face.
- Rinse off after about 3- 5 minutes.
This serum is especially great for oily skin. In this hot weather skin can feel and look tired or flat. This will immediately tighten and lift, while helping to minimize pores. I recommend using this remedy once every two weeks.
4. Puffy Eye Spoon Trick– Helps reduce puffiness around the eyes.
What you’ll need:
- Two metal spoons.
Why it works: Cooling the area around the eyes helps to circulate blood flow and reduces the buildup from lack of sleep. The skin around the eye area is very sensitive so using ice cubes would be too harsh and might damage the skin.
Directions:
- Place two metal spoons in the freezer for about 1 hour or overnight.
- In the morning remove the spoons and place the backside of each spoon under your eye area.
- Leave there until all the coolness from the spoons have been absorbed.
This remedy won’t cure dark circles, but it will help tired eyes feel more refreshed and less swollen. And lets face it after all the late nights we pull in college, we could use all the help we can get in looking refreshed and awake. I use this trick almost every morning.