I think it’s safe to say that most collegiettes out there are adamant consumers of beauty products. But all of the scrubbing, plucking, moisturizing, and applying can take a huge toll on not only our appearance, but on our student-sized budgets. Thanks to avid fashion magazine consumption and Pinterest devotion, I present to you a compilation of the tried and true, easy and natural beauty solutions.
1. Lemon Juice in Blonde Hair
Thankfully, summer is almost here, and that means hours upon hours of bright sunshine to look forward to. For fellow blondes out there, or really anyone going for a “sun-kissed” look, spraying lemon juice on your locks during a tanning session is a necessity. This lightens up your hair color and smells immensely better than any chemical method. The results aren’t crazy dramatic so you can dip your toes into the realm of blonde. Does this bring anyone back to middle school days before mothers would let you dye your hair? Maybe it’s the nostalgia, but I love this trick, and it works like a charm.
2. Baking Soda Exfoliation
This is life changing. Although, like most, I’ve gone through my fair share of face washes with a seedy texture to smooth my skin, the idea of scrubbing it on always irks me. But if you want unbelievably soft skin, pour a very small handful (gumball sized) of baking soda and apply to your face with wet fingers. Once you get a pasty consistency, rub in small circles for a few minutes and rinse. Baking soda is cheap and more natural than most things you’re probably using, and it has granules small enough for gentle microdermabrasion. Your skin should not only look glowing, but also feel softer than ever. Wait a few days in between uses to be gentle. It’s like getting soft skin on your legs from rubbing them with sand on the beach. And if you didn’t already know that trick than I guess this was a two for one!
3. Sugar Scrub
This is the same concept of softening skin that body washes and scrubs are trying to imitate but in a pure and simple form. Mix pure sugar with any type of oil, preferably something luscious like coconut. Even add extracts for scent if you want, and use it as a body scrub. This actually makes an adorable DIY present because batches can be enhanced with food coloring, cute jars, and personal tags or ribbons!
4. Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth
This trick definitely saves the most money of them all. Dental hygiene is obviously important, but it doesn’t guarantee profile picture worthy, bright white teeth. With Professional whitening comes a shocking bill, and at home solutions are gooey, time consuming, and usually around $50. From time to time an easy solution I’ve found is to rub your teeth with a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide for a minute before brushing. It doesn’t sting or smell, and the results are usually apparent within a few days. A bottle of peroxide is just a few dollars, and if you’re questioning the safety, doctors actually recommend swishing this substance to keep a clean mouth anyway. It’s perfect!
5. Olive Oil + Hair
Hair is actually easy to treat with natural products; any combination of things like olive oil, eggs, avocado, and honey are always recommended to soak (at least) your dry ends in for some nourishment. It totally works, and there are so many options out there to soften your locks!
There you have it collegiettes! Before you drop $100 at the local CVS, consider these home remedies for beautiful skin and luscious locks.
Sources:
Ehow.com
Pinterest.com
TipJunkie.com
Jamesfreehealth.com
Beautythroughstrength.com