Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo

Every collegiette wants to look her best, but sometimes you only have a couple of minutes to spare…look no further than your kitchen for the answer.  Everyday items can transform your look in just a couple of minutes. 

Baking Soda:
Baking soda has been around forever. Maybe you’ve seen it in your refrigerator or in your laundry room, but prepare to use it in some totally new ways. 
1. My grandfather was a periodontist, and he said to mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for a natural way to whiten. I swear by it.
2. I was recently talking to my hairdresser, and she told me it’s essential to use a clarifying shampoo. Just mix baking soda into a dollop of your shampoo. It will act like a scrub for your scalp and get rid of buildup from styling products and harsh chemicals (like chlorine from your pool).
3. Use baking soda as a face and body scrub. It makes skin super-soft. Also scrubbing it on your fingernails makes the tips brighter (like a manicure, but free!).
4. Baking soda makes great deodorant in a pinch. Just like it deodorizes food in a fridge, it neutralizes underarm odor and helps you stay fresh all day long. 
5. Treat insect bites by using water to make a thick paste and applying it to the affected area.
6.  Clean makeup, hairbrushes, retainers, etc by soaking it a baking soda and water mixture.
7.  Swish baking soda and water around in your mouth for an easy mouthwash. It’s not minty, but it will definitely get your mouth date-ready. 

Tumeric: 

Tumeric is a spice typically used in Indian or Asian cuisines. It’s a bright orange color, and is popping up in beauty products all around because of its fabulous benefits.
1. Mix 3 tbsp. tumeric with a tsp. of olive oil and rub all over heels to heel cracks and prevent fungus.
2. Mix equal parts of tumeric with honey to make a soothing facial mask. Leave it on for 15 minutes to reap the full benefits.
3.  Tumeric is an excellent bronzing agent when mixed with a couple drops of water. Word to the wise: only use if you have medium to dark skin. Otherwise, it could make you look like an Oompa Loompa…or worse, Snooki. 

Tea:

We all know that caffeine wakes us up when we’re cramming for finals, but what you may not know is that it does the same for your skin…especially dark under-eye circles. Brew a cup of tea with two teabags. Let the bags cool and place them over your eyes. Voila! No more puffy eyes!

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar
Jaime Ritter

Jaime is a junior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. There she is the captain of her varsity golf team and a journalism and English double-major. She is an active member in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee where she helps organize volunteer opportunities and social functions for student-athletes at UAB. Jaime enjoys cooking, entertaining friends, reading/writing blogs, fashion, and of course, golf. She aspires to eventually write for a major magazine or write chick-lit books.