Melissa Findley, Model – Chelsea Waddell
Jul 15, 2014 12:02
by Eleanor Pendelton
Have oily skin? Can’t get that mascara off? Prefer a 100% natural alternative? Well, you don’t have to walk any further than your kitchen. Here, Gritty Pretty’s Eleanor Pendleton reveals 10 beauty remedies to try at home.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Aside from making a mean salad dressing, apple cider vinegar is a great product for oily skin. Just pour some in a spritzer bottle and use as a facial toner. It will clear your face of all the extra oil and regulate your skin’s pH levels. Dabbing it on ruddy cheeks or inflamed skin will also help reduce any redness.
COCONUT OIL
OK, so we know coconut oil seems like a fad that just won’t go away – but it’s for good reason! Considered the darling of the nutrition world, cold-pressed coconut oil also makes for a fantastic eye makeup remover. Simply take a small amount of coconut oil onto your (sanitized) fingers and gently rub over your eyelids and lashes. You’ll feel the makeup instantly melt away. Then, using a facial cloth or cotton pad, wipe away the excess.
HONEY
Honey isn’t just Mother Nature’s sugar – it’s also great for fixing pimples. Honey is anti-fungal and acts as a natural antiseptic. Plus, it’s also a natural humectant, which means it helps the skin retain moisture. Got an angry blemish? Next time, try dabbing on a bit of this sticky solution to help speed up the repair process – just remember to wipe it off before jumping into bed.
POTATOES
Before you call the potato humble, think again. There is a particular compound in potatoes that helps to reduce swelling and puffiness. Cool, huh? So, the next time you have puffy eyes or dark under eye circles, take a vegetable peeler, shred a small amount of potato and let it chill in the fridge for a while. Then, place the chilled potato under your eyes for 15 minutes. When you remove them, you will find any puffiness will have subsided. Thank you science!
CINNAMON
Ever tried one of those lip-plumping glosses that make your lips tingle? Chances are it contained cinnamon. Cinnamon powder mildly irritates the skin on your lips, causing them to redden and swell slightly. Next time you’re looking in the pantry, apply your regular balm over your lips then pat some cinnamon on top and rub it around. Leave the mixture for a few minutes then wipe it off. Apply some more balm and compare the difference. Sure, it won’t give you lips like Angelina Jolie but it will plump them up a little.
YOGHURT
Life can be tough, especially for your skin and hair and all the daily aggressors they’re confronted with. To treat your complexion and strands to a little TLC, whip some natural yoghurt up as a mask. Yoghurt contains antibacterial properties and lots of proteins, that when applied to the skin and hair, it deeply moisturises and even helps your head stay dandruff-free. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off. Voila: beautiful skin and shiny tresses!
SUGAR
Raw sugar works as a fantastic inexpensive exfoliator. Next time your skin feels a little scaly, mix a little sugar with some honey and coconut oil and rub it all over. Within a few seconds, you’ll be left with smooth and supple skin.
MILK
A lot of beauty products contain lactic acid but you don’t have to go any further than the fridge. Milk contains lactic acid and works wonders when it comes to moisturising the skin. If you have dry skin, you can use it on your face to maintain soft and supple skin all year round. It can be applied directly or used in a face pack. You can even mix ¼ cup of milk with some lemon juice and a little salt and use it to cleanse skin and unblock pores. Genius, right?
OATS
Rolled oats don’t just taste good, they’re good for your skin as well. It’s a star ingredient in many different beauty products available on the market and you can whip up your own concoction for less than a couple of dollars. Colloidal oatmeal contains beta-glucans, which are super skin soothing, and it also has a tightening effect when you apply it as a mask (mixed with a little yoghurt and honey). You can even pop a handful of oats into a stocking and pop it into the bath – it’s incredibly healing for sensitive skin, eczema, allergic reactions and even babies’ skin.
TEA
Got puffy bags under your eyes? Grab a different sort of bag as a quick cure – a tea bag. Brew two tea bags in hot water then pull them out and allow to cool. By placing them under your eyelids, the natural caffeine will help to shrink any bloody vessels and reduce any puffiness. If you’ve got time in the morning, pop them in the fridge for a few minutes – the chill will intensify the effects.