We all know things can get a little stressful when it comes to deciding on skincare. From the plethora of skincare products to choose from to their particularly high price points, it’s difficult to choose what’s really worth spending your hard-earned money on with the guarantee that it won’t just end up sitting inside your medicine cabinet to grow old with you.
I’m a firm believer in spending the minimal amount I need to on skincare products, because I know (through experience) that you can give your skin the love and attention that it needs on a daily basis with a few simple products you probably already have in your kitchen. That coconut oil you have in your pantry? Works great for hydrating the skin overnight. The bottle of honey on your counter? Your next favorite exfoliator or lip scrub paired with some brown sugar. It all comes down to pairing the right ingredients together, but I’ve done all that hard work for you below!
Here are five face and body skincare treatments you can make with ingredients right out of your kitchen:
Exfoliating and Hydrating Glow Mask
How to make it: mix ½ tbsp. besan (chickpea flour), 1 tsp. turmeric, and ½ tbsp. rose water in a bowl, and apply on clean skin. Let the mask harden on your face. Rinse off with warm water, while gently rubbing the mask upwards (to help remove facial hair).
- Benefits of besan: helps treat acne; exfoliates and removes dead skin; can remove fine facial hair; improves fairness of skin; moisturizes dry skin
- Benefits of turmeric: helps treat acne, scars, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, wrinkles, and dark under eye circles; gives skin a glow; rich in antioxidants to reduce inflammation
- Benefits of rose water: soothes skin irritation and reduces redness; works as a mild astringent to help tighten pores and gently tone the skin; smell of rose water enhances the mood
Soft Lips and Face Mask (2-in-1!)
How to make it: mix ½ tbsp. honey, ½ tbsp. brown sugar, and 1 tsp. lemon in a bowl. Gently rub onto skin and lips in a circular motion. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing off with cool water.
- Benefits of honey: lightens dark lips; hydrates dry or chapped lips; rich in antioxidants and antibacterial qualities to help reduce acne and scars
- Benefits of brown sugar: works a great exfoliator (since it’s smaller particles and is more gentle on the skin); exfoliates dead skin off the face and lips
- Benefits of lemon: works as an astringent to help brighten and tone the skin; clarifies the pores
Bye Bye Acne Face Mask
How to make it: mix 1 tbsp. mayonnaise and ½ tbsp. honey in a bowl, and apply onto the skin, massaging in a circular motion. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
- Benefits of mayonnaise: hydrates the skin through eggs and oils; calms skin inflammation; removes dead skins cells
- Benefits of honey: rich in antioxidants and antibacterial qualities to help reduce acne and scars
Doubles as a great hair mask as well – it makes my hair so soft and silky!
Face Lift Face Mask
How to make it: beat 1 medium egg and ½ tbsp. besan (chickpea flour) in a bowl, and apply to the skin. Let the mask harden on your face. Rinse off with warm water, while gently rubbing the mask upwards (to help remove facial hair).
- Benefits of egg: tights and shrinks large pores; assists in reducing oily skin; reduces small facial hairs
- Benefits of besan: helps treat acne; exfoliates and removes dead skin; can remove fine facial hair; improves fairness of skin; moisturizes dry skin
Rehydrate All Over Treatment
How to use: Apply a small amount of coconut oil all over the body after taking a shower, or before bed. Make sure to massage all of the oil into the skin, focusing on dry areas. Wear socks overnight to help the oil soak into the feet.
- Benefits of coconut oil: natural antibacterial and antifungal qualities; works as an excellent moisturizer because it penetrates the skin better than most oils;
*BONUS* Au Naturel Scar Removal
This one may not be in your kitchen if you don’t usually incorporate it into your diet, but can very easily be found in your local grocery store – and you can even grow it in your backyard with minimal work!
How to use: Cut a small piece of fresh aloe vera down the middle so that you have two pieces with gel facing upwards, and gently massage all of the gel into your skin.
- Benefits of aloe vera: diminishes skin inflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of auxin and gibberellins, which also act as healing agents and stimulate growth of new skin cells; I swear by this technique to remove the worst of acne scars! And it works anywhere on your face or body where you may have tough scars, or just need some extra lovin’.
