Home Remedies
For a beauty boost, experiment with ingredients from your own kitchen.
Back in the day, when Grandma wanted shiny hair or radiant skin she’d look to the refrigerator or pantry for some time-tested natural beauty treatments. She knew she could exfoliate, moisturize and soothe her skin with simple kitchen ingredients—items that have been used by women as far back as Cleopatra, who swore by her beautifying milk-and-honey baths.
Maybe Grandma did know best after all. One recent afternoon, I decided to give some grocery-store beauty treatments a try and was delightfully surprised at the results. Read on for a few of my favorites.
Before you try any of these homemade beauty recipes, however, be mindful of possible allergies. If you can’t eat bananas without an allergic reaction, for example, you shouldn’t apply them to your skin, either.
|
|
Yogurt-Berry FacialUse a food processor or blender to purée a few blueberries or strawberries with plain yogurt and apply to your face. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The fruit enzymes and the lactic acid in the yogurt deliver a vitamin-rich exfoliating treatment that will leave your skin radiant; and the higher the fat content of the yogurt, the more moisturizing benefits you’ll receive. |
|
|
Heel & Callus ExfoliantPamper your feet using a mixture of two tablespoons of cornmeal and one tablespoon of mashed banana. Blend to form a paste, then massage into your feet, giving extra attention to your heels and callused areas. After about a minute, rinse. The cornmeal acts as an exfoliant, and the banana helps soften the skin. |
|
|
Skin-Calming MaskIf your skin is prone to breakouts, try this easy mask—it’s a little messy but worth it. Mix one teaspoon each of honey, nutmeg and cinnamon. Apply to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Nutmeg is an anti-inflammatory, cinnamon is a natural exfoliant, and honey works as a moisturizer. Both cinnamon and honey have antiseptic properties as well. |
 |
Body ScrubTake your used coffee grounds into the shower and use them for an all-over body scrub. The grounds smooth and soften skin, and the caffeine has antioxidant properties, which promote healthy skin. Caffeine, surprisingly, also has a calming effect on skin (which is the same reason moistened tea bags can reduce eye puffiness). |
 |
Hair BrightenerTo boost your hair’s shine factor, simply steep two tea bags in hot water, then let it cool to room temperature. If you’re blonde, use chamomile; brunettes can use any black tea; and redheads should try orange-red rooibos, a South African tea. After shampooing, pour the tea over your wet hair and leave on for 10 minutes before shampooing a second time and conditioning. The tea lowers hair pH and temporarily seals the cuticle, leaving hair shiny and soft. |
 |
Cuticle TreatmentTake five red or green grapes and slice them in half, then dip the cut ends in sugar. Use one grape half per finger to massage the cuticles and skin around each nail for half a minute or so apiece. Gently rub away the sugar with a soft towel and then apply your favorite hand cream. The sugar and fruit acids work together to exfoliate and soften the cuticles. |
 |
Elbow Skin SoftenerAlpha hydroxy acids can be found in all kinds of over-the-counter skin products, but they also are present naturally in many fruits, especially citrus. Cut a grapefruit in half and squeeze out the juice for a refreshing drink later. Then rest your elbows in the halves for a half hour or so (read a book or watch TV to pass the time) for smoother, softer elbows. |
|
Care & Comfort
