Common beauty problems are what drive the beauty industry. Buy this, wear that, eat this, use that. Suddenly your cupboards are full to the brim with items you’re not using, that aren’t working, and you wasted all your hard-earned money on. However, more recently, many are tossing the lab-produced beauty remedies, and swapping them out for traditional at-home remedies.
The kitchen is your lab. You have all the ingredients to make delicious muffins and chicken marinades and garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli soup AND the kitchen remedies to solve all sorts of beauty issues. Your pantry is even likely stocked with solutions to issues much deal with on a daily basis and you don’t even know it! So why not explore some super DIY ways to solve your beauty mishaps? Let’s get cooking…
1. Blackheads
Blackheads, or small clogs in our pores, are so incredibly common. They form because of a buildup of dirt and dead skin cells, and excess sebum (oil). Our faces, mainly our noses, are the most common area for blackheads, but they can occur anywhere where there are pores. Sometimes cosmetics, stress, or genetics can cause them, but thankfully there are some remedies that can treat blackheads right at home.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive that isn’t harmful to skin surfaces. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a splash of water to make a paste and apply to the area you’re treating, and then rinse after a few minutes. Repeat this 1 to 2 times per week. Another natural blackhead buster is cinnamon! Simply take 1 teaspoon of cinnamon mixed with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, mix into a paste, and apply to the area. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and rinse away.
2. Frizzy Hair
Summer is coming! While many dreams of beaches and warm weather, others dread what they know is about to happen to their locks of hair. Frizz! Caused by heat, humidity, or over-styling, it can become an annoyance really fast.
Avocados are jam-packed with good fats and oils that make them a prime ingredient to fix that frizz. Simply mash one avocado with a fork, and mix in one tablespoon of olive oil. Then hop into the shower and wash your hair with shampoo, after you rinse it out, apply your avocado mix to your hair. Allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes (a great opportunity to have a bath and relax). Once the time is up, rinse and condition to remove the mixture and any leftover smell. In my opinion, though, smelling like avocado is quite delicious…mmmm!
3. Yellow Teeth
If you’re like me, this is a never-ending battle due to my love for coffee and wine. So finding ways to correct my indulgences (that may stain my teeth) is always a plus.
Strawberries, believe it or not, help whiten teeth. They are rich in vitamin C and can be crushed and applied directly to your pearly not-so-whites. Let the mixture sit for 3 to 5 minutes (resisting the urge to eat all the yummy berry bits) and then rinse your mouth well. Who doesn’t love strawberries? I’ll gladly rub that yumminess on my teeth for the sake of beauty.
4. Sunburn
We’ve been taught from a young age about sun damage and prevention, but somehow nearly every year we all suffer a sunburn. Maybe you missed applying sunscreen to a spot of your skin, maybe you applied it to your kids and forget to look after yourself, or maybe just maybe you thought you’d get away with it unharmed. Well, if you’re in pain and need a solution, look to the kitchen!
Apple cider vinegar has super powers that work on sunburns by unlocking trapped heat in the skin. However, ACV is still gentle enough to not cause any additional burning or irritation. You do need to be careful not to apply it full force. Add 2 cups of ACV to a lukewarm bath, and soak. No time for a bath? Dilute apple cider vinegar with equal parts lukewarm water into a spray bottle and apply to burnt areas. Just don’t get it in your eyes.
5. Razor Rash
Razor Rash (aka razor burn) is what happens to your poor unfortunate skin when you remove unwanted hair with a razor (likely a dull razor), shaving dry, or by simply by having sensitive skin that’s prone to irritation. Razor burn isn’t pretty to look at, and those fiery red bumps are quite uncomfortable too.
Luckily, the bee’s knees for curing razor rash is honey. Known for it’s antibacterial properties, honey also helps keep the skin moisturized, and soothed, speeds healing, and prevents infection. Just apply the honey to irritated skin and let it air dry, then rinse off with cold water. Re-apply 3 to 4 times a day for as long as needed and you’ll be buzzing away in no time (slow clap for all the bee jokes, please).
6. Cellulite
Cellulite, is scary right? Basically, everyone suffers from cellulite, ladies. With swimsuit season approaching, it may be something haunting you in the mirror. And you know you’re not gonna be able to cover it with jeans and long sweaters for much longer.
Cellulite, however, has a nemesis. Her name is caffeine. She’s also the reason I smile in the mornings, so caffeine and I are BFFs that I enjoy throughout the day. Leftover from making your coffee is the coffee grounds. Don’t toss them! Instead, mix 1 cup of coffee grounds with 6 tablespoons of coconut oil, and a few teaspoons of the grit of your choosing (brown or white sugar, or salt). Put the mixture in a jar, and take it to the shower. When showering, apply the coffee scrub to cellulite-prone areas, and exfoliate using your hands or a body brush to stimulate the area by massaging in a circular motion. Finish your treatment with a rinse. The caffeine in the grounds will work to tighten the skin while the coconut oil will help moisturize it. Huzzah!
7. Dry Skin
When it comes to dry skin, it’s not even just the unattractive scaly skin that may have you reaching for a solution. Dry skin is also incredibly uncomfortable for many and lotions don’t always cut it. When I was a child, oatmeal was a go for soothing chicken pox. That same soothing element can help ease the discomfort of dry skin and can even treat skin conditions such as eczema, poison ivy, shingles, insect bites, and more.
Oatmeal is a natural approach to locking in the body’s moisture, and protecting it from irritation or itching, while soothing. Simply add a cup of oatmeal (any plain variety) to your bath, and let yourself soak for 20 minutes. You can also put the oatmeal into a blender beforehand for a finer oat that’s even more effective. However, be cautious, oats in the tub can be a wee bit slippery. Dry skin is the least of your worries if you end up with a busted hip.
8. Dandruff
Dandruff can be utterly embarrassing to deal with. If you have dark hair or wear a lot of blacks it’s even worse. Dandruff is just dry skin that’s sloughing away from your scalp. It can be worse for some more than others, but it’s incredibly common.
When dealing with dandruff, you don’t always have the time or money to go out to the pharmacy for treatments that may take days to take effect. Livestrong.com suggests reaching for olive oil, as an old-timey remedy. Mix and massage 8 to 10 drops into the scalp and leave in overnight (be sure to cover in a shower cap). Wash and rinse out all traces of oil the next day. You’ll be left with a deep-moisturized scalp that should solve the issue. Olive oil is incredibly good for your hair as well, so win-win!
9. Acne
Beauty standards these days call for flawless skin. The pressure mounts for perfection, and acne is a common irritation and a mysterious issue that women of all ages deal with. Acne can be caused by the environment, topical irritation, makeup, hormones, a walk on the beach, chewing gum, and more. Okay, so I made up the last two, but it does often feel like acne comes out of nowhere and you’re scrambling for a solution before that big ____ (insert super important life event here).
Turmeric is a proven acne fighter. It has bacteria-fighting powers, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There’s a wealth of different recipes for facial masks using turmeric. You can use anything from coconut oil, yogurt, milk, or honey to create a paste mixed with turmeric. Acne.org has plenty of DIY acne reviews that give this DIY treatment 4.3 out of 5 stars! Not bad for a home remedy!
10. Yellow Nails
Yellowing nails are often caused by staining from other elements like dark nail polish, smoking as well as medical issues (i.e., liver conditions), and more according to WebMD. They can be unsightly especially because our nails are typically exposed for others to see (and judge you harshly).
Yellow nails can be solved with some natural yellow fruits from your kitchen. Simply reach into that bowl of lemons and put them to work on your fingernails. Squeeze the lemon juice into a small bowl and let your nails soak for 10 to 15 minutes. You can follow up your soak by scrubbing your nails gently with a soft toothbrush. Lemons have natural bleaching power that can break through stubborn stains. Repeat your lemon soak twice a day until your nails are back to their natural color.