Your home: the new Sephora
If I had a penny for every time someone assumed that the recession meant "cutting back" or "making sacrifices", I'd have enough money to practically live at Sephora. But why would I? Even in my penniless reality, I'm still living a life of luxury and indulging in superficial treats. Oh, yes. All of the beauty products I need are at my very fingertips--chances are, yours are too. You may not realize it, but your house is stocked full of everyday beauty remedies...and instead of trudging to your local beauty store, the furthest you'll have to wander is your kitchen.
When life gives you lemons, put 'em on your face and hair. |
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Fade acne scars Naturally-occurring enzymes stimulate collagen production, making lemons ideal for treating acne scars. With a Q-tip, apply lemon juice to desired area and leave on for 4-5 minutes. Rinse. Repeat three times a week and gloat as scars fade.
Subtle sun-kissed highlights Squeeze lemon juice onto hair, comb through with a wide-tooth brush and spend the afternoon in the sun. Rinse well and remember to condition hair, since the lightening process can be a little drying. Repeat several times to increase results. I've done this many times, and I speak from personal experience when I say that this is a far more natural-looking and less damaging approach to lightening your strands than store-bought Sun-In...which has the potential to turn hair orange. Stick to lemons.
Photo: Cosmos Magazine
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| Summer is here. Your cellulite should not be. |
Banish cellulite Although your best chance of fighting cellulite is with cardio exercise (hey, running is free!), you can reduce its appearance and tighten skin with coffee grounds. After making your morning coffee, press a layer of warm, used coffee grounds against cellulite for 10 minutes. Then, gently scrub grounds against skin with exfoliating brush or warm cloth and rinse. This can get messy, so I suggest doing it in the shower or outside with a hose.
| Beauty blues giving you a headache? |
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Photo: Pharmaceutical Technology
Aspirin contains acetyl salicylic acid, which is found not only in your favorite anti-dandruff shampoos but also in skin toners. Use plain, uncoated aspirin. (No Tylenol or other substitutes)
Treat dandruff It sounds strange, but some people swear this is far more effective than their favorite store-bought anti-dandruff shampoos. Drop 6-10 aspirin into a bottle of inexpensive shampoo and let dissolve overnight. Wear black with no fear.
Aspirin skin mask Treat oily skin with an aspirin mask. This is a popular treatment that has been circulating the beauty web over the past year. Take 4-5 aspirin and mix with just enough water to form a paste. Add a spoonful of honey for a thicker mask (and softer skin!). Apply mask in a thin layer and let dry. Remove by rubbing in gentle circular motions.
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Photo: Fashion-Stylist
Hold-able hands, spectacular nails Mono-saturated fats make olive oil an ideal moisturizer. Soften hands by moisturizing with a dime-size amount of olive oil. Or, take Julia Roberts' cue and soak your nails in a cup of olive oil for prettier, shinier nails and well-behaved cuticles.
Softer feet Start your day on the right foot! Before going to bed, smear olive oil onto feet, put on socks to prevent greasy sheets and wake up with the softest feet of your life.
Soothe chapped lips Dab olive oil onto chapped lips to soften.
Dry hair care Apply a few drops to strand ends and comb through to distribute. This also works well to tame split ends. Use just enough to imitate shiny, Greek hair...don't go overboard, or it'll look like you shampooed with The Olive Garden.
| Vaseline: A valuable commodity |
The inventor of Vaseline ate a spoonful a day and lived to be 97; Tyra Banks blings up her beauty counter with a Swarovski crystal studded container. Whether you consume it for longevity--ew!--or apply it topically, you'll love the many benefits of this common little gem.
Upgrade your smile Beauty contestants apply Vaseline to their gums for brighter smiles.
Softer skin, less wrinkles If you're out of olive oil, Vaseline also works as a great moisturizer. Replenish chapped lips and dry feet (don't forget socks!). Vaseline also makes a great facial moisturizer; apply to crow's feet, around mouth and nose, and in wrinkle-prone areas.
Tame fly-away hair Make hair styling products last a bit longer by mixing in Vaseline, which also helps hold hair in place.
Better eyelashes? Supposedly, applying Vaseline to eyelashes before bed causes them to eventually grow longer and thicker. I'm not sure how valid this is, but the Vaseline would at least condition and soften lashes. Hey, it's worth a try.
| The baking product commonly found in popular beauty products. |
Photo: Google images
Renew skin Exfoliate dead skin on face, hands, and feet. Add water to form a paste and gently rub in circular motions to reveal softer skin.
Dry shampoo Instead of paying for a dry shampoo, make your own. If your hair has been oily, limp, or you just don't have time to wash it, simply sprinkle baking soda on your brush for squeaky clean hair.
Whiter teeth Brush teeth with a pinch of baking soda and salt, taking caution around the gum area.
Heat rash and sunburn Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply to needed area and leave for 2-3 hours, then rinse.
| The recession may be on, but the famine is over. |
Shrink puffy eyes and fade dark circles Take advantage of the potato's alpha-lipcic acid and its anti-inflammatory properties. Place a chilled potato slice over each eye and leave for ten to fifteen minutes. This is a great morning treatment after a wild night out...nobody has to know.
Photo: Ehow
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Your home: the new Sephora
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