If you have ever stood in your shower, trying to phonetically sound out the ingredients on your supposedly “natural” shampoo, you may be frustrated by the complicated world of beauty products. Many ingredients in everyday cosmetic and beauty products are so convoluted, you cannot tell if they come from an animal, a plant, or a laboratory. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make easy beauty products in your own home, where you will control the ingredients and know exactly what the mixtures contain.
Before trying any home beauty recipe, make sure your skin doesn’t react negatively to the ingredients. While you may not be allergic to the ingredients when ingested, your skin is a sensitive organ and can react in unexpected ways. To ensure that experimentation doesn’t lead to rashes, hives, or other allergic reactions, test the product on a small area of your skin first, or contact your doctor about allergy testing to identify any potentially damaging ingredients.
Sloughing off dead skin by using an exfoliating scrub is a great way to feel extra clean. Exfoliating your body can make shaving easier, help ensure even tans, or prepare the skin for moisturizing. For a super-easy at home exfoliating scrub, combine a quarter cup of honey with several good-sized spoonfuls of salt. Slathering this mix, simplicity itself, on in the shower will leave your skin deliciously smooth and soft, without bizarre or unnatural ingredients. Do not attempt to use this mixture on your face however, as the salt may scratch the delicate skin.
Facial masks may be the easiest beauty products you can make at home. For oily skin, blend oatmeal with a little water and spread over skin. To soak moisture into dry skin, combine a handful of almonds, plain full-fat yogurt, and honey in the blender and blend until smooth before applying. If you have acne-prone skin, try combining crushed pineapple with plain yogurt to rid the skin of pimple-causing bacteria. With all of these masks, spread the mixture on the face and then lay back for 15 minutes, keeping a towel under your head to prevent the mask from sliding and staining your couch or bed.
If you are a swimmer, you know that the chlorine or salt water of commercial pools can do serious damage to your hair. One of the easiest fixes for post-pool dried hair takes only one ingredient, and should be done as soon as possible after your swim. In a microwave, heat ¼ cup (2 oz) of olive oil until warm, about one minute. Standing in the shower, apply the warmed oil through your hair, working it into the ends especially. Leave the oil in your hair for between 5-15 minutes before shampooing out for strong, soft hair.
Making at home beauty products allows the chemist in you to come out into the open. Take some time to learn what natural products are beneficial for your skin or hair type. By making beauty products at home, not only are you in total control of the ingredients, you are also cutting down on the use of non-biodegradable ingredients and plastic packaging. Using household ingredients on your hair and skin can give you a glowing complexion, shiny hair, save you money and help the environment.