Who says you have to spend half of your paycheck on skin and hair care products to look your best? Why not just turn your kitchen’s pantry into your beauty bar and save a few bucks? All it takes are a few edible ingredients, an open mind and some DIY kitchen beauty tips.
- Strawberries — These wondrous red berries aren’t merely delicious when they’re sliced and drizzled with balsamic vinegar, oh no. Strawberries are also your best friend for natural teeth-whitening. Once per day before your regular brushing and flossing (because of the sugar in the strawberries), mash two or three berries in a small bowl, and carefully, but vigorously, brush your teeth with this berry paste (you may want to dedicate a toothbrush to it, as the one you use will probably stain). Look for results within a week or two.
- Honey — Pretty much a savior for skin and hair. Honey acts as a natural antiseptic and antifungal, and it’s also a fantastic humectant, preserving moisture in the skin. Try dabbing a bit over broken facial acne to speed the repair process (test on a small area first), mix a small amount in with your conditioner for a moisturizing and yummy-smelling hair mask, or place on your mouth overnight to wake up with full, luscious lips. Be careful, however, as honey tends to stick…everywhere. Use less than you initially think you’ll need, and add to it bit by bit from there.
- Potatoes — An odd one, yes. But there’s a certain compound in potatoes that’s been shown to help reduce swelling and puffiness. Using a vegetable peeler, shred a small amount of potato, let it chill in the fridge for a while, and then place the chilled potato magic under your eyes. For the next 15 minutes or so, sit and read a good book, watch a little television, or talk to your cat. When you remove the odd treatment, voila! There should be less puff under those eyes.
- Cinnamon — This fantastic spice also has great skincare benefits! Who knew? Mix a bit in with your favorite lipgloss to turn it into a lip-plumper. Or, try making a facial mask out of honey and cinnamon that can be used to help dry out acne and exfoliate dull, tired skin.
- Yogurt — A fantastic moisturizing agent as well as a skin exfoliant (due to the lactic acid it contains). Use as a cooling facial mask to wake up dull, tired, or dry winter skin, or soak hands in it to help soften and heal cuticles; in either case, the thicker the yogurt, generally the better it works.
- Turmeric — This strong smelling, yellowish spice is great for fading skin discolorations and post-acne scarring. Mix it with just enough lime juice (another great fading agent) to make a medium-thickness paste, and dab onto discolored skin only. Leave on for about 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The area treated may take on a temporary yellow tint that should fade with another washing or two, but still — this is a treatment probably better suited to weekend nights.
- Cranberry Juice — And we ain’t talkin’ ‘bout that sugary cocktail stuff. Spain’s raven-haired beauties still use pure cranberry juice to this day to keep their locks shining and lustrous. In the shower, use it as a post conditioner rinse. Pour over damp hair, massage in for a minute or two, and then let it sit for as long as you can before rinsing thoroughly.
- Coffee — Coffee serves multiple benefits depending on whether you use it brewed or in its ground form. Brewed dark roast can be used as a post-conditioner wash to add richness to brunette, auburn, and dark blonde hair. Instant coffee can be added to conditioner for near the same effect, and plain ‘ol coffee grounds are a fantastic exfoliator. Mix with your favorite facial wash to give that face a good scrubbin’, or take it straight to your dry bod.
- Salt — Natural sea salt is a great exfoliant and healing agent. Using small circular motions, rub down your entire dry body with straight up salt before your shower for a fantastic glow (make sure to use a rich moisturizer afterwards). Or (be careful with this one), try making a thick paste out of sea salt and honey, and place on stubborn acne. Be warned — it’ll sting like a jellyfish, but it works wonders for me.
- Apple cider vinegar — This stuff is simply amazing. Pour some in a spritzer bottle, and use it as a facial toner to sop up extra oil and to regulate your skin’s pH levels. Dab some on ruddy cheeks or inflamed skin to take down redness. Use as a post-conditioner rinse to lock in moisture and shine, as well as protecting color and removing product build-up. Drink two tablespoons a day to decrease natural body odour, improve overall skin quality, and aid digestion. Amazing.
Hungry for more kitchen beauty? Check out DIY Beauty with Kitchen Cosmetics.
With these 10 simple ingredients, you’ve got yourself a fine recipe for skin and hair nirvana, all without breaking the bank or resorting to harsh, man-made chemicals. Just don’t try making anything edible out of all of these together… Salted strawberries over coffee-scented potatoes with a turmeric and cinnamon yogurt dressing topped with an apple cider vinegar and cranberry honey reduction? Mmm, my favorite.
beautylogicblog says
Eggs and Avocados should be on this list too. Both are fabu for hair and skin.
Meg says
While most of these ingredients are mild enough to not cause issues, I think the cinnamon should carry a patch test warning with it like the honey. It’s very common for people to have skin allergies to cinnamon and cinnamon oil even when they have no allergic reactions to ingesting it (which is how most of us know that we are allergic to a food product). The reason cinnamon and cinnamon oil are often used in lip plumpers is because they cause mild swelling, redness and a tingling sensation, which is mild enough for lips when used in small, controlled quantities but could easily result in a rash if used on your face or body; especially when someone is just experimenting in the kitchen with uncontrolled quantities.
Jenn says
Ooh, Apple cider vinegar sounds great for a DIY toner! 🙂
Glosslizard says
I’m all for man-made chemicals, but I think I’m going to be taking some strong-brewed coffee into the shower with me! 🙂
Vicki says
Thanks for the post Sam, I found this very interesting.
Can I just ask, would you recommend the sea salt and honey treatment for acne? I am having big problems with it at present and really want to sort it out.
Kate & Zena says
I think brown sugar needs to be on this list too (sugar in general). If you want a great exfoliator, mix 2bs honey, 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil, and 1/2 cup of sugar. It’s moisturizing and still gets off all that dry skin!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil needs a bullet all of its own. Brush moisturizer, the most gentle makeup remover, dry skin moisturizer, great for your heart…..I heart my EVOO. And before you ask, EVOO doesn’t clog your pores.
Oats need a mandatory bullet too. I would not be here without oats. Anyone who had chicken baths probably had oatmeal baths. Oats are deeply moisturizing. They’re also naturally rash and hive relievers (unless you have Celiac Disease).
Lily says
omg Sam, I can’t believe you didn’t mention olive oil! I use it everything: removing my eye makeup, face mask, hair mask, and to help with unbearable winter days (of course, only when I’m not with ANYONE).
I love greek yogurt as a face mask, too. So refreshing.
Gerri says
Great list, Sam! The healing and restorative power of some of these foods are legendary–particularly honey and apple cider vinegar. Some of them the others I’m just hearing about for the first time, though. Strawberries as a teeth whitener… Who would’ve thought?
Sam says
Hey guys!
I know I didn’t mention some common food products (avocado, eggs, EVOO, oatmeal, etc). This list isn’t an end-all-be-all, though haha. I just picked ten of the lesser-known ingredients to spotlight, and wrote about those. Thanks for all the feedback, though!
Just a note: NEVER use EVOO on hair… It’s one of the most acidic oils and can strip color right out. Instead, try jojoba or grapeseed, if you’re so inclined.
One other thing I forgot to mention: ALWAYS test any of these items on a small, out-of-the-way patch of skin before applying on your face (behind your ear is usually a good spot, as no one will see a reaction here.)
Sam
Stephanie/Yukaeshi says
Where I live, EVOO is kind of recommended as a hair mask… mainly because the majority of us have black hair so the colour stripping might not be that obvious (I guess). I haven’t personally tried it, though 😛
And the Indians here, from what I know, have been using turmeric paste on their skin for as long as I know!
Silva says
Such a great list! Never thought that apple cider vinegar had so many uses, must buy it 🙂
Girl says
What a great post ! I will try them at once!
Stephanie says
I always make my own lipscrub with sugar, honey and cinnamon.
Emi says
Good call on the apple cider vinegar…I must check that out asap! Thanks. 🙂