Sit back and think – really think – about the weirdest beauty home remedy that you’ve ever given in to. We stir up all sorts of concoctions in the kitchen or bathroom and slap them on our faces, rub them into our hair and slather them all over our skin with the hopes that the goopy, messy mixtures will bring us a tiny bit closer to our beauty ideals. Personally, I’ve made face peels out of gelatin and milk (side note: if you see a recipe for these anywhere online, just scroll on by unless you want to spend a few weeks waiting for your face to grow back), masks out of oatmeal and scrubs out of sea salt. All right, some of those might not sound too crazy, but I’m sure I speak for many others when I say that more often than not, I found myself disappointed with the mediocre results of my hard work. But, after years of toiling and experimentation I have fallen back on a few tried and true super-tools time and time again. It turns out that the less complicated something is, the more effective it tends to be! Who knew? The best thing about these tools is that you probably already have them in your house.
Petroleum Jelly –
If you don’t already own a jar of petroleum jelly, run to the store and buy one immediately. It’s not just a last resort replacement for lip balm anymore! Instead of buying a special bottle of makeup remover, spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly over a cosmetic pad. Sweep it over your eyes to immediately remove mascara, eyeliner and any sort of makeup you can imagine. Petroleum jelly is about as gentle as it gets when it comes to your skin, but to be sure that it doesn’t clog up your pores always wash your face afterward!
Did you know that you can also use petroleum jelly as a manicure tool? Rubbing this stuff onto your cuticles before you start painting your nails prevents the polish from sticking to your skin – you can push it right off with a q-tip when you’re done! Not only that, but it conditions your skin while it sits, keeping your cuticles nice and moisturized!
Oranges –
Yes. The fruit. Not only are they delicious but they’re beauty super-tools! Create your own facial toner using only a slice of an orange. Citrus fruit juices work as natural astringents, meaning that they will dry up your pimples in acne prone areas. The amount of vitamin C in oranges works as a great, healthy alternative to synthetic facial renewal systems and can even help to reverse sun damage. Next time you’re snacking on an orange, don’t forget to save a slice for your skin!
Did you know that the moisture in fresh orange peels can be used to clean your makeup brushes? Spray the inside of the peel with water to dampen it slightly. Then scrub the bristles gently across the inside of the skin and watch the color transfer from your brush to the rind!
Apple Cider Vinegar –
This super-tool may smell absolutely horrible (I like to compare it to stinky feet), but it sure does work wonders! ACV can be used as an external treatment for acne. Dip a q-tip into the ACV and then apply it to your skin in acne prone regions. Because of the strong smell, this is best to do overnight. A few words of caution: this stuff is strong. Meaning that if you are a zit-poker and your skin has recently been irritated, this is going to burn. If you know you’ve been picking at your skin, I strongly suggest diluting this with water before putting it on your face.
Did you know that ACV can also be used as a drinkable remedy for acne and a very effective cure for indigestion? Mix one tablespoon of ACV with a full glass of water and add a bit of honey to taste! It might not taste like a dream, but it will get your beauty system back on track in no time!
