13 Beauty Products from your Kitchen

Food products from the food pyramid can also work as health- and beauty products. Your grandmother’s generation knew all the secrets you could do with food. For example, they often used lemon against rough elbows and cucumber slices to reduce eye puffiness.

If you want to save money but still take care of your skin and hair, you should know that the food you have in your kitchen can be a real gold mine. Grains, baking soda, honey, olive oil, banana and even coffee grounds can be transformed into beauty products. Here is a list on food products that you can use to improve your skin and hair.

13 Natural Beauty Products

1. Apple cider vinegar

Hair mask: Mix 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Massage the mix into the scalp. Wrap your hair in aluminum foil and leave it on for at least 30 minutes before you wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo. This mix is good for dry hair and dry scalp.

Dry hands: Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon olive oil and bathe your fingers in the mix for about five minutes. Apple cider vinegar can also be exchanged for the same quantity of cucumber juice or lemon juice.

2. Avocado

Facial mask: The fruit contains a lot of the A, C and vitamin E as well as some B vitamins, which nourish and gives relief to the skin. Mash the avocado flesh with a little olive oil to get a smooth texture. Place the mask over your face and wait for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a soft towel.

3. Banana

Facial mask: A banana mask is both moisturizing and smoothing for the delicate skin of the face and neck. Mash a banana into a smooth texture. If you have vitamin A capsules at home, feel free to open one and pour over the banana. Place the mask over your face and neck and wait for about 30 minutes before you wash it away.

4. Bicarbonate – Baking Soda

Facial mask: A mask that contains ordinary baking soda and water brightens the skin and removes dead cells. Mix 3 table spoons bicarbonate with water (distilled water or still mineral water) until a smooth mass. Place the mask over your face, wait for 5 minutes, and then rinse well. You can add the mask a couple times a week.

5. Coffee grounds

Facial mask: Rub coffee grounds gently on your face, and let it stay on for five minutes and then rinse. The caffeine works as a peeling and helps the circulation.

Dry hands: Rub coffee grounds on your hands and then rinse and your hands will feel softer.

6. Cucumber

Tired eyes: Cucumber reduces the redness and puffiness of eyes. Add cucumber slices on eyelids for about 10 minutes.

Face tonic: The cucumbers have a restraining effect, and are also good for blood circulation. Cut the cucumber into thin slices and rub them gently on the face, but avoid the eye area. You can also squeeze a little cucumber juice and use it on the face to tighten up, clean and cool your skin.

7. Egg yolk

Hair mask: If you want shiny hair with more moisture, rub an egg yolk in your hair. Wrap your hair in a towel to keep warm, or use a plastic bag or a shower cap over your head. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

8. Honey

Acne: Honey is antiseptic. It cleans the pores and gives the skin a nice glow. Rub your face with honey gently, in small circular movements. The massage improves the circulation. Rinse off. Honey “pulls out” impurities from the skin and may cause an occasional pimple before the skin comes back into balance. Therefore, it’s a good idea to skip this treatment the day before a big night out.

Dry hands: Put some honey on your dry hands for a while, and then rinse. Your hands will feel very smooth.

9. Lemon

Acne: Boil 0.26 US gallon (1 liter) of water. Allow the water to cool, to a temperature of 98.6 F (37 C). Then add the juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon and 2 tablespoons of honey. Wash the affected area two times a day with this liquid.

Dry elbows and knees: A really old remedy against dry elbows is to use lemon. Place one elbow inside each lemon half and rest them on a table for 10 minutes, or rub your elbows with the lemon half. This also works on dry knees. Rub your knees with a lemon half.

Cracked heels and feet: Rub your feet with a lemon half. It is said to help combat the bacteria and the cracks between the toes, and the lemon softens the skin.

10. Mayonnaise

Conditioner: Your hair will look shiny and beautiful if you rub some mayonnaise on the scalp. Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. The texture from the mayonnaise acts as a conditioner and makes your hair shine.

11. Oats

Soap: Fill a small cloth bag with oatmeal or crushed oats and then tie the bag. Wet the bag thoroughly and massage into foam over face and body. Oats cleanses the pores and balances the skin’s oil production. Furthermore, the skin becomes soft and smooth.

12. Olive oil

Dry lips: Olive oil provides moisture and shine to lips.

Hair mask: Split ends feel good to be packed in olive oil. Don’t forget to rinse well.

Body Lotion: Apply olive oil on face and body after your shower or bath. Leave it on over night and your skin will be soft and smooth in the morning.

13. Salt

Foot bath: Common salt or baking soda, are excellent choices for a warm foot bath.

Things you should consider:

• Remember to always clean your face thoroughly before applying facial mask.

• The best time for applying facial mask is after steaming your face, because the pores are open and mask will be able to penetrate deeply into the skin.