The food items we keep in our kitchen aren’t just good for eating – many of them double up as useful beauty products too! Whether you’ve run out of your usual product, or you’re waiting for the end of the month, utilise what you’ve got in your pantry. Here, some nifty ideas on how to make the most of your leftover foods.
Oils
Olive oil, almond oil and avocado oil are excellent sources of hydration, both for your hair and for your skin. To combat dryness, gently dab a few drops of your chosen oil onto dry skin after cleansing and toning. Struggling with dry and damaged hair? Rub some oil through the dry strands and leave for twenty minutes before shampooing and conditioning.
Mayonnaise
If your hair’s suffered the wrath of heat styling, colouring and environmental damage, treat it with this refrigerator essential. Spread a dollop of mayonnaise through your hair and cover in cling wrap. Leave for twenty minutes before shampooing (be sure to do a good job, or else you’ll be left with a greasy residue) and condition.
Lemon juice
Ever find your nails look yellow after you remove your favourite dark polish? Get them back to their pale pink colour by rubbing a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice over them.
Coffee granules
Cellulite products are filled with caffeine – and so is your favourite morning drink. If you’re struggling with orange peel, put some coffee rounds on the problematic areas, wrap with cling film and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off, and voilà – a natural cellulite fighter!
Tomato juice / tomato sauce
The acidity found in tomato juice / sauce has the ability to help neutralise the effects of chlorine in one’s hair. After your swim, shampoo your hair and follow by spreading some tomato juice / sauce onto it. Leave for a few minutes before conditioning as usual.
Baking soda
One of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen, baking soda is often used to minimise the appearance of pimples (mix a little bit with water to form a paste and apply to the bump) and as a teeth whitener (sprinkle a little bit on your toothbrush before brushing.
Surprised at all the possibilities? So were we!
Other articles you may be interested in:
Chocolate beauty recipes
Natural cures for pregnancy pains
What’s in your anti-ageing product
A recipe for radiant skin
Superpower your immune system
15 Responses
We really take natural products for granted. They the bomb and cheaper and gentler
Most of these I have tried and they do often work better than most products… thumbs up.
I am so going to print this out and keep it on hand. The mayo on hair works wonders .
I don’t think baking soda on the face is a good idea. It will def burn and cause redness. A bit harsh, especially sensitive skin
I love using baking soda! It has so many uses. And lemon juice is awesome as well. I read that dabbing lemon juice on the face and leaving for 15 mins works to fade marks left by pimples but this can be drying so moisturise with some olive or almond oil :)
Thank you so much for the lemon juice tip. I always get that yellow shade on nails after removing nail polish. I now use a base coat before applying nail polish and have realised that it also helps to minimise that yellow effect.
Baking soda has so many uses!
Don’t I just love this, who would have thought beauty products are right under our noses, they may even be better than some brand products
Tthis sounds perfect. I love to DIY.
Amazing how the simplest things right under your nose works, but when it’s an emergency we totally forget about it! Great article though.