I’m a sucker for a good beauty treatment.  The quarantine has kept me out of my routine and I have the hair, skin, and nail blahs.  My skin (especially hands) and hair dry out and feel icky.  I prefer products and treatments that are more natural because I’m not sure how I feel about applying so many chemicals on my skin.  I also hate to pay lots of money for expensive beauty treatments when I can do something easy at home – and we’re all kind of stuck at home right now!  Today we’re talking DIY Beauty Treatments that you can do straight from the kitchen and your pantry, I’ll give several options for each treatment so you can pick and choose.  (Disclaimer:  If you’re allergic to any of the foods – DON’T USE THEM).

Materials: (any or all ingredients below)

Olive Oil
Avocado
Greek Yogurt
Honey
Cinnamon
Turmeric
Oatmeal
Ground Flax Seed

How-To:

Start your DIY Beauty Treatments by steaming your face to open pores and get the skin ready for cleansing and moisturizing.  Use a glass bowl full of steaming water and hold your face over it.  Be sensible and don’t burn yourself, but let your face steam.

After steam, I like to do a gentle sugar scrub.  This recipe is good because it can double as a face and body scrub.  It’s easy to use in the shower and quickly dissolves in the water for easy cleanup.  You’ll need sugar and olive oil – you may choose to add a pinch of cinnamon for scent.  This scrub is great because you can make more than you need and keep it in a jar for another use.  Add about 1/2 c of olive oil to one cup sugar.  Stir very well.  If the consistency is too thick or to watery, add more olive oil or sugar.  There is not an exact science to this, so you can’t fail.  Add a pinch of cinnamon for a nice scent.  I love this scrub because it exfoliates without being to harsh on the face.  

You may also choose to do an exfoliating mask instead of the sugar scrub.  Mix 3 TBS of Ground Flax Seeds, 1/4 C of Greek Yogurt, 1 TSP Cinnamon, and 1 TSP Honey.  Stir ingredients together and apply to skin for 15 minutes before rinsing.

After the scrub or exfoliation, I like to do a moisture mask to replenish my skin.  I’m obsessed with avocados.  They’re great for you – inside and out.  Avocados are a good source of fat and a great source of moisture when applied to skin and hair.  I like mixing avocado and greek yogurt with a pinch of spices for an easy moisturizing mask.

Start by mashing an avocado very well.  Selecting a very ripe avocado will make this process easier.  Next add spoonfuls of greek yogurt and stir. You will end up using a little less than half of the container.  The consistency will be a little thicker than guacamole.
Finish by adding a pinch of your favorite spices.  I like to add cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric.  Turmeric is an “it” spice right now.  The combination of spices adds an exotic flare to the facial and ups the antioxidant factor.  Apply this mask to the skin for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse well.


Another option for Hydration is 1/2 Avocado, 1/4 C Oatmeal, and 2 TBS Honey (and a small splash of olive oil).  Mix together and apply to face for 15 minutes before rising.

Sometimes you need a mask that does double duty.  For this reason I call in the “milk and honey” mask. It’s a mixture of greek yogurt (you could use powdered milk also) and honey. Greek yogurt is moisturizing while honey is anti-bacterial.  If you’ve got acne or problem skin, this is your mask.  Honey helps to clear the skin of bacterial but it also has humectants that help with moisture.  I also add a pinch of cinnamon for good measure.

Add about 1/2 container of greek yogurt and 3-4 tablespoons of honey to a bowl.  Stir until ingredients are incorporated and add a pinch of cinnamon or whatever spice you’d like.  Apply to a cleansed face.  This mask is runny so apply carefully.  Allow to dry and then rinse from skin.  This makes my face feel tight and moisturized at the same time.
While you are pampering your face, don’t neglect your hair.  This mask is easy and extremely conditioning.  Using a combination of olive oil and avocado, you’ll have silky hair before you know it.  

Start by mashing an avocado in a bowl.  Add about 1/2 cup of olive oil to the mixture.  Dampen hair and apply mask to hair.  Put a shower cap over your head.  I like to also wrap my head over the shower cap in a hot towel, but this is optional.  Leave on for 10 minutes to an hour and watch a show, read a book, or relax.  Then shampoo hair as usual.

Easy DIY Beauty Treatments!