5 Inexpensive DIY Beauty Treatments That’ll Turn Your Home Into a Spa
Bring the spa to you!
If you need a little pampering but don’t want to spend the money or take the risk of going to the spa, these home treatments will leave you looking radiant and feeling relaxed — no appointment necessary!
Soothe rashy skin with a lavender shower tablet.
When infused with steam from the shower, lavender’s anti-inflammatory properties envelop skin to calm irritation while compounds in the herb shrink dilated blood vessels to nix ruddiness.
- TRY IT! Mix 1⁄2 cup of sunflower oil, one cup of baking soda, one cup of citric acid, 1⁄2 cup of cornstarch and 1⁄4 cup of dried lavender (like HerbsGreen Dried Lavender Flowers). Press the mix into an ice cube tray and let dry overnight. Place a cube on the floor of the shower near the water stream.
Nix blemishes with a baking soda ‘facial.’
“Baking soda absorbs excess oil on skin while gently exfoliating the dead cells that exacerbate breakouts on the face and body,” says celebrity aesthetician Sarah Akram. Plus, the anti-inflammatory powder helps reduce the redness and swelling that accompanies acne.
- TRY IT! Mix two teaspoons of baking soda and two teaspoons of water. Apply to blemishes and let sit for minutes before rinsing.
Plump hair with a sugar and mint scalp scrub.
Fine sugar granules whisk away the dead skin and product buildup that can clog follicles and stall growth. And mint’s menthol boosts circulation to the scalp, encouraging new growth, while also propping roots up and off the head for the illusion of mega volume.
- TRY IT! Mix one tablespoon of sugar, three drops of peppermint essential oil and one tablespoon of olive oil (it hydrates to plump hair). Rub all over scalp; rinse after five minutes.
Restore luster with a yogurt and lemon face mask.
Lactic acid–rich yogurt dissolves any dulling, dead layers of ashy skin while its fats deeply hydrate the complexion. And lemon juice’s vitamin C repairs damaged cells. The result? A lustrous, dewy glow in no time.
- TRY IT! Combine two tablespoons of full-fat plain yogurt and three teaspoons of lemon juice. Apply to the face and let sit for five minutes before rinsing.
Smooth cellulite with a coffee and aloe polish.
Coffee’s caffeine has a temporary tightening effect so skin looks less bumpy, says Akram. Plus, buffing it on skin boosts circulation to flush the fluids and toxins that make cellulite more prominent.
- TRY IT! Mix 1⁄4 cup of coffee grounds and three tablespoons of aloe vera gel (to soften skin). Rub on for one minute; rinse.
Plus, 3 tricks to post-shower gorgeous.
Dry skin? Slather on lotion quickly! Studies show that applying lotions or creams within 3 minutes of showering, when pores are most open, allows moisture to absorb deeper into skin.
Frizzy hair? Dry hair with a cotton T-shirt! Cotton absorbs water from hair without roughing up its cuticle like towels can. Just slip hair through the neck opening and twist into a turban; let sit 5 minutes.
Bushy brows? Tweeze them right after you step out! The warm water and steam opens skin pores and hair follicles, making it a cinch to remove eyebrow hair sans tugging or pain.
This story originally appeared in our print magazine.
