Frugal Beauty Tricks from Our Mothers’ Kitchens
I am a frugal woman because I like to save money, and because I enjoy the creativity that
being frugal encourages. Years ago I began dabbling in homemade beauty; it was actually my
grandmother who turned me onto it when she saw me slathering my face with a drugstore facial
mask. Grandma snorted when she saw the price tag, then pulled out a box of rolled oats. “Boil
some water,” she snapped, and then taught me how to make a simple and effective facial mask
for less than a penny per application. I was hooked.
Since then, I’ve enjoyed homemade beauty treatments. They’re natural and women have used
them for centuries to obtain clean smooth skin, and shiny hair. Making these beauty treatments is
as simple as their ingredients, and I’ve enjoyed each one of the products I list below. From lips to
dermis, all it takes is a few steps and a few minutes to get homemade beauty.
SHINY: LIPS AND HAIR
Lip Gloss Recipe
The basic lip gloss recipe is very easy to make. First, make sure you have the following:
- Four ounces of sweet almond oil
- One-half ounce of beeswax beads
- Two teaspoons of essential oil
- One teaspoon of colored jojoba beads
Directions:
- In a measuring cup, pour the 4 ounces of sweet almond oil
- Mix the beeswax beads and colored jojoba beads with the sweet almond oil. Let them melt by heating them in the microwave for a few minutes.
- Stir the mixture and let cool. Add 2 teaspoons of essential oil.
- Now that you are done with your basic lip gloss, you can now pour it into little tins and let it cool.
Homemade Shampoo Recipe
Creating a natural shampoo is quite very easy. All you need to have are the following:
- 1 ounce of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Directions: Combine all the above ingredients and mix them with a blender until they are finely
blended. Use on your hair just like a regular shampoo, and then rinse it well. If there are any
leftovers, discard them. Only make a mixture of the homemade shampoo every time you need to
shampoo your hair.
FACIAL MASKS
There are different ways to make a mask. You can choose one that you think can make a positive
effect on your skin. Remember that there are different types of skin, so you really need to look
for the right product that suits you by trying different remedies.
- Egg White Mask
- Egg Yolk Mask
- Acne-fighting Baking Soda Mask
- Oatmeal Mask
The egg white mask is probably one of the easiest home remedies you can use to have clearer
skin, and it is an economical choice too!
All you need to do is separate the egg white from the yolk. Whip the egg white until it looks
frothy. Apply this to your clean face and leave on for around twenty minutes. Wash your face
with warm water and after a few days or weeks, you may notice you have much tighter skin and a
clearing of red spots. Make sure though that you are not allergic to eggs if you are opting for the
Egg White Mask.
Don’t take the egg yolk for granted when it comes to skin care. Egg yolks are actually good for
scarring because they are rich in Vitamin A. Whip the egg yolk and put it on your skin. After
about twenty minutes, wash it off your face with warm water. Do a bit of research about the
benefits of Egg Yolk before going for it.
For this skin regimen, all you need is baking soda and water. Make sure you do not
confuse baking soda with baking powder – they are completely different! This mask is very
easy to create and if your skin responds well, it can work wonders for your skin.
Wash your face first with a mild cleanser then gently apply a mixture on your face. When you
have coated your face with the water and baking soda mix, leave it for a few minutes and relax
and do other things.
Rinse off the baking soda film from your face. You may feel your skin becoming clearer and
softer. If your acne improves and your skin reacts well, try this regimen several times each week
to help clear your face from acne.
Oatmeal is probably one of the best natural treatments for dry skin and the most
effective natural skin cleanser. Not only can oatmeal help heal any minor irritation on your skin,
but it also relieves dryness, restoring your skin’s moisture. As a skin cleanser, oatmeal absorbs
impurities and removes dirt. At the same time, it is gently exfoliating your skin, removing dead
skin cells for smoother and softer skin, giving you a healthy glow.
You can get all these benefits by blending some oatmeal with water. You can use the plain rolled
oats you can buy from the supermarket, but do not use microwaveable oatmeal! Apply the mixture
on your skin and leave it there for 10-15 minutes or until it dries.
My kids jokingly refer to this as “Mom playing with her food”, and it’s the kind of food play that
should be encouraged. Knowing the source of your recipes ensures the natural quality of your
beauty products, and leaves you smooth, shiny, smelling like Heaven, and with a heavier wallet.
When you are frugal, you tend to look for solutions outside of the box and the good thing is, you
often find them… Most of the time just lying around the kitchen!
About the Author: Isabella York is a working mother who is always looking for creative ways to save money and stay beautiful. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas Trees.
