According to the U.S. Census Data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS), during the first quarter (3 months) of 2020, 0.81 million Americans spent at least $500 on makeup products. A second study by OnePoll for Groupon showed that the average woman spends about $313 on her appearance every month. That adds up to $3756 per year.
Stunning, yes? That’s $225,360 over the course of an average lifetime. Is that necessary? Do-it-yourselfers don’t think so. They want us to know that you can use that money for hobbies, trips, online casino real money gaming fun (wink, wink....here at SlotoCash!) and other personal interests while still maintaining the same level of self-care. Some strategies involve stretching out the lifetime of products that you buy while other methods teach you how to make your own products.
Some of the most effective DYI products include:
Hair
Hair Color
If you are a brunette – real or from a bottle -- and your hair needs a bit of a pick me up, add some cocoa to your shampoo. You need an equal amount of shampoo and cocoa. Shake it up and then do your shampoo as you do regularly. A mousy brown can turn into a rich brown shine with this treatment. Rinsing your hair with brewed coffee has the same effect.
If you’re a blond and you want to lighten your hair even more, use lemon. Take a fourth of a cup of warm water and combine it with one cup’s worth of lemon juice. Spray the mixture all over your hair and then sit out in the sun for awhile. This is a great lightning technique but remember that lemon juice is acidic so you should be sure to condition your hair immediately after the treatment.
Hair Mask
Regardless of whether or not you color your hair, it’s a good idea to apply a hair mask to your hair every few weeks to keep your hair soft and shiny. One of the best DIY hair masks needs only melted coconut oil, honey and apple cider vinegar. Mix together 2 parts melted coconut oil, 2 parts honey and 1 part apple cider vinegar and mix together. The oil will harden and the parts will separate so re-melt and mix before each use.
Face
Oatmeal Face Mask
Oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast! To create a fresh feeling for your face, mix ¼ cup of ground oatmeal (grind it in a food processor if it doesn’t come already ground) and two teaspoons of honey. Slather it over your face and leave it for 15 minutes. When you wash it away, your face will feel fresh and tingly.
If you want to try a face mask that’s a bit astringent, mix lemon juice with a few drops of tea tree oil. This is a good solution for people struggling with acne since tea tree oil is helpful for treating acne.
While we’re talking about acne, did you know that thyme essential oil is a natural acne fighter? Combine it with jojoba oil and you get a soothing cream that will work on the acne problem.
Coffee Mud Mask
Coffee is an amazing product to use as part of a mud mask. The coffee acts to pull the toxins out of the skin, leaving your face feeling refreshed when you wash it off. Mix 4 tbsps bentonite clay together with 2 tbsps. coffee grounds. Add 2 tbsps of apple cider vinegar (you can use water if you don’t have apple cider vinegar but the ACV delivers the best results) and add more if the mixture isn’t moist enough to spread on your face. When it’s thin enough to spread, put it on your face, adding it in a circular motion. Let it set until the mask hardens (5-10 minutes) and rinse it off your face. Moisturize your face after removing the mask.
Greek Yogurt and Calendula Face Mask
Another great face mask is one made from greek yogurt and calendula. The yogurt cools your face and reduces redness while the calendula removes skin wastes and helps clarify the skin. This one is easy to make – 2 tbsps Greek yogurt and 1 Tsp calendula powder and you’re ready to go.
Make Up Remover
You’ll be doing your face a big favor if you remove your make-up with special make-up remover instead of soap and water. The make-up remover is much gentler on your skin than soap and water which is important, especially after you have been wearing makeup for hours. To make your own make-up remover, combine 2 tbsps. Vitamin E oil, 2 tbsps of olive oil and 3 tbsps of alcohol-free witch hazel. Add ½ cup purified water and mix. Store in a bottle and shake before each use.
Face Moisturizer
Face moisturizer is probably the product that eats up the biggest part of a skin care budget. But you can make your own after a quick trip to the health food store where the needed products can be purchased.
Start making your own face moisturizer by sterilizing all utensils with boiling hot water and alcohol to prevent the growth of microorganisms in your finished cream. Make sure that the utensils are dry before you start.
In a glass jar placed inside a pot of boiling water, place 2 ½ ounces of carrier oil (almond, jojoba, apricot or avocado), 2 ½ ounces of coconut/mango/cocoa/shea butter and ½ ounce of beeswax (hard shavings are preferred). After about 20 minutes of the jar in the boiling water (stir constantly), remove the glass jar and slowly (over the course of 30 minutes) pour in 3 ½ ounces of distilled water.
Let the mixture cool and then add in 25 drops of grapefruit seed extract, 20 drops of essential oil and ½ ounce of royal jelly. Royal jelly comes from bees and is said to contain anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. It is optional but most commercial cosmetics and moisturizers contain it.
Nails
Nail Hardener
If you have soft nails, you can add crushed garlic to clear nail polish and then apply it on your nails to strengthen them. This mixture works well as a base coat but it should always be removed before a new coat is applied.
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