Homemade beauty solutions

Get a beautifully buffed body

“At bedtime, cover your feet in foot balm and put on cotton socks. Your feet will be super-soft in the morning.” -Lisa Kennedy, 46, Prince George, B.C.

“Make your own inexpensive body scrub with ingredients from your pantry: Combine ½ cup (125 mL) sugar, 2 tsp (10 mL) olive oil and a few drops of an essential oil (lavender is calming; peppermint, invigorating). Rub gently onto your body, then shower to rinse. Use this once a week and your skin will feel soft, smooth and refreshed.” -Melanie Barron, 38, Calgary

“To tame unruly eyebrow hairs, spread a drop of petroleum jelly over your brows. Not only does it keep them from looking messy, but it also makes them shiny.” -Rochelle Risman, 43, Winnipeg

“Instead of buying skin creams and hair conditioners, I use olive oil.  A small drop spread over my skin when I step out of the shower leaves it silky smooth and so healthy looking. My hair is short, so another small drop of olive oil leaves it shiny, too.” -Shirley Hill, 60, Chatham, Ont.

Moisturize with coconut oil

“Use coconut oil as a moisturizer. I use it religiously on my face and body-it’s light and absorbs into the skin within minutes without feeling greasy-as well as for a hair treatment. And can’t beat the smell!” -Tracy Suru, 37, Thompson, Man.

“I use coconut oil on my skin and hair. For my skin, I apply it daily in the morning after my shower. For hair, I apply it twice a week at night, then cover it with a shower cap. I sleep with it in my hair overnight and then shampoo it out in the morning. I’ve seen amazing results!” -Jenna Houle, 25, Kelowna, B.C.

“I apply coconut oil to my lips, hands and legs a few times a week-it helps prevent dry skin and smells great! You can buy it at health food stores.” -Marie Maher, 50, Petawawa, Ont.

Look (and feel) well rested

“For a good night’s sleep, I use Epsom salts infused with eucalyptus in the bath, We’ve installed a deep tub-and it’s the best place in the house. The Epsom salts seem to take away any aches, while the aroma of eucalyptis helps calm and soothe, plus it refreshes the senses.” -Britta Bennekou, 40, Vancouver

“When my eyes look tired, I close my eyes and place cold used tea bags on my lids for about 20 minutes. This is refreshing and reduces puffiness.” -Leslie Luu, 22, Vancouver

Get beautiful skin

“Try this amazing homemade facial concoction to brighten your skin: For a batch that will last about two weeks, mash up the flesh of two avocados, beat in an egg white and a squeeze of lemon juice. (Store it in the refrigerator, in a container that’s not airtight.) I spread a teaspoon or two of this on my face every second day, and leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off with cool water. It makes m skin much smoother and a lot less oily.” -Terri-Linh Ayles, 20, Dartmouth, N.S.

“Once a week, I combine egg white with melon juice, spread it on my face, then rinse it off. It eliminates dry skin and leaves my face looking younger, smoother and glowing.” -Tina Brothers, 49, Montreal

“Here’s an inexpensive face mask I’ve been using for more than 10 years: Whip together one egg with a tablespoon (15 mL) of honey. Apply to your face and throat, then wait 20 minutes before washing it off. My skin feels very smooth afterwards (but I still use moisturizer, too). -Adriana Grillo, 55, Boucherville, Quebec

“To get rid of blackheads, I boil a large pot of water ad pour it into a bowl. Then, I carefully lean over-it’s hot-so my face is several inches above the bowl, and cover my head with a large towel (to keep in the steam) for about three to five minutes. Afterwards, I mix 1 Tbsp (15 mL) baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. I rub this over my face, paying attention  to my trouble areas. When it starts to dry, I rinse it off with lukewarm water. My face feels soft and smooth, as well as clean and refreshed.” -Jennifer Jones, 24, Portage La Prairie, Man.

Do you have a tip to share? Submit your Best Health tip at besthealthmag.ca/tips.

Related:
• Natural (and cheap!) homemade scrubs, masks and bath products
• The best in green beauty: Natural, organic, vegan and more
• The ultimate guide to green beauty