Sugar and Spice... So Very Nice!!! Top Ten Home Beauty Must Haves

Although most people would prefer a day at the spa rather than emptying their refrigerator and pantry, there are many ways to maintain a beauty regime at home without painfully denting your wallet.  From pampering scrubs and facials to fighting pimples and dry skin-most of what you need is already well within your reach.

Aspirin.  This painkiller does wonders for the skin, and is great as a refining mask, or a spot treatment for pimples.  Fill a shot glass 3/4 full of Aspirin tablets, and pour in water almost to the top, leaving roughly half a centimeter to spare.  Wait for the Aspirin to dissolve, and pour in jojoba or olive oil to fill the shot glass.  Stir, and apply! Leave on for ten minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

Oatmeal.  An oatmeal bath can soothe the itchiest of skin, and is gentle enough for babies and children.  (Though remember-baths for babies only need 1/3 the amount of oatmeal)  In a food processor or blender, grind one cup of oats (quick oats or steel cut, either will do the trick) until fine and powdery.  Add to bathwater the same way you would bubble bath, ensuring there are no clumps in the bottom.  Soak for roughly twenty minutes, and pat dry.

Anti-Perspirant.  Though technically not a beauty tip, anti-perspirants are your best friend if you have a bug bite.  The alluminum helps combat the itch, and can quickly aid in reducing redness. 

Coconut Oil.  This miracle product is a must have for both the kitchen and bathroom.  There's literally not much you can't do with coconut oil.  It's a great moisturizer for the face and body, can be used on dry hair to tame frizz, thickly applied to hair as a hydrating mask, and if you have any left over-make yourself a stir fry!

Tea Tree Oil.  This anti-bacterial oil is a great blemish buster, and will even out oily skin tones.  Dab on a few drops to imperfections before bed, and wake in the morning with reduced redness and swelling.

Sugar & Coffee Grounds.  Both delicious and useful, mix 1 cup of used coffee grounds with 1/2 cup of sugar, add 2 tbsp. olive oil, and you have an exfoliant good enough to eat! The caffeine stimulates collagen, which keeps skin looking youthful.

Beer.  If your hair is in need of a pick-me up, look no further than the malt and hops found in beer. Shampoo and rinse hair, then pour in a bottle or can of beer, massage, and rinse away.  You may wish to set the beer aside to warm to room temperature, to make for a more comfortable rinse!  You'll be left with shiny hair, full of body!  If you don't believe me, just ask Catherine Zeta-Jones, famous for announcing that she washes her hair with beer and honey.

Preparation H.  The cream originally intended for hemorrhoids can be used for reducing puffiness around the eye area.  Gently dab a small amount around the eye area, carefully avoiding the eyes themselves.  Puffiness around the eye area can often be attributed to a sodium-heavy diet.  Try reducing your salt intake, and drinking more water.

Vaseline.  Run out of mascara?  Mix a little Vaseline with dark eyeshadow, curl lashes, and apply with a Q-tip.  Do your legs need a bronze summer glow?  Mix a small amount of Vaseline with your favorite shimmer powder or bronzer-and voila!  You can also mix Vaseline with a colored eye shadow or blush for a great tinted lip gloss.  The sheerer you want your lip color to be, the less powder and more Vaseline you mix.  Vaseline has been one of my best kept secrets, but the cat's out of the bag.

Did I miss anything?  Do you have any beauty tips or tricks using common household ingredients?  The next time you go into your fridge for a snack, think twice-your hair or skin could use one too!

XO

T