We all deserve to be spoiled and pampered once in a while, but with the price of skincare rising, it’s sometimes hard to justify the cost.
Spending your weekly pay on skincare is now considered the norm, with more and more women forking out over £150 each time they head to a department store.
The price of beauty creams has increased at five times the level of house prices since 2000, according to research carried out by Olay.
It’s hard not to be tempted by each new expensive product, from body scrubs and creams to facial peels and deep pore cleansers, all touted as the next must-have, promising miraculous results.
But you can achieve great results without spending a fortune - and even better, you can do it without leaving your house.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive beauty treatments and facials,” says Bharti Vyas, holistic beauty therapist and author of Tips For Beauty Wisdom.
“Many basic store cupboard ingredients are as good as, if not better than, fancy store-bought concoctions.”
The ancient Egyptians used clay and fruit in their everyday skincare routines - so take a tip from Cleopatra and do it yourself.
BEFORE YOU START
Home-made beauty products are often the treatments of choice for those with sensitive skins as they can control the ingredients.
However, before you start, always make sure you do a patch test. Dab a small amount of your new remedy behind your ear to check that you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients.
FACE
:: GENTLE FACIAL EXFOLIATOR FOR SENSITIVE SKINS
“Oats and oatflakes have a gentle but deep cleansing action, and can correct skin imbalances, making them ideal for dry, irritated and sensitive skins,” says Bharti.
This scrub can be used once or twice a week, to get rid of the dead skin cells and to reveal more radiant skin underneath.
2 heaped tsp fine oatmeal
2tsp double cream
Combine ingredients, apply to skin and rub with a very light action, using the balls of your fingers, then rinse off. Do not apply sustained pressure to any particular spot.
:: CLEANSING MASK
“Runny honey is good for dislodging dead skin cells - it also has soothing, healing, emollient and mildly antiseptic properties,” says Bharti. This makes this mask ideal for congested skins.
2 heaped tsp gram flour
1tsp water
1tsp runny honey
Mix to a thick, sticky consistency. Apply to affected areas and leave for five to seven minutes.
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HAIR
:: NUTRIENT-RICH CONDITIONER (from The Doctor’s Book Of Home Remedies by Dr Stephen Amiel, published by Rodale and Pan Macmillan, priced £20)
Avocados and bananas are rich in nutrients - both have moisturising properties and will leave your hair shinier and silky soft.
This recipe is made with blackened bananas, so it’s a great alternative to throwing out old bananas you’d rather not eat.
2 blackened bananas
2 mushy avocados
Combine the two fruits together into a paste, which will apply easily onto your hair. Leave the tropical puree in your hair for 15 minutes, and then wash it out over the kitchen sink.
:: NATURAL HAIR CONDITIONER
This treatment is better done over a sink, rather than in the shower as it’ll make you smell like a salad.
But it’s worth it, as the treatment helps detox the scalp from oils, built-up conditioners, and dirt from the past week, and is perfect for oily scalps.
1 beaten whole egg
2tbsp mayonnaise
Hanging your head in the sink, wet your hair and gently massage the egg through your hair, taking extra care with your scalp. Let the egg sit for about a minute, before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Massage in the mayonnaise in the same way, this time, paying attention to the tips of the hair, and let it sit for about two to three minutes. For a deeper conditioning, wrap your head in a towel for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and then wash with your normal shampoo, but don’t condition after. This should then leave you with shiny, conditioned hair, and a clean scalp.
BODY
:: BATH OF THE FIVE NECTARS
“In Ayurveda, milk, honey, yoghurt, ghee and banana are considered to be the five perfect foods, so this bath would be a real treat to nourish, soften, smooth and re-energise your skin,” explains Bharti.
1 banana, mashed
2tbsp milk
1tsp honey
1tsp yoghurt
1tsp ghee (can be found in your local Indian supermarket)
Combine all the ingredients together, before massaging the sweet-scented mix onto your skin. Plunge yourself into a warm bath and feel your skin gradually becoming softer and strokeable.
:: ALL-PURPOSE OATMEAL SCRUB
This scrub is gentle enough to be used all over the body, and will leave behind radiant-looking skin. The quantities given are enough for one thick application.
2tbsp finely ground oatmeal
1tbsp almond oil
Combine the two ingredients together, and massage into your body. Rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry, making sure you moisturise well afterwards.
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