The Best Homemade Natural Beauty Remedies on a Budget – Part One

This is part one of my Homemade Natural Beauty Remedies on a Budget piece. I had so many recipes that I had to break it up to fit them all! Check out the second part next week to learn how you can take better care of yourself without busting your budget or using a ton of chemicals!

With age comes wisdom, or at least a little less folly.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that a lot of the default methods I used to take care of myself are just not cutting it anymore. Some because I’m no longer a fresh-faced 20-year-old, and some because I’ve realized that all the chemicals and other unnatural substances I’ve used are just not good for me.

My mother is a kind woman, and barely even said I told you so.

I try not to regret too many of my past mistakes (tanning beds though? Really?) because I can’t change them, only learn from them, but they did give me a great starting point in my search for more natural (and not super expensive) skin and hair care techniques.

There were a handful of things that I did on a regular basis that needed an overhaul, both to reduce the yucky stuff added to those lovely-smelling bottles from the store, and to take better care of my not-so-fresh-faced self in my 30s.

So here are some of the best homemade natural beauty remedies that I think everyone should try (I bet you’ll love them, too!)…

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1. Eye Cream – If you have under-eye circles, bags, or anything else that’s taking away from those pretty peepers, then try this. You’ll need:

½ cup of coconut oil (an antibacterial, anti-fungal moisturizer)

8 Vitamin E capsules (an antioxidant that blocks free radicals)

8 drops of Rose essential oil (an anti-inflammatory moisturizer that is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants)

8 drops of Frankincense essential oil (an anti-aging wrinkle fighter that lifts and tightens skin, and protects skin cells)

• Heat the coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 15-second increments until it is melted.
• Poke holes in the Vitamin E capsules and empty them into the oil.
• Add the rose and frankincense essential oils and mix together.
• Pour into a glass jar (I use this cute purple one) and place in the fridge to solidify (about an hour).
• Just dab and gently massage into your under-eye area each night before bed.
• The cream will stay fresh so you can leave it on your night table or bathroom counter for easy use.

 

 

2. Oil Cleansing for the face – I’ve mentioned this before and really love it. Washing my face this way means I don’t even need a face moisturizer. The hot water opens my pores and make-up and dirt are washed away. You’ll need:

1/4 cup of Castor oil (a fatty acid that helps restore skin’s natural moisture balance)

1/4 cup of Olive Oil (moisturizer with anti-aging and antioxidant properties)

Washcloth

 

• In a small bottle or jar, add equal parts castor oil and olive oil.
• If your skin is on the oily side, increase the ratio of castor oil. If your skin is drier, add more olive oil.
• Shake the mixture and then gently massage it into your face.
• Take a washcloth and wet it with hot water, wringing out the excess. Place it on your face.
• After about a minute, when the cloth begins to cool, remove it. Rinse it out and use it to lightly rub off any extra oil on your skin.
• This is a great bedtime routine and very relaxing.

 

 

3. Eyelash Growth – If your eyelashes just aren’t as full and long as they once were, then give this a try. You’ll need:

1 Tbsp. of Castor oil (contains Omega-8 fatty acids that nourish hair and accelerate growth)

A clean and empty mascara bottle and brush (you can buy these or just thoroughly clean and repurpose one you already have).

 

• Fill the mascara bottle with castor oil. They usually don’t hold much, so go slowly!
• Dip the brush in and carefully apply it to lashes, from root to tip.
• Make sure your lashes are free of mascara when you do this. This practice also helps remind you to remove make-up before bed (if you are like me and forget more often than you remember).

 

 

4. Dry shampoo – I use this almost daily after workouts or other sweaty tasks. I hate that oily hair feeling, so this is perfect – and even better without all the chemicals found in store-bought versions. You’ll need:

Small spritzer bottle

3 Tbsp. of high-proof alcohol, like vodka (no smell!)

1 Tbsp. of distilled water

½ tsp. arrowroot starch (absorbs oil)

5-8 drops of an essential oil that you like (lavender is nice, and cedarwood and lemon are nourishing for hair)

 

• Add the ingredients together. Shake well.
• Spritz the solution on the roots of your hair, working your way through sections until complete.
• The slight alcohol smell disappears quickly and you should only smell the essential oil you added.
• Once it dries, just brush your hair out and style it as you normally would.
• If your hair is fine like mine, go easy with your first application to find the right amount that works with your hair.

 

I still have more recipes and tips for you, but it’ll have to wait until next week. In the meantime, try these out and see what a difference it makes. Even if you aren’t seeing immediate results, it’s a great feeling knowing that you are doing something good for yourself (and your wallet!).

 

What natural beauty remedies are you using? I’d love to hear what alternatives are working for you. Let me know in the comments!

 

[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]