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

This is part two 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! If you missed the first post, click here to catch up on how you can take better care of yourself without busting your budget or using a ton of chemicals.

Saving money and taking care of yourself don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We can enjoy a healthy body without spending tons at spas and gyms, and on chemical additives and miracle drugs that say they’ll do one thing, all while putting some undesirable elements into our bodies that we never bargained for.

So here are some natural alternatives that are homemade, easy to make and use, and don’t cost a fortune. Enjoy!

 

1. 

   Stretch Mark Cream – I was lucky to escape five pregnancies with no stretch marks, but my thighs were the victim of abrupt weight changes in my teens. So despite the cause, this remedy can help make them less visible and improve your skin. You’ll need:

2 Tbsp. of coffee grounds (caffeine reduces inflammation)

2 Tbsp. of castor oil

(Depending on the size of the area, you may need more.)

 

• Combine and massage the mixture into the affected areas for about five minutes.
• Wash away and then moisturize the skin with a combination of: ¼ cup of coconut oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of frankincense essential oil.

 

2.

Moisturizer – An all-over body moisturizer is a must, but as much as I love the great smelling choices at Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret, they have a lot of stuff in them that I really don’t love, too. So try this:

 

• Right out of the shower or after rubbing some water on your skin, apply coconut oil.
• Massage it in and let it dry before dressing to avoid any oil stains on your clothes.
• The oil traps the water against your skin, allowing it to take in moisture and also get the benefits of the oil itself.
• Bonus: You now smell like a cookie, or maybe an awesome beach vacation. You pick.

 

3.

Feet Exfoliation – I love walking around barefoot and in sandals, but it kills my feet. Calluses, dirt, and dry skin can all make your feet look not so lovely. So exfoliating and moisturizing them is important. You’ll need:

1 Tbsp. of sugar

3 Tbsp. of coconut oil

Pair of socks

 

• Combine the two and massage into your feet. You may want to change the amount of sugar based on your preference – if your feet are sensitive, too much may be too abrasive.
• Wash off after several minutes and then put socks on to keep the oil and moisture from rubbing off.

 

4.

Shampoo and conditioner – This was mentioned in another post, but these are awesome. They take some getting used to, but are well worth the couple of weeks it takes for your hair’s natural oil balance to come back. Your hair is shinier and healthier, and needs less washing than it ever did on conventional hair products. You’ll need:

Shampoo: 1 Tbsp. of baking soda + 1 cup of distilled water

Conditioner: 1 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar + 1 cup of distilled water

 

• Put each solution into its own small squirt bottle – or any bottle, really (I repurposed some travel containers I had from a hotel).
• Apply the shampoo and rub it into the roots of your hair. The solution will run down the hair, so don’t worry about rubbing it into the ends.
• Let it sit for a few minutes before washing it out.
• Apply the conditioner to the rest of your hair, avoiding the roots. Rinse it out and you’re done.
• Caution: If you have hard water, the ingredient ratios will need to be experimented with. My hard water made this a real pain when I moved. So just see what works for you.

 

*While reading The Power of Habit, I learned that the reason our store-bought shampoos are sudsy and bubbly is because it was a marketing technique. Consumers felt rewarded and clean when they felt them in their hair, so they washed their hair again, creating a routine and, thus, buying more shampoo. Those suds are just a chemical add-in and have nothing to do with cleaning your hair!

 

 5. Final Tips.

If you want your skin and body to look and feel great, despite your age, the best thing you can do is take care of it. From my lofty seat up here in the wiser section of life (just above folly, way below wise, and just left of still-learning), I leave you with this parting advice:

Drink more water and always use sunscreen.

Drink less alcohol, coffee, and soda. And ditch the cigarettes and tanning habit.

 

Remember that taking care of yourself isn’t all about looks. We’re already beautiful. God created us perfectly as we are.

This is about taking care of your one and only body, respecting it for what it is — a vessel with a purpose. Don’t cut that purpose short by treating it badly, believing you can do what you want without repercussions. Treat your body with love and it will treat you with love long into your old age, where hopefully, you will be living out that purpose to the fullest!

 

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.]