11 Easy DIY Beauty Recipes for Summer
Photo: iStockPhoto.com
Summer is officially in full swing and with it comes cute shorts, hot weather and hopefully some time spent at the nearest pool, beach or lake. However, all that summer fun can unfortunately give our skin and hair a beating. Beauty treatments from spas can help, but usually cost a lot of money, which isn’t ideal for most college students.
That’s why I compiled a list of some do-it-yourself beauty treatments that can keep you looking your best all summer long. The best part? They’re inexpensive and all-natural.
Face
- It’s important to stick with a strict skin routine- even during the summer. I recommend using a mask once a week to revitalize the skin. There are tons of recipes out there for DIY facials, but my favorite involves combining one egg yolk, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil. Just leave the mixture on your face for 10 minutes and rinse it off. It’s a great mask for most skin types.
- For oily or acne-prone skin, try a mask that will help soothe the skin. Take one ripe banana and blend it with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Leave on for 15 minutes.
- If you have dry skin, mix half of a mashed avocado with 1/4 cup of honey for a mask that will add tons of moisture to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes.
- Sliced strawberries, grapes and cucumbers act as natural toners to tighten skin and shrink pores. Just rub the slices over your skin after cleansing. Oily skin? Try sliced lemons to reduce shine.
- For a simple exfoliator, blend together 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1/2 cup of sugar. This is a perfect scrub for the face because it gets rid of dead skin cells and re-hydrates the skin at the same time. You should use this 1 to 3 times a week depending on how sensitive your skin is.
Body
- Have some milk in your fridge that’s about to expire? Add it to a bath along with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil. Milk is a natural moisturizer that can do wonders for your skin and the olive oil will make skin super soft. You can also add the milk/olive oil combo in a bowl with warm water to soak your hands or feet before giving yourself a DIY manicure or pedicure.
- Exfoliating is important, especially if you want to try a self-tanner this summer. You can use the same sugar scrub from above on your whole body, but if you want something different try a salt scrub. Combine 1 cup of salt with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Add a few drops of an essential oil in your favorite scent or get creative by adding the zest of an orange or lemon for a fresh and citrus-infused smell.
- Although we’re big advocates of sunscreen here at CF, sometimes the inevitable happens: the dreaded sunburn. While aloe gels and lotions can be a lifesaver, they’re are more natural ways to relieve a sunburn. You could buy the real deal- an aloe plant- or add a tablespoon of baking soda into a quart of cool water. If you want to try the latter, just use a washcloth to apply it to the sunburned areas. Also, you can help prevent peeling by applying vinegar to the skin.
Hair
- For an easy and natural deep conditioner, blend 1/4 cup of plain yogurt, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise and the whites from one egg. Cover your hair with the mixture (run a wide tooth comb through your hair to make sure it’s evenly dispersed) and leave in for 30 minutes before rinsing it out. This will reverse dry and damaged hair.
- Get rid of product build-up by mixing a small amount of baking soda in with your shampoo. This will clarify your hair and can make it more manageable over time.
- Want to lighten up your hair but don’t have the money for highlights? Dilute 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice with 1/4 cup of water. Put the mixture in your hair and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. If you can, sit outside in the sun to help lighten the hair- but don’t forget the SPF! Are red tones more your style? Do the same thing, but use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.
What do you think?
Are you a fan of DIY beauty? Do you want to try any of these beauty treatments? Do you have a favorite DIY treatment that isn’t here? Let us know and be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts!
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Posted on on June 13, 2010 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: Beauty, DIY, Featured, Hair, Skincare, Summer
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Francheska!
Wow! i love this! thanks for this!!! OMG! Amazing as always!
Eimear
Ooh thank you! This is exactly what I needed!
Amanda
With the hair lightening one, are you supposed to wear a cap or something? The sun wouldnt be able to really get to your hair, but my hair would dry wicked fast if I’m in the sun for an hour…I don’t know, I guess I just need some clarification!
Jessica
DO NOT rub lemon, vinegar or baking soda undiluted on your skin, the ph levels are too high to be safe for repeated use.
Jaimie
These are all great- Thank you! I’m planning on trying a few today :) I have always been so afraid to lighten my hair with diluted lemon juice because of all the horror stories I have heard. I have dark brown hair, and I really want to dye it a lighter brown but do not have the money right now. Will the lemon juice trick work for me, or will it turn my hair an orange color?
Gracey
I really like how you included recipes for people with different skin types and different hair types! I’m definitely going to try the hair lightening one and some of the face masks! :) Awesome post
Ashley - Flagler College
Amanda- It’s okay for the mixture to dry in the sun, it won’t make a difference for the result. Just be sure to wash it out after!
Jamie- I have dark brown hair too and the lemon juice didn’t turn my hair orange at all. However, the lemon mixture works best on people with blonde to light brown hair. For darker hair, I suggest testing it out on a small piece of hair to see what it will look like before trying it out all over.
Shanti
I love the post! Definitely going to try a bunch of these. Question though: when you’re not using a mask or exfoliating, what should you wash your face with? Normal drugstore facewash? Or do you have any au natural suggestions?
Carolanne
wow. lemon helps reduce facial shine? interesting.. i should try that one! are there any downsides/cons to it though?
Sari
I have dark brown hair, and to lighten it I use chamomile tea. Just steep it like usual, pour into a spray bottle, spray all over your hair, and go out into the sun. It may take longer than the lemon treatment, but it won’t dry out your hair. I’ve read that since lemons are acidic, they may cause split ends, and my hair is really damaged. Though on second thought, maybe next time I’ll use a lemon juice/chamomile tea combo.
I love DIY spa treatments. I used to have a good recipe for a lip balm too. I’m going to try the apple vinegar treatment come fall too!
Rach
What are your thoughts on the product sun-in? is it the same as lemon juice, or is it bad for your hair?
JillAnn
This is probably my favorite CF post EVER! I’m going to use the hair dye and strawberry pore tricks. Muchos gracias.
Ella
Another hair lightener that is supposed to work better/faster than lemon is beer. I would caution those who are interested about the smell though!
CLC
Great post, I love natural recipes!! The only thing I’m a bit concerned with is rubbing lemon juice on your face–I heard lemon is good for making your elbows lighter, and since is lightens your hair, wouldn’t it have to same effect on the skin on your face? I’m going to try the deep conditioner recipe tonight, awesome ideas!!
Jessica
What size cup is a “cup” ? Sounds stupid but I would like to get it right.
I might try a few of these with my friends, slumber party style. =)
Indigo Ray
OMG! loved these SO much!
yeah– i’ve heard the lemon juice dries out your hair badly.
What i like to do is chamomile tea, lemon and and tad of oil and mix them together in a spray bottle! it works wonders! the oil helps neutralize the lemon.
hey- i have the same question of one of the people up there…
What do you think about sun- in? is it damaging?
this and the horoscope clothing article are my favorites!
MORE PLEASE! <3
Ashley - Flagler College
Shanti- I just use my normal facial cleanser from a drugstore, but if you’re interested I found a whole bunch of recipes for DYI cleansers here.
Carolanne & CLC- I personally haven’t tried the lemon juice on the skin, but since lemons are highly acidic you should probably use it sparingly
Jessica- Not a stupid question! A cup refers to a measuring cup like you would find in a kitchen. If you don’t have one of those I believe there are 8 oz. in a cup.
Rach & Indigo Ray- I’ve never used Sun-In, so I’m not sure if it contains chemicals or anything that could potentially damage hair. They do have a lemon version which is probably the better of the two if you want to try it.
Re
These are wonderful tips! :) ~I’ve never done a natural home-spa routine before. I’ll definitely try these out at my new place! I definitely want to try the hair and face mask as well as the exfoliants. :) ~The link you provided in reply to Shanti is pretty helpful too!
Thanks for he article! You’re genius! :D
alanna
A fantastic face or body wash that leaves your skin super soft: just crush some whole rolled oats (NOT processed!) with water, and massage onto your skin.
marilou
I was just wandering to get rid of product build-up, you have to mix a small amount of baking soda in with your shampoo. But, how much baking soda ?
Thank you :)
Ashley - Flagler College
marilou- It really depends on the length of you hair and how much build-up you have, but I wouldn’t use more than a teaspoon =)
Danielle
About the sunburns, plain yogurt or sour cream REALLY helps. Just put it on the burn areas and put a shirt over it and sleep with it on and shower in the morning.
Also, theres a reaaaally good product called Glow with it, after sun lotion and its by the company arbonne.. its amazing. you put it on after you get burnt, and after a few hours it: A) stops hurting, B) elimiates the redness & C) the next day, the burn is replaced with a tan rather than a burn :)
Ange
loveeee using lemon juice in my hair! this video talks a little bit more about it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzmtwFNV63M
merai
wow! thnx….
jitushka
For one of the hair tips: originally mayonnaise is a mix of oil (olive, sunflower etx.), egg yolks and some spices plus salt (in the ones you buy, you can be sure there are conservants and other chem. ingredients) so I think it is simpler just to mix in some oil :-)
Sarah
I tried the salt scrub but the oil clung to my skin. It’s really soft but I feel like I need to wash my skin now!
Susanna
Thanks so much! The first face mask is one I already use except I put a tbs of oatmeal in it.
Bianca-Rose
If you actually wait for the milk to go sour, and then bathe in it, it will help to exfoliate your skin as well. Sour milk contains lactic acid (an AHA) which helps the skin exfoliate. They say Cleopatra would regularly bathe in sour milk.
Mayra
My mom thougth me this amazing at home sugar facial that works like a charm.
Things you will need:
1) sugar
2) bar soap (perferbly non scented)
3) and one half of a lime or lemon.
So the first thing you do is wash your face with the bar of soap, after doing that dont wash the soap off yet instead scrup some sugar all over your face especially in problem areas. Let the sugar mask on your face for a minute or 2. Once you feel the mask getting hard wash your face off and after you dry it off pat some of the lemon/lime juice all over your face (it will sting a bit). And finally your done and left with a clean smooth face =-)
Becca
This is such a cool website!!!!! I just recently got intrested in making DIY beauty tretmants I just found a really cool one. What you do is you put a few drops of tangerine essential oil in a glass bowl and pour boiling water into it. Then you hold a clean towl around your head ( remember to pull back your hair ) so that the steam can’t ascape. You steam your face for twenty min. Then you saturate a cotton ball in cooled camomile tea and rub it in upward strokes on your face. After that you rub a small amount of coconut oil on to your face ( it’s a moisterizer ) Don’t worry if your face gets red thats just the steam drawing the toxins out of your porse. =) if anybody tries this recipe I hope you like it!!!=D
eliza
the only thing you have to remember with using lemon mixture is that it dries out your hair, so maybe follow that treatment with the deep conditioning one? :) definitely using these in my own spa day! Thanks!
Rachel Valen
I really love this site, I come back all the time to see new things, and I’ve done plenty of the little tricks and they work great. (: Thanks!
Libby
Just a heads up from a rough DIY mishap – If you put the egg yolk in your hair, do NOT rinse it out with hot water in the shower. I made eggs in my hair : o
Maria
I really like all the DIY tips, but I was a tad worried about all the lemon treatments you suggested.
It probable works really well when you use it on your hair, but I would advise extreme caution when using it on your skin, since the citric acid present in the lemon can cause dark spots on the face after sun exposure.
If you rub lemon on your face or wash it with a bit of lemon, be careful and do not go on the sun, for it will leave dark marks on it!
And remember to wash your hands well after dealing with lemon and before going in the sun!
noir
yogurt is also really good when you have sunburns,just rub it in wherever the skin is red and wait half an hour,rinse aaaaand it’s gone!
chas
Do you have a DIY way to help with oily hair?
Adri
I have your fav mask on my face as I type :)
I hope it was not a typo when you put 1 egg ” yolk ” since I’ve only ever heard of egg whites used…. Oh well , we will see!
Niky
My friend and I tried lemon juice in the sun once, and after sitting in the sun for an hour, her hair looked like the color seeped out of it! She has sandy hair with natural brown highlights, and now a portion of her hair is blond, but actually kind of grayish. We did not expect that! Plus her hair was incredibly dry and stiff for a week. We must have messed up really badly, what did we do wrong?
Sarah-jane
wow love this! thankyou, i love reading how theres face cleansers natural, healthy and doesn’t test on animals !
Erin
I tried using apple cider to help bring out the natural red in my hair… and I must’ve done something wrong, because after I washed out my hair it was noticeably lighter!
I washed my hair with my usual shampoo+conditioner. Was I just supposed to rinse with water.
Hayden
One thing I absolutely love isn’t here. It’s a face mask that I make at home and use it 1 or 2 times a week and it does wonders. Just mix equal parts of honey and cinnamon, and a few dashes of nutmeg. Leave it on your skin for 20-25 minutes and rinse it off. I like taking it off in the shower, because scrubbing with a washcloth can irritate skin. It smells AMAZING and it won’t spoil. I make jars of it and add it to homemade beauty kits for birthdays and christmas:)
esther
with the lemon juice, chamomile, oil mixture, how much of each are you supposed to add? and do you still have to dilute the lemon juice if you do it this way? also when you wash it out do you just use water or with shampoo?
Pur Essence
It’s in fact very complicated in this busy life to listen news on Television, so I just use internet for that purpose, and obtain the latest news.
Alex
OMG Such good results with the hair mask.
I switched it up and did banana with lemon and mayonnaise.
although it was totally disgusting smelling and i didn’t mash up all the banana so i had chunks sliding down my back in the shower, EW!
After, my hair was extremely clean and soft and fresh.
I’m a swimmer and im blonde so my hair is the worst in chlorine and this got all the green out and made it luscious.
Also, the potato shredded and put into cheese cloth works better than an entire potato… :)
Happy DIY-ing everyone!
Maia
Hey, thank you college fashion! <3
I love your website, keep it up! Thank so much for all ur awesome beauty tips