10 Beauty DIYs You Can Do With Kitchen Ingredients RN

If there’s one thing we have plenty of time to be doing right now, it’s a little extra TLC for our skin, body, and hair. Working from home? Let your hair marinade in something nutritious while you work! Whatever you’re doing, if you’re stuck at home, these quick and easy hair, skin, and body DIYs are here to show you some self-love. The best bit is you probably already have everything you need to make most of these DIYs already in your kitchen cupboard.

1. Yogurt and Turmeric Healing Face Mask

Turmeric is a badass anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is the root cause of so many skin issues. Turmeric helps soothe redness and calm irritation, but it also defends skin against damaging free radicals that cause premature skin aging.

It’s also amazing for acne-prone skin as it’s antibacterial, and because it’s a natural brightening agent, if used regularly it can help fade post-inflammatory pigmentation left behind from pimples.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of organic honey (anti-inflammatory and antibacterial to hydrate, heal and soothe)
1 tablespoon of greek/ natural yogurt (fights fine lines and moisturizes)

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly in a bowl. Then apply to freshly washed, dry skin. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and follow with your usual skincare routine. P.S. Turmeric can be staining, so maybe don’t do this just before your FaceTime date!

2. Avocado Hair Mask

via Giphy

Avocados are super nourishing and hydrating for your hair, as they’re full of fatty acids, and protecting vitamin E and B. This mask is super easy to make and you can totally customize it depending on what you have at home.

Ingredients:
1 avocado
1 tablespoon of honey (optional)
2 tablespoons of coconut/ argan/ olive oil (or whatever oil you have)

Directions: Mix all the ingredients in a blender to get a smooth consistency that feels like a conditioner. (If you don’t have a blender, mash up the avocado with a fork and whip in the other ingredients for a lightweight texture.) Apply the mask all over dry hair, focusing on your ends and also applying to your scalp. Leave the mask on for one hour, and then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner, as usual.

3. Bath Soak Salts

via Giphy

There’s nothing better than a relaxing bath and a book, and bath salts have lots of benefits to step up your bath game. Sea salt is naturally detoxifying, has healing properties, and can help your skin to retain moisture while it’s also soothing for your muscles. This recipe makes enough for one bath, so if you want to make a big batch, just multiply the measures by 10. You can also just add sea salt to your bath if you don’t have the other ingredients.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of coarse sea salt
2 teaspoons of olive/ coconut oil
8 drops of your fave essential oil (we love lavender or rose)

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and leave to sit for 30 minutes or while your bath runs. Add the mix into your bath and soak away for 20 to 30 minutes (or more) as your body and mind chill, detox, and relax.

You can also buy Epsom salts on Amazon, which is a mineral salt that’s made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen, unlike sea salt, which is mostly sodium chloride and other trace minerals. The high levels of magnesium in Epsom salts are known to be absorbed into your body and loosen stiff muscles, soothe itching skin, and more.

4. Brightening Toner

via Giphy

If your skin is looking a little tired and dull, try this brightening DIY with fresh oranges. Oranges are packed with vitamin C, which helps to brighten the skin while naturally occurring citric acid gently exfoliates. Oranges are also packed with antioxidants that help protect against external factors, like pollution and sun damage.

Ingredients:
1 fresh orange or fresh orange juice

Directions: On clean skin, take one slice of your orange and gently rub it on your skin. If you’re using orange juice, then apply a little to a cotton pad and sweep it across your face like you’re using toner. Keep the juice on your face for 10 minutes while you enjoy a glass of juice or your orange – gotta get those vitamins inside for glowing skin and a good immune boost – then rinse your face with water and apply any serums and moisturizers.

Check out other ways you can use OJ in your skincare routine here.

5. Fermented Rice Water Hair-Strengthening Rinse

via Giphy

Rice water is literally bursting with natural proteins, vitamins, and minerals that help restore and hydrate your hair. And this fermented rice water rinse helps to control frizz, boost shine, and improve hair strength and health. Plus, it also has amazing hair detangling properties, so it’s really great for curly hair types.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of organic brown or white rice

Directions: Rinse the rice, then soak it in two cups of water. Leave it to soak at room temperature for between 24 and 48 hours, then strain the rice (which you can still use after) and keep the water. Add another half cup of water to the rice water and store it in a glass jar for up to a week in the fridge. To use, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual, then pour the mix into your hair as a rinse. Squeeze out any excess water and let your hair air dry.

For more ways to use rice water for your hair type and info on why rice water is amazing, check out this post – it’s the hair secret of the Guinness World Record’s ‘world’s longest hair village.’

6. Egg White Pore-Tightening Face Mask

Egg whites have been used in skincare for centuries thanks to their deep cleansing properties that help tighten and degunk your pores. One egg typically contains 3.6 grams of protein, which helps strengthen the skin, while vitamins protect your skin from damaging free radicals. The result of this mask is instantly tightened pores and softer, smoother skin in 15 minutes! We love to do this before an event, or you know, before a video call.

Ingredients:
1 large egg

Directions: Crack one egg in a bowl and separate the yolk so only the egg white remains. Whisk the mixture using a fork or whisk until it thickens slightly. Apply the mixture to cleansed skin then wash it off once it dries (around 15 minutes) with lukewarm water. It may feel like it’s stinging slightly, so if you have sensitive skin, feel free to wash it off sooner. Follow with your fave moisturizer.

7. Revitalizing Coffee Body Scrub

Coffee is an amazing skincare ingredient and can work for a myriad of skin issues (check our more of our fave coffee beauty DIYs). Not only does caffeine in coffee help boost blood circulation, but it’s also anti-inflammatory. In fact, just the smell of coffee is said to have a calming effect on the brain. This scrub uses coffee and sugar to gently buff away dead skin while the coconut oil and rose oil hydrate and soften the skin.

Ingredients
1 cup of fresh organic coffee grounds (you can use used coffee grounds if you don’t want to waste fresh coffee)
1 cup of organic coconut/ olive/ grapeseed oil
1 cup of brown muscovado/ brown sugar (white, granulated sugar also works)
4 drops of rose oil or your fave essential oil (optional)

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir well (you will have enough for at least 10 uses). As this scrub is pretty messy, apply it to damp skin in the shower using circular movements, then wash it off with warm water. Once you’ve showered, gently pat your skin dry and moisturize within five minutes (when your skin’s still damp) to lock in moisture for soft, hydrated skin.

8. Nourishing Bath Oil

via Giphy

If you’re in serious need of some indulgent chill time, then nothing gets better than this seriously luxe bath oil that you can make with pretty much anything. The oils help to hydrate, nourish, and moisturize your skin, and they all contain fatty acids and vitamins that your skin will love. The addition of essential oils will add fragrance to calm your senses and relax your soul – just what we need right now!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive/ coconut/ grapeseed/ jojoba oil (whatever you have)
6 drops of your fave essential oil, like lavender or rose (optional)

Directions: Either pour the ingredient directly into a freshly run hot bath, or make extra and store it in a glass bottle or jar so you have bath oil on tap for the coming weeks. Soak for at least 20 minutes, and then gently pat yourself dry when you get out of the bath.

9. Soothing Green Tea Eye Mask

via Giphy

Green Tea is packed with antioxidants and has been used for years to improve the appearance of dark circles around your eyes. The caffeine works to shrink blood vessels on the top layer of your skin and reduce puffiness, while the tannins in the tea also restrict blood capillaries to improve the appearance of dark circles. You can simply brew yourself two cups of green tea and use the cooled tea bags directly on your under eyes, or try this method:

Ingredients:
1 green tea bag or 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil or Vaseline

Directions: Once you’ve lightly brewed the tea, take it out and let the tea bag cool. Once cold, spoon out the tea leaves (you can also use matcha powder, which is more potent) and mix in a bowl with either Vaseline or sweet almond oil. Once combined, smooth the mixture onto clean, dry under eyes, and leave on for 20 minutes before gently washing away with warm water. Follow with an eye cream.

10. Banana Botox Face Mask

via Giphy

Okay, so this won’t freeze your face overnight, but over time, it can help to improve the appearance of fine lines while short-term it will smooth and nourish your skin. The yogurt contains hydrating and exfoliating lactic acid, while banana packs hydrating potassium that hydrates and moisturizes dehydrated skin, B-vitamins to fight against damaging free radicals, and vitamin A, which also exfoliates and smooths out tired skin.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of yogurt
1/2 a ripe banana (and eat the other half)
1 teaspoon of honey (not essential but super hydrating and has anti-inflammatory properties).

Directions: Mash the banana to a smooth consistency with a fork then add in the yogurt and honey – you can also chuck it all in a blender if you prefer. Leave the mix in the fridge to chill – the cool temperature will feel soothing and refreshing. Spread the mix all over your face and neck and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Continue with your serums and moisturizers, and you’re good to go.

Check out more beauty DIYs here.