There are a countless amount of beauty products on the market that can do any number of things for you. Sometimes, it can be a little overwhelming. Okay, maybe extremely overwhelming — especially when you’ve heard great things, and some not-so-great things, about each of them. Which do you choose?!
If you’re looking for some quick fix tips to incorporate into your daily beauty routine, look no further than what’s in your own home. That’s right, no Target, no Sephora, and certainly no more trial-and-error purchases.
Trust these 11 unconventional beauty tools to work their magic. From brightening skin to fixing streaky self-tans, these items can do it all.
1. Aspirin
It’s the miracle drug for headaches and hangovers, but that’s not all. When used as a mask, aspirin can reduce the appearance of redness and puffiness and serves as an acne fighter. Just crush a couple pills, mix with water, and apply.
2. Olive oil
You have the ultimate hair and skin treatment right in your kitchen cabinet. Take a tip from European women and apply the oil to just about anywhere for silky hair and hydrated, radiating skin. Furthermore, you can incorporate it into your daily diet to reap the benefits from the inside out.
3. Vegetable glycerin
It may sound a little sketchy, but glycerin is proven to dramatically soften your skin. It can also be used as a base for herbal remedies and a natural sweetener (with less calories than sugar!)
4. Egg whites
Set aside some egg whites for an easy DIY pore cleansing mask. It will gently pull any impurities from your skin and leave it feeling rejuvenated. It’s like the natural, homemade version (and cheaper) version of pore strips.
5. Baby oil
This stuff works double-time as it will clean off your makeup in a few quick swipes and can provide serious hydration long after you step out of the shower. The best part is, baby oil is so gentle that you don’t have to worry about irritating your eyes or skin. Wouldn’t you want to feel baby soft again?
6. Spoons
Take another trip to the kitchen and place a clean spoon in the freezer for an at-home under eye roller. Make sure it’s perfectly chilled and place the spoon on any bags you might have from the all-nighter you pulled. You can also use it to roll on your eye cream morning and night for extra soothing effects.
7. Yogurt
You might recognize yogurt for its probiotic properties and benefits, but what about exfoliating? The lactic acid will do the trick while it softens your skin, too. Simply apply as you would a face mask.
8. Ice
This is another way to quell under eye bags, but it also does a number of other things. From tightening the skin to reducing redness and swelling of breakouts, ice is not just for cooling your drinks. It’s ideal to use before applying makeup because it will shrink your pores. Psst: beauty professionals and makeup artists use this trick to give clients a flawless finish.
9. Oatmeal
A great DIY mask for soft, supple skin. Plus, you can add some rolled oats to your bathwater to protect against yeast infections while soothing any itching or irritation you might be experiencing.
10. Smith’s Rosebud Salve
You might have to go out to the drugstore and buy this one, but we promise that it’s worth it. This balm was originally created in 1892 and is still loved by everyone. Take the conventional route and moisturize your lips, or use it as a quick fix to tame your cuticles when you can’t head to the salon.
11. Baking soda
Spray tan gone wrong? No worries, a little baking soda will break up the pigment to blend any uneven areas. It’s great for exfoliating and is more gentle than more scrubs.
