A trip to the spa is usually characterized by the nestling of one’s worries in plush face pillows and the tapping into of an inner zen. Although it may scream relaxation to the tee, if you’re like me and footing the bill at the end of a session results in sweaty palms, call up the gals and prepare to pamper your pockets because six quick and easy recipes will teach you the ways of a “kitchen beautician.”
1. Decorated Glycerin Soap
Cute suds for some fun in the tub.
What you’ll need:
- Clear glycerin soap
- Food coloring
- Coffee stirrers
- Clean milk or juice carton (yogurt cups work great, too)
- Petroleum jelly
- Faux flowers
- Scissors
- Bench scraper
How you’ll do it:
- Heat glycerin in a microwave on high, stirring at 15-second intervals, until it’s completely melted.
- Mix liquid food coloring into bowl with a coffee stirrer. Tip: Use food coloring sparingly.
- Coat the inside of a container with petroleum jelly. Pour in melted glycerin. Add a few faux flowers and let cool completely for about two hours.
- Cut or tear away container and slice block into individual bars with a bench scraper.
2. Bath Fizzies
Spice up your daily cleansing routine by adding a dash of color and excitement.
What you’ll need:
- ½ cup citric acid
- 1 cup baking soda
- ¾ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup organic cane sugar
- About 6 drops of food coloring
- 10 to 15 drops of an essential oil
- 2-ounce travel size spray bottle, plastic pipette, silicone ice-cube tray and storage jars
- Glass measuring cup, metal spoon, flour sifter and mixing bowl
- Stir together citric acid, baking soda and cornstarch in a glass measuring cup.
- Pass mixture through a fine flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar.
- Fill spray bottle with water and add food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly until you can pack it with your hands.
- Using pipette, add oil (one drop at a time) until strength of scent is to your liking. Using a metal spoon or your hands, mix ingredients until color is even throughout. Tip: When mixture begins to dry out, spritz until packable again.
- Spoon into ice-cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of tray gently. Transfer to jars.
3. Honey Coconut Hair Milk Smoothie
Skip the lime and add the coconut for nourished, supple tresses.
What you’ll need:
- ½ can of pure, unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp pure honey
- Blender
- Spoon
- Shower cap
How you’ll do it:
- Combine ingredients in a blender and mix until they reach a smoothie-like consistency.
- Part your hair into four sections and generously apply the mixture from root to tip, concentrating on the ends of your hair.
- Place a shower cap on your head and leave it on for twenty minutes.
- Rinse hair under room temperature water until smoothie is completely dissolved.
4. Sugar Lip Scrub
Pucker up with a treatment that leaves lips irresistibly soft.
What you’ll need:
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp essential oil
How you’ll do it:
- Mix the brown sugar and honey together to create a paste and thickly coat your lips.
- Leave it on for a few minutes and then start to gently scrub with your finger until all the dead skin has been buffed off.
- Immediately dab on essential oil to moisturize.
5. Cooling Cucumber Toner
A simple concoction that rids the skin of excess oil by clearing pores and leaving your face feeling both refreshed and soothed.
What you’ll need:
- ½ cucumber with peel, chopped
- 3 tbsp witch hazel
- 2 tbsp distilled water
- 2-ounce travel size spray bottle
- Blender or food processor
- Flour sifter
How you’ll do it:
- Put all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture through a fine flour sifter to remove all of the solids, then pour the toner into a clean spray bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
- To use, apply using a clean cotton ball.
6. Chocolate Mud Mask
Brighten your complexion while indulging in the sweet, yet distinctive combination of cocoa and coffee.
What you’ll need:
- 4 tbsp finely ground espresso or coffee beans
- 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 8 tbsp almond milk
- 2 tbsp honey
- Bowl, stirring utensil and washcloth
How you’ll do it:
- Mix coffee and cocoa powder in a bowl.
- Add the almond milk and stir until a smooth paste forms. Tip: Use less almond milk if you like a thicker paste.
- Stir in the honey. Tip: Honey may be warmed in the microwave to allow for better mixing.
- Apply the paste to your clean face and neck.
- Let the mask dry.
- Wet a washcloth and press it to your face to loosen the mask, then rinse with warm water.
For more tasty facials and the guides to whipping up an array of beauty bar favs, visit http://laurenconrad.com and www.marthastewart.com!
By: Brianna Arps
That coffee and cocoa mask was something I did for my DIY column on here! It is so great!
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