As female college students, two of our biggest concerns (right after getting good grades, of course), are looking good and not going broke. Unfortunately, attaining one of these is often at the risk of the other. A simple trip to CVS or worse, Sephora, to grab a few essential beauty products can cost an upwards of 50 bucks nowadays.
It’s normal to be skeptical of those crazy home remedies you hear about, like using mayonnaise as conditioner or a potato to dry up oily skin (which are both false, not to mention disgusting).
However, I have collected a few easy and inexpensive DIY beauty products to try right in your dorm room. And get this, they actually work!
Hair
If you have dry, damaged hair, you need to try this miraculous banana and honey hair mask. Bananas contain potassium, which helps to strengthen roots and fix split ends without weighing down your luscious locks, and the honey adds moisturization.
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1-2 (depending on your hair length) bananas
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1 tablespoon honey
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1-2 cup of coconut milk or whole milk
Blend together and apply the mixture all over your hair and wrap it up in a shower cap. Leave it in for about 15-20 minutes before rinsing it out and then shampoo and condition as usual. I know you’ll be excited to see your shiny, healthy new do right after your shower, but try to avoid blow drying because after all, that’s what got you those split ends in the first place!
One old wives’ tale that actually works (and is almost always readily available to us collegiettes) is conditioning with… wait for it… beer! Our beloved weekend friend is rich in protein and nutrients from the barley and hops, and the alcohol helps keep hair clean and shiny. After shampooing, pour flat beer from root to tips and let it sit for about 3-4 minutes. You’ll probably want to use your normal, nice-smelling conditioner afterwards though so people don’t and mistake the scent of your beer-rinsed hair for world’s worst hangover. Another excuse to buy beer… I’ll drink to that!
Face
If you have oily, acne-prone skin, try an avocado, egg white, and lemon juice face mask. Although avocado is well-known for helping dry skin, most dry skin is dehydrated beneath the surface and the moisture boost from the avocado will regulate sebum production. The lemon juice acts as an astringent and antiseptic to clear troubled skin, and the egg white tightens pores and well as sets the mask. Mix together:
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1 ripe avocado
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1 egg white
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1 teaspoon lemon juice
This can get messy, so try to lay on your back and have you or a friend apply all over your face, avoiding the eye area. Let it sit for about 20 minutes and then rinse and moisturize as usual.
If you have dry, dull skin, try this oatmeal, milk, and honey mask. Dry skin can be relentless in the winter, especially walking through these wind tunnels we call Southwest. Oats are easy on sensitive skin and have emollient properties that will soften skin and protect irritated tissue. Honey, again, moisturizes skin and encourages it to retain moisture. Milk adds nutrients and fatty acids to this soothing, softening mix.
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3 tablespoons of oats
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1 tablespoon honey
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1 tablespoon milk
Combine and apply over clean skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes and moisturize as usual.
You can also save tons of cash by ditching those harsh, expensive store-bought pore strips by making your own. Mix:
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1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin mix
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1-2 tablespoons milk
Heat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and brush on. Leave for about 15 minutes (or until it feels like your face may break apart), and then start peeling away!
Teeth
The price of store-bought whitening strips, nevermind a professional teeth whitening procedure, is far out of my college budget, but I never thought I’d find an at-home remedy for something like this without the use of chemicals. Until now! That tongue-tickling tang you feel when you eat fresh, delicious strawberries is malic acid, a natural astringent that can actually whiten your teeth.
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1 fresh berry with a fork
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1 teaspoon baking soda
Crush the berry with a fork and then mix in the baking soda. Once a week, use a toothbrush to apply the mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Remember to brush your pearly whites with toothpaste afterwards though; the leftover natural sugars could lead to tooth decay.
Lips
We all know how crucial it is to have a good tube of chapstick on you at all times here in Amherst, especially in the colder months. However, DIY chapstick is quite a lengthy process with lots of ingredients that you probably don’t keep in your dorm. If you are looking to get crafty, Pinterest has some great lip balm recipes! If not, I have a super easy recipe for a great homemade lip stain. All you need is:
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a small jar
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a Q-tip
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un-petroleum jelly or vaseline
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individual Crystal Light or Kool-Aid packet
Fill the jar with vaseline and stir in about ⅓ of your chosen flavoring. I’ve found that Crystal Light cherry pomegranate and Kool-Aid cherry both make beautiful colors!
Body
Making lotions from scratch can also be a pretty lengthy process, but there is a much cheaper way to include all the ingredients that brand names bottle up and sell to you in a pretty bottle. Combining the generic versions of the following can produce a perfectly luxurious homemade version for less!
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16 oz. baby lotion (scented or unscented)
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8 oz. petroleum jelly
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8 oz. Vitamin E cream
If you must splurge on that irresistible lotion from Victoria’s Secret, you should at least use this homemade sugar scrub beforehand to allow your freshly exfoliated skin to soak it all in. All you need is:
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1 cup of sugar (white or brown)
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ÂĽ cup olive, jojoba, or grapeseed oil
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a few drops of essential oil (optional)
Mix together and apply to in circular motions to remove dead skin and get it feeling baby soft in no time!
There you have it collegiettes: a few simple, DIY beauty recipes to try when you’re a little tight for cash. A good number of the ingredients can even be snuck from your nearest dining common (I won’t tell if you don’t). Stay beautiful, and may your lips be plump and your wallets plumper!
HCXO!