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Bobbi Brown make-up on a marble table
Bobbi Brown make-up on a marble table
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Style > Beauty

You Put What In Your Hair? Three DIY Beauty Products Put to the Test

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Kathryn Saphire
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Julianne Wojno
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

Have you ever stopped to consider what exactly goes in to your beauty routine?  Sure, as health-conscience collegiettes, we check the nutrition labels on our food and try to avoid the four syllable, unpronounceable lab ingredients, but what about our daily beauty products?  Do we really want parabens in our shampoos and sodium laureth sulfate in our face wash? In honor of Earth Day (April 20th!)  and to avoid yet another trip to CVS, I decided to test out some of the DIY recipes circling the internet.  These at-home remedies are all-natural, using ingredients that can easily be found in your kitchen (…or dining hall), but are they worth the extra prep time?  Below are my reviews on three recipes:
 
1.  Avocado-Egg White Hair Mask (Instyle)
The claim:  The oil found in avocado works as a natural conditioner and penetrates hair with essential vitamins E and B to boost shine and elasticity. 
 
Ingredients:
– Half an avocado, pitted
– 1 egg white
Directions: 
Mash avocado and egg white together until mixture is completely combined and smooth.  Dampen hair and apply all over.  Leave in for 20-30 minutes, shower and condition as usual. 
 
HC BC Review:
It was a little messy applying this to my hair, I’d recommend working over a trash or kitchen sink to make clean up easier.  Aside from the bizarre looks I got from my family, this treatment was actually pretty successful!  After thirty minutes my hair felt rich and moisturized, and I needed much less conditioner while showering.  My hair dried super soft and was a bit shinier, but it didn’t have the frizz-combating power I’d hoped for with my curly locks.  
 
2.  Yogurt Oatmeal Honey Face Mask
The Claim: Oatmeal serves as a textured exfoliate, and the enzymes in honey have natural anti-bacterial cleansing properties.  The lactic acid in yogurt is a natural alpha-hydroxy  (used in chemical peels and spa treatments) that soothes skin, reduces redness and moisturizes. 
 
Ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons plain, organic Greek yogurt
– 2 tablespoons oatmeal, finely ground
– 1 teaspoon honey
Directions:
Mix yogurt and oatmeal together.  Heat honey slightly in microwave and stir in.  Massage on to face and leave for 10-15 minutes.  Remove with a warm wash cloth.
 
HC BC Review:
This face mask smells delicious and is incredibly soothing on your face; it doesn’t harden or crack like other purchased products.  It was gentle and left my skin feeling soft, but I didn’t see any noticeable reduction in redness or coloring. 
 
3.  Brown Sugar Scrub
 
The Claim: Brown sugar is a natural exfoliate that sloughs off dead skin cells, while olive oil penetrates skin with moisture and restores vitamins and minerals.  Lemon packs in vitamin C and naturally disinfects. 
 
Ingredients:
– 1 cup brown sugar
– ½ cub granulated sugar
– ½ olive oil
– 1 teaspoon lemon
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together until consistency is smooth.  If brown sugar remains lumpy, heat in microwave for 10-15 seconds.  Massage into skin and rinse.
 
HC BC Review:
This had very comparable texture to other sugar scrubs I’ve bought: the sugar crystals are a great scrub and the oil makes your skin feel super smooth.  The only downside is the lingering smell of olive oil, though some blogs suggest Jojoba, grape seed or sunflower oil as an alternative.  Adding ingredients like lemon, almond extract, or chai tea leaves can make a more luxurious scrub.  Package it in pretty, decorated jar use as a gift for mother’s day or your roommate’s birthday!
 
Photo sources:
http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/natural-health/9-health-and-beauty-benefits-of-yogurt.aspx
http://cbpublish.com/myhairjourney_files/category/natural-hair/natural-hair-care/hair-product-reviews/hair-recipes/

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Julianne is an Ohio native studying communication at Boston College with a concentration in journalism. She got involved with Her Campus BC when the chapter launched in December 2010. She began as an editor and contributing writer, and since has moved up the ranks to Campus Correspondent. Aside from working for Her Campus, Julianne is a certified personal trainer at Boston College's Flynn Recreational Complex and teaches group fitness as well. During her sophomore year, Julianne was a part of the Arrupe Program at BC and traveled to Guatemala, learning about the culture, political, social, economic, and religious issues of the country. Her goals post graduation include writing for a health and fitness magazine or working in communications for college or professional athletics. As for now, however, she is enjoying life at the University she loves so much! An avid hockey and football fan, one can always find Julianne in the stands rooting on BC and the Boston Bruins! Other hobbies include running, yoga, cooking, baking, and photography.