If you’re reading this article it’s more than likely that you’re a student, and if you’re a student it’s more than likely that you have a lot of experience of being broke. We’ve all been there, the loans not stretched quite far enough and you’ve held up the queue at Tesco’s self service checkout paying for your bottle of value wine with change you’ve found lurking at the bottom of your handbag. Then comes the problem of having no money to replace your near-empty mascara, let alone anything else you use to get ready before a night out (and I’ve never seen someone pick body scrub over wine).Now, you can probably go and have a great time on a night out even if you went without showering and wearing pyjamas, but who doesn’t like a bit of pampering? If you raid your kitchen cupboards cleverly enough and don’t mind a bit of DIY beauty, then you can have your wine and look good whilst drinking it.
1. Eggs
Eggs are full of protein and when made into a hair mask they can help to restore shine and heal split ends. This may not be everyone’s idea of fun due to fears of having hair that smells of eggs, but as long as you wash it out properly afterwards it shouldn’t be a problem. Beat two eggs together with three tablespoons of olive oil, apply to dry hair, cover with a shower hat and leave for half an hour (or overnight if possible). After this, wash your hair with shampoo but do not condition. There are lots of other recipes to make egg-based hair masks (these can be found via Google) and variations include ingredients such as mashed bananas and honey.
2. Sugar
Sugar, aka nature’s tastiest exfoliator, can be used in lieu of body scrub should your skin need a bit of a polish. All you have to do is mix water and sugar in a bowl to create a paste, though there are lots of scrub recipes online if you want to make it a bit fancier (some people like to add essential oils or coconut oil). For every three tablespoons of sugar, add one tablespoon of water. Massage the mixture on to your skin in the shower before rinsing off to reveal baby soft skin.
3. Olive oil
Whilst not quite as easy to use as a make-up wipes, olive oil is a brilliant skin cleanser and moisturiser (it even removes make-up). Put a hot flannel on your face to open your pores, and then apply olive oil (an amount about the size of a twenty pence piece) with a cotton pad, working it into your skin with circular motions. Remove the oil with another warm flannel and you should be left with clear, soft skin.
4. Teabags
Teabags are great for reducing puffiness and darkness under eyes! Brew either two regular or two green tea bags (full of antioxidants) for five minutes, then place in the fridge to cool. Some people prefer their teabags to be comfortably warm rather than cold, both are soothing for your eyes so it’s up to personal preference. Place the teabags on your eyes for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then remove. Another trick to help bags under the eyes is placing cold tea spoons on them!
5. Oats
Oats can be used in the bath and as a face mask to help dry skin. In the bath, put a handful of oats in an old pair of tights, tie them up and throw in the bath like a bath bomb. This should make your skin silky smooth and help relieve conditions such as eczema. To create a face mask combine two heaped tablespoons of oats, two tablespoons of plain yoghurt and one teaspoon of honey. Apply this to your face for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off with warm water.
6. Lemons/lemon juice
If you’re blonde and have the problem of your hair becoming a bit dull in colour now and again, look no further than lemon juice. Due to the acidic properties of lemons its juice works well as a bleach-free highlighter of hair. Cover your hair in lemon juice and go and sit outside for as long as possible to allow the suns UV rays get the bleaching process going (though with the weather in England this may only be possible for about two days in August). After you have sat outside, wash and condition your hair as normal. Be careful not to try this out too often as it can have a drying effect on your hair and nobody likes split ends.
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