So it’s after Valentines Day, but I still want to indulge in self-love and appreciation especially during midterms. The best way I know to make myself happy and confident is by throwing on a Netflix show, burning a candle and pampering myself with natural beauty products that don’t break my bank.
One thing I love to do is take a few roses from that V-day bouquet and boil the fresh petals to make a rose water extract. Cause who needs a dozen roses dying on your windowsill when you could use them for an effective beauty regimen, right? I take two flowers, pluck and clean the petals and put them into a pot full of about two cups of simmering water. I let the water simmer for about 20 minutes then drain the petals and let it cool. After it has cooled, I pour it into a spray bottle and spray my face and neck in the morning and at night or anytime I don’t have makeup on and want a refresher. This spray helps revive dehydrated skin, reduces redness, heals scars and tones the skin.
I also love to use coconut oil. In these past harsh winter months, I have religiously used coconut oil not only to hydrate my skin but as a hair treatment. The vitamins and essential fatty acids repair split ends, moisturize your scalp and add a healthy glow to your do. For my hair treatment, I wash my hair with a mild shampoo and let it air dry. Then, I grab about a golf-ball- sized portion and microwave it on a lower power just until its melted. I like to apply it with my fingers and comb with a wide-tooth comb and then wrap my hair in a plastic shower cap. Focus on the ends of your hair as that’s the most damaged, dry area. I keep the oil in my hair for about a half hour, maybe even put a few cucumbers on my eyes and then shampoo to remove the oil. This can be repeated once a week or for a quicker treatment, I sometimes use the coconut oil as a detangler, using a smaller amount on only the ends of my hair right out of the shower.
So, we’ve gone from head to face, but at the end of winter (and especially after Valentine’s day) my lips need some TLC. I love to use homemade sugar scrubs to give life to my dry, cracked lips. Sugar scrubs, unlike salt scrubs, are gentle and ideal for sensitive skin. Sugar is a natural humectant, so it retains moisture and keeps skin hydrated. It also contains Glycolic Acid which helps to break down dead skin cells and encourage new cell turnover to your plumped pout. The simplest sugar scrub I love to use is only two ingredients: ½ cup of white or brown sugar (I like brown for the molasses scent) and ½ cup of either olive or coconut oil (I use coconut oil since I already have it to treat my hair). You could also add peppermint or lemon essential oils if you prefer a stronger scent. To use, wet lips and apply a small amount. Massage in a circular motion and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with with cool water.
Self-love and care should be year-round and should not be stressful or expensive. I hope you enjoy these natural and inexpensive beauty products!