DIY beauty hacks for quarantine times
In my stay-home/unemployed state, I’ve seen and read several helpful articles about recipe substitutions using what you already have on hand. What DIY beauty substitutes can you tell me about? Especially ones that will save me some money.
I’ve found that a lot of the DIY beauty tips call for ingredients that most of us usually don’t have at home. Here are a few beauty substitutions or ideas made with ingredients you might actually have in your cupboard, refrigerator or pantry — or that you can find at the grocery store. But these are just some starter suggestions. (An online search and YouTube turn up lots more.) I’ve learned from experience that the most creative and cost-saving ideas come from all you smart, creative readers. Lets hear from you!
Dust talc or baby powder on your scalp (a couple drops of essential oil for scent is nice but not necessary); a couple tablespoons of cornstarch also work. Let it sit for five minutes, then brush hair.
Several tablespoons of baking soda in a squeeze bottle, hot water and shake (essential oil optional), rinse with cup apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice and cool water.
One egg yolk beaten until fluffy, add teaspoon olive oil, beat; add to 1 cup warm water, mix. Pour through wet hair and let it sit for at least five minutes, rinse.
(This can get messy.) Alone or combo’d with any of these others — massage olive oil, coconut oil, mayonnaise, mashed avocado and a beaten egg yolk into wet hair. Wrap head in an old towel for 20 minutes or more, rinse well.
Cocoa butter (smells like chocolate) or coconut oil used sparingly; or, if you happen to have an aloe vera plant, use gel from leaves. You can also use the following very sparingly (greasy, but they work): petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or solid shortenings like Crisco. Add optional scent — an essential oil or vanilla or almond oil, wipe off excess.
Apply a generous amount of the hand/body formula above at bedtime, cover with socks.
Vaseline.
Pulverize 1 cup dry, instant, quick or slow-cooking oatmeal, pour the powder into tub of running water, add 1 cup baking soda (optional for itching), soak in tub for 15-20 minutes, gently rub skin. Pat dry.
Coconut oil or olive oil.
to cup coconut oil, add cup brown sugar, cup honey, 1 teaspoon cinnamon (if available), juice of half a lemon. Scrub face, let sit for at least 15 minutes, rinse.
I’m thinking ahead — and trying to stay positive. The wedding I was going to attend was postponed, so this isn’t an immediate problem but … can I wear a red dress to the wedding? It’s new and beautiful, but it IS red. I asked two girlfriends and one said yes, the other said no. You’re the tiebreaker.
Yes, wear it — as long as you won’t feel uncomfortable and keep second-guessing yourself. Wedding-guest clothing rules have loosened so that your only concerns should be how you feel about how you look and dressing too over the top such that you seize attention away from the bride.
During the stay-at-home COVID-19 confinement I am cleaning my house in very small spurts. So I noticed the plastic shower liner had gross streaks of mold on the yellow rubber duckie pattern. The decorative fabric “over curtain” (flowered cloth) had some mold along its hem too. Help! They’re too new (and expensive) to discard and they still have a lot of use left in them.
Your question prompted me to tackle my own identical problem. This worked perfectly: Put both the liner and curtain in the washing machine, along with cup of detergent and cup of baking power, plus two towels, to minimize the plastic liner from cracking. Choose the gentle cycle with a warmwater setting. During the first rinse, add one cup of white vinegar.
Don’t put them in the dryer. Instead just rehang them in the shower to dry.
“For many years I have been coloring my hair at home. The product is to be put only on the roots during the first round. Often there were missed patches with the single nozzle applicator. Then I found this “Salon Care Root Comb Applicator” (amazon.com, $8.79) — a bottle with a comb-shaped applicator with 10 nozzles.
“I do a center part and apply evenly from the top down through the roots. Then I start at the front hairline/sides and go front to back. Problem solved! The attachment cleans with water and, if needed, cotton swab. Air dry for the next time.”