Will you be trying these beauty recipes at home?

Have you got any clever at-home spa tips? Has the credit crunch changed your beauty regime?

Comments

[belle]

Just Mix some stuff like fruit and honey or yogert and then put it on ur face and you have ur own face mask

[Anna, Poland]

Since living abroad the last 10 years I miss trips to Boots for my fave beauty products. Here there's an abundance of natural sources for alternative treatments:

Walnuts - I take the shells and grind them finely using a coffee grinder or blender to make a body scrub (a bit too harsh to use on the face, so not recommended!). Mixed with a cheap aqueous lotion and applied to damp skin during your shower, after you've rinsed it off it'll leave you feeling invigorated and smooth-skinned - excellent on thighs and upper arms. A slightly coarser-ground mixture is good for exfoliating your feet.

Candle wax - a popular and old-fashioned treatment for nails, dip the tips of your nails into melted wax (not your finger tips, it's quite hot!). Allow it to solidify and leave on your nails for a few minutes before peeling off.

Also, during the preparations for Christmas or other holidays, it's normal to hand-prepare cakes and other goodies. This would typically involve soaking almonds in hot water to loosen the skins ready for chopping and baking. By peeling off the skins you treat your nails and cuticles to a natural soaking whilst getting the job done! For best results massage a good hand and nail lotion in immediately after drying your hands.

Home-made facepacks include
natural yoghurt and honey - can also be mixed with oat flakes for a gentle scrub,
cucumber and sour cream - very refreshing and soothing.

As the tap water here if rather hard and isn't even recommended for drinking, to occasionally treat my hair I indulge in a final rinse of bottled spring water (still not sparkling!). It doesn't take more than around 300ml and as my hair is very fine it noticeably improves the volume and texture.

Hope you like some of these ideas. Enjoy :)

[sonia bartley]

These are great tips and I'll definitely be trying them.Just because of the crunch doesn't mean we have to give up on our beauty regime! Try this one put 2-3 tablespoons of porridge oats in an old nylon stocking and tie a knot in it, Rub it all over your body under the shower. Result: satin soft skin and exfoliated to perfection, oats are extremely moisturising and soothing.