Beauty on a Budget

There's no reason to ever feel as though you can't take care of your hair, skin, and other body parts. Even if you are low on cash, there are plenty of cheap, wonderful products out there that are just as good for you as the high priced stuff. Not to mention the fact that you can make your own treatments.

These are a few quality products I use which are cheap as can be.

1. Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Cream. You can buy a huge jar of this at Sally's Beauty Supply for 5 or so bucks. You get a lot, not to mention the fact that the cream is really thick, so you don't need to use a lot. This product might seem "common" to beauty snobs out there, but it's truly excellent for the skin. It is super moisturizing and doesn't carry a strong scent.

Quick Tip: Slather cocoa butter cream (or any lotion) on while still wet from a warm bath. You will absorb the lotion much better this way.

2. T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel is much less expensive than most astringents and it is far gentler on sensitive skin. It's also more effective than other types.

Quick Tip: Greasy hair and no time to wash? Put some witch hazel on a cotton ball, then dab at roots. This will get rid of the grease temporarily until you can shampoo.

3. Pond's Cold Cream. Cold Cream not only washes makeup and other grime off your face, but it moisturizes. How can you beat that? It smells great, feels refreshing on your skin, and eliminates an extra step in your skin care routine.

Quick Tip: Rub the rich cream all over your face. Wipe off with a tissue. Then start all over again. This is extra cleansing and moisturizing for your face. I recommend using cold cream as a cleanser in the morning, then using your other cleanser at night. There's really no need to over clean your face in the morning.

4. Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask. With a crisp, mint scent and a satisying tingle, this mask will leave your skin smooth and clean. Perfect for those who can't afford an expensive mask.

Quick Tip: Give yourself a mini facial! Cleanse your face, then exfoliate. After this, press a hot towel into your face for a few minutes, then apply Mint Julep Mask. Leave this on ten minutes, then rinse with cold water. Follow with moisturizer.

5. Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol Conditioning Treatment. This treatment comes in a huge container, but costs only 2 dollars at Sally's Beauty Supply! Be careful, as this is so moisturizing that it can leave hair lank. If you shampoo frequently, dye your hair, or subject hair to heat, use this once a week.

Quick Tip: Run treatment through hair, concentrating on the ends. Wrap a warm, moist towel around head and sit comfortably for 20 minutes. Rinse hair with a cup of apple cider vinegar, then cold water.

Stretch Marks

Contrary to what most people will tell you, stretch marks are not something you have to live with. Sure, you can't totally fade them, but you can drastically reduce their appearance to the point that they are hard to see.

Some people, like yours truly, are more prone to stretch marks than others. I went through a growth spurt in my middle teens which resulted in two very bold, very red stretchmarks on each shoulder. While they are not totally gone, they are not as visible as they used to be.

For one thing, keep your skin super moisturized to avoid getting them in the first place. Stretch marks happen when your skin stretches, so keeping your skin soft and supple will help control them. Once you do have them, continue to moisturize the area in which they are. I HIGHLY recommend Palmer's Cocoa Butter or Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter Cream. These will truly work wonders if you routinely apply them to your stretchmarks, or areas where you want to avoid them.

Next, you can try massaging the stretchmarks with a bristle brush. Nothing too hard, so as not to damage your skin, but something that will stimulate the tissue.

I have heard that Mederma and Dermarest are fantastic products for reducing the appearance of stretchmarks. Some people absolutely swear by them.

You could also try massaging them with Vitamin E. This has fading and healing properties.

If all else fails, buy some dermablend to cover them up when you need to. This is very thick, very good camoflage for blemishes, like stretchmarks, bruises, et cetera.

Cellulite

Cellulite Banishment Paste

Warm or strained coffee grounds

Rub these into the afflicted areas several times a week. This is not a magic, cure-all treatment. It will take several months to see a change. Plan on doing this as an indefinite bath ritual. This gets rather messy, so do either outside or in the shower. Coffee is full of caffeine, which will firm and plump the skin. This minimizes the appearance of cellulite.


Other tips

Cellulite is a fact of life, even for the most beautiful and health conscious of us. But you can minimize it. Exercise and tone your muscles regularly. Use a sauna frequently. Rub skin firming lotion into your flesh every day. Drink plenty of water. You should see a reduction in the amount of cellulite on your body.

Remember, however, that most of us are simply stuck with cellulite. It doesn't mean you are fat or disgusting. It's simple biology, the way cells gather beneath the skin. Keep in mind that you are your own worst critic.

Exfoliation

Never shell out money for an expensive exfoliant. There's no reason to spend money on something you can make in your kitchen. Exfoliants don't contain a "special" ingredient.

Sugar Mama

Brown sugar
Olive oil (or honey)

Combine for a good mixture. Slather on in the shower. You will find you have intensely smooth, moisturized skin. I prefer to use olive oil, as it makes a better mixture and moisturizes in a way honey cannot.

Beautiful Breasts

Beautiful Breasts Lotion

Any pleasing essential oil
Jojoba Oil
Vitamin E capsules

Combine the sweet-smelling oil with jojoba, then puncture the vitamin capsules and squeeze the contents into the mixture. Apply this nightly to your bust area. The essential oil is for scent, the jojoba is moisturizing for the skin, and the vitamin E firms and reduces the appearance of stretch marks.

Try a Little Tenderness...

...With your hair. Hair is one of your most beautiful assets. It is recommended to handle your hair the same way you would handle a fine piece of silk. No rough brushing, no scrubbing with a towel. The following homemade treatments will help you maintain the health and beauty of your hair.



I rarely use a set amount of anything. Use your personal judgement in creating these treatments.



Sticky-Sweet Hair Syrup



Half a stick of butter

100% maple syrup

Honey





Melt all together in microwavable bowl for a maximum of 30 seconds. If too hot, only 15 seconds. Coat hair in mixture, concentrating on the ends. Allow to sit for thirty minutes, then shampoo and rinse.



Aphrodite's Oil



Olive Oil



Olive Oil is simply one of the best oils for your hair. It is ultra nourishing and moisturizing. Heat it for a maximum of 30 seconds and apply to the length of your hair. Leave in for as long as you wish, even overnight, then shampoo it out.



Conditioning Condiments



Mayonnaise



Slathered on the hair, mayonnaise is like a mega-conditioning treatment. Mayonnaise is made of protein, which is essential to the strength of your hair. It doesn't smell great, but it does the trick. Coat your hair in the stuff, but be sure to wrap your hair up into a towel or put into a shower cap. Leave on for 30 minutes to an hour. Then shampoo out.

Beer Blast

Cheap Beer

Beer makes a great rinse for hair. It leaves you with incredible shine and thickness. Just pour over your hair and rinse with cold water. You should have incredible, Rapunzel-worthy hair.

Oil of Beauty

Olive Oil

Jojoba Oil

Coconut Oil

Avocado Oil

Used seperately or together, these oils are fantastic for hair. Combine and heat them for a mega-amazing treatment.

Wowie Maui Potion

Kukui Nut Oil

This oil should be applied to the hair, heated or non-heated, for a minimum of 30 minutes. Kukui is a nut native to the Hawaiian Islands. It is very good for hair in the way that olive oil is good for the hair. I first discovered it on a trip to Maui and have liked it since.

Hair Rejuvenator

Hair thinness and loss is not inevitable. You can take precautions to protect your hair.

Shampoo as infrequently as possible. Most shampoos dry hair out. If you have oily hair, shampoo every other day and be sure to do at least one treatment a weak to maintain the beauty of your tresses. If your hair is prone to oil, try this trick: dab at roots with witch hazel or face toner. This will dry up sebum and other oils that makes hair feel and look lank.

Take gellatin, either in pill or in powder form. This not only helps hair and nails to grow nicely, it lubricates your joints. Taking it will prevent arthritis. Buy some inexpensive prenatal vitamins. These will also help your hair and nails.

Massage hair and scalp with Castor oil. Castor oil is perhaps the most perfect oil on the planet. Lore holds that Castor trees are blessed by God and have healing properties. It will not only silkify your hair, it will promote growth and health. Castor oil is also good for burns and other injuries. My mother puts it on her face every night and so has maintained the softness and clarity of her skin. I would not recommend this for people with acne.

Take care of your hair. Love it and nourish it. It will grow beautiful and strong.