Beauty On A Budget: Week 1

Money & beauty, two of my FAVORITE things! Since the economy is so bad right now, I wanted to write a blog post for you lovely ladies & gents who read this and love to look your best but your budget may not allow for a $200 blow out or a $60 pedicure.

I have decided to start featuring a weekly recipe to help you look your best using ingredients RIGHT OUT of your own kitchen OR pantry rather than posting a lot in this post because that would be WAYYYY too long! Instead I will be making the recipe, taking pictures, and showing you step by step how to make the product!

Today I am going to start out with a simple Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe. After this recipe I will post super tips and tricks for looking your best by using items you already have on hand.

Katie's Sugar Lip ScrubIngredients: regular granulated sugar (confectioners sugar will not work)
Olive oil
Essential Oil in your favorite scent (TOTALLY OPTIONAL!)

Step 1: Pour a very small amount of olive oil in with your sugar.


Step 2: Mix olive oil and sugar together to make a paste.
If you want to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil feel free!

Sugar is a natural exfoliator and olive oil is a natural moisturizer! You can use this as a whole body scrub as well, just make a bigger batch. You can also make a big batch and store it in a tupperwear container, but I prefer to use mine fresh and just make it as I need it.



Now that I have shared one of my super easy (and cheap!!) recipes with you, I am going to share some beauty tips with you!

• Use redness relief eyedrops to take the redness out of pimples. The drops constrict blood vessels to temporarily take away some of the redness
• Use your body scrub when your skin is dry. Step into your shower with the water OFF, gently rub the scrub all over your body for a few minutes to really slough off the dead skin, turn on the water and rinse well!
• Always exfoliate before shaving and/or fake tanning.
• Keep some cheap (I'm talking dollar store cheap) hair conditioner on hand for those times you run out of shaving cream/gel. Conditioner softens the hair and works just as good for shaving PLUS you can get it for around $1!
• When you're doing a face mask or cleaning or anything really, put some conditioner in your DRY hair for 20 minutes (or longer, I do this overnight sometimes) put a shower cap on and just leave it be. For added moisturization put a towel in the dryer for 5 minutes to warm it up and wrap your hair in that to help the conditioner penetrate the shaft. Wet hair is already water logged which doesn't allow the hair to fully absorb the moisturizers from your conditioner. Simply shampoo like you normally would after you rinse the condioner out.
• In the shower (or bath), apply your face wash, and leave on 60 seconds for a mini facial. The steam helps open your pores for the cleanser to REALLY get in there.
• Use petroleum jelly for a moisturizer, invest in a good pair of cotton socks and cotton gloves, use your sugar scrub before bed on hands and feet, rinse, apply petroleum jelly and then your gloves/socks. You will wake up with INCREDIBLY soft hands and feet!
• Keep a metal spoon or two in your fridge/freezer. On mornings you wake up with tired puffy eyes, use the rounded side of the spoon on your eyes for a few minutes to help the puffiness go down.
  
• Chamomile tea is also great for helping get rid of puffy eyes. Using two tea bags, brew them like you normally would. Let them sit in the water for a few minutes then take them out and gently squeeze the excess water out. Put them on your CLOSED eyes for 10-15 minutes. (BONUS: You can drink the tea that you brewed!!)

I didn't want to include ALL of my tips in this post so I have saved a ton for you for my upcoming recipe of the week posts! Next week will either be a homemade face mask or hair mask!