By now, my faithful readers know that I have a slight tendency towards overexcitement (*ahem.) And being the resourcefully independent gal that I am (think MacGyver in heels), my excitement levels rose to dangerous new heights when a friend turned me on to a recent Woman’s Day article chock-full of all-natural DIY beauty treatments called ‘Natural Beauty.’ (*OMG! OMG! Squeeee!)

So in the spirit of sharing, let’s put on our safety goggles and dive right in to our pantries/ refrigerators/ laboratories and attempt to beautify and stupefy the masses (and our doctors) with our amazing powers of resourcefulness. That’s right, folks—when they say “rub a little dirt on it and get back in the game”—they mean it! Except, they don’t mean dirt… and by “game” they just mean life. Semantics.

But I digress. According to the handy-dandy editors at Woman’s Day, a gal can save a few bucks AND eliminate common beauty ailments and blunders by simply diving into the fridge. Se let’s take a page from the witchdoctors of old and do a DIY-dive right in.

BAKING SODA BONUS

Feeling a little flaky-cakey but not willing to plunk down a gazillion clams for the latest cosmetic counter exfoliant? Simply reach into your fridge for that do-all box of baking soda. It seems this odor-eliminating staple is just as effective at exfoliating as those pricier scrubs! (Hurrah!)

Janice Cox, co-author of green beauty tome Eco Beauty explains that, “The tiny granules of sodium bicarbonate buff away pore-clogging dead skin cells and are gentle enough to all skin types.” It seems there’s also a bonus as baking soda, like other natural salts, has slightly antiseptic properties that help ward off breakouts. Simply make a thin paste with 4 tsp baking soda and 1 Tbsp water, let it sit for about 2 minutes, then slap it on in small circular motions to your moistened mug and neck (*like most exfoliants keep away from your eye area), wait 3 minutes and rinse with warm water. HINT: An after splash of cold water will help close your pores. If your skin is normal to oily you can repeat this process weekly, and if you’re on the dry to sensitive side try every other week.

WHEN THE UNIVERSE HANDS YOU LEMONS…

…forget making lemonade. Instead use them to get rid of dry patches on your heels, knees or elbows. Simply cut the tangy-treat in half and slide the cut side over the offending patches of dry rough skin. “The citric acid removes dead skin cells to expose softer skin below.” Rumor has it via the good folks at Woman’s Day that you’ll notice an immediate difference.

COFFEE CURE

I didn’t realize this morning when Finn dumped coffee all over my lap, that she wasn’t just trying to make space for her own ample-curves on my desk… she was actually trying to offset the holiday damage (5.5 pounds people, FIVE POINT FIVE. *sob) I did to my own back-end. (*Thank you Finn.)



It seems those coffee grounds that we toss out each morning are good for more than just fertilizer. “Just as coffee acts as a mild diuretic when we drink it, the caffeine-rich grounds will draw water out of your fat cells, shrinking them so they’re less noticeable,” expounds the evergreen experts at TruthInAging.com, a website that explores natural alternatives to commercial cosmetics. So instead of dumping that full filter, simply gather up 2 Tbsp of grounds, mix them with 4 tsp of olive oil and spread the paste generously over your dumps (and any dimple-prone area) while your in the shower. Massage the area for 2 minutes and rinse. Voila! Smoother skin. Coffee = delicious and handy.

MINI-VESUVIUS VS. THE MINT

Instead of sobbing uncontrollably at the sight of a Vesuvian-eruptian on your pretty puss, try plucking a little mint from your herb garden. We’re talking zits, people. Blemishes, bumps, acne, pustules—a rose by any other name is still a volcano—and this can’t be taken lying down.

Gotham LASIK & Skincare’s Dr. Brian Bonanni, MD (aka. Batman) had this to say about the herbs superpowers, “Peppermint contains menthol and menthone, [both] compounds that reduce redness and inflammation.” Mint acts as an astringent, clearing away acne-causing oil without drying the skin out like most harsh acne medications. The good Dr. recommends pulsing a small handful of leaves in a food processor with 1 tsp of lemon juice to help prevent bacterial growth on the skin. Simply cover the offending blemish for 15 minutes and rinse, repeating twice a day until the spot is gone. (*Out damn spot! Thank you Lady M—you can go now.)



A BRIGHTENING PARSLEY PASTE

Those of us rocking raccoon eyes needn’t feel left out, ‘cause the good folks at Woman’s Day haven’t neglected us. It seems another herbal wonder is a pro at brightening those under-eye circles without expensive eye creams and potions. Parsley, being rich in vitamin K, can be applied topically to reduce blood flow to the eye area, in turn eradicating the key cause of under-eye circles. “Over time, the fatty layer of skin under the eyes thins out,” explains founder of DERMAdoctor, Dr. Audrey Kunin, MD. “Their slightly bluish color is what creates the illusion of circles underneath the eyes.”

The Dr. Kunin recommends mixing up a mask of 1 small handful of fresh parsley and 1 Tbsp of plain yogurt in a food processor. (The yogurt does the cooling and hydrating.) Simply pat the paste generously under your peepers, let sit for 20 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.

So there we have it…. DIY. Now aren’t we resourceful!