Creating your own DIY beauty hacks is a fun way to create your own hair, skin and makeup products. Learn how to use everyday items from your pantry to make your own beauty recipes and combine everyday household items with the products you already own to make them work better. Save time and money with these DIY beauty hacks by heading to the kitchen before you make another trip to the drugstore.
Table of contents
DIY Beauty Hacks
As many of you know I used to be a makeup artist and esthetician. Although I’m not professionally involved in either of those occupations anymore I still love to play with products and experiment with my hair and makeup looks.
I love browsing Sephora for all the latest beauty products but obviously I can’t afford to buy everything I want. It’s fun to experiment in the kitchen and play with different ingredients. I almost think it’s more fun to make my own stuff than buy the expensive designer products (unless someone else is paying).
Lets start with your skin. Nice clear glowing skin means you can wear less make up and feel more confident leaving the house au naturale.
You may also like: Why your need to buy a silk pillowcase
DIY Beauty Hacks with Skin Care Products
Oil Cleansing Method
One of my favorite ways to cleanse my skin is with the oil cleansing method. It seems counter intuitive to “wash” your face with oil, like it would make your skin break out like crazy- but hear me out. Our skin naturally secrets oil (sebum) which covers our face like a very fine film. When you wash with soap or cleansers it strips the skin, drying it out and makes it produce more oil.
If you remember from science class, like-attracts-like, so using oil to cleanse the skin instead of soap is actually very effective. With the oil cleansing method you can use just about any kind of plant based oil like olive, sweet almond or jojoba, however some people swear by castor oil.
Add a few drops of essential oil to a quarter sized amount of oil and massage it into your face. Then take a warm washcloth and press it into your skin and wipe off the oil. Rinse the cloth is hot water and repeat 2-3 times. You face will feel great and all traces of make up will be removed.
Learn more about the oil cleansing method here
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for being part of Crafty Little Gnome.
DIY Eye Makeup Remover
While we are on the topic of make up remover- you can make your own eye make up remover that will even take off water proof mascara.
Fill a small jar with water and add two teaspoons of oil and one squirt of baby shampoo. Shake it up and apply it to a cotton pad. Smooth it over your eyes and all the make up will come off (careful not to get any in your actual eye or it may burn).
Alternatively you can use coconut oil right over your eyelids. Massage it gently and rub off with a cotton pad.
Check out the full DIY Eye Makeup Remover post here
DIY Beauty Hacks with Face Masks
After your skin is clean it’s nice to do a face mask. You don’t need to go out and buy an expensive face mask (although the warming face mask from The Body Shop will always be my all time favorite)
Homemade Pore Cleansing Mask
If you suffer from black heads and clogged pores then you will want to try my homemade Biore Strip face mask. It uses one cheap ingredient: Knox Gelatin.
Mix the gelatin with warm water and apply it to your nose, chin or anywhere that you have blackheads. Let it dry and peel it off. All the gunk that’s hiding out in your pores will come right up with it.
Get the full one-ingredient pore cleansing mask recipe here
Activated Charcoal mask
Activated charcoal is a versatile ingredient that can be used for many homemade beauty products. Buy the capsules and break them open. Mix with bentonite clay and a little water for a face mask that will draw out impurities and excess oil.
Spirulina Face mask
Spirulina is a type of sea algae. It is considered a super food and is becoming more and more mainstream. I made my own version of a high-end Spirulina Face Mask from Kerstin Florian. Mix spirulina powder with a little castor oil and rub it into the skin. Rinse off after 15 minutes for glowing skin.
Get the full Spirulina Face Mask recipe here
Beauty Hacks for Hair
Aspirin for dandruff
If you have dandruff, you know how uncomfortable your scalp can feel and how embarrassing flakes can be. Crush up a few tablets of aspirin and mix it with your favorite shampoo. The active ingredient in dandruff shampoo is salicylic acid which is found in aspirin. Use every other time you wash until your flakes are gone.
Get the full DIY Dandruff Shampoo recipe here
Another bonus use for aspirin? If you wake up with a big zit on your face you can make an acne treatment by crushing an aspirin with a small amount of water and making a paste. Apply it to the pimple and it will help reduce the redness and swelling.
Another way to treat an inflamed red zit- Apply a dab of toothpaste overnight to help dry the blemish out.
Nettle hair tonic
If you have annoying stinging nettle growing in your yard, there is a good alternative use for it. Make a hair tonic that will make your hair healthy and strong. Pull the nettle out (with gloves) and add it to boiling water. Let it simmer and after it’s cooled use it as an after shampoo rinse.
Get more details on how to make your own Nettle Hair Tonic here
Apply Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Another way to make your hair shiny and soft is to rinse it with apple cider vinegar (ACV).
Mix 2 tablespoons of ACV with 1 cup of water and pour it onto your hair after you wash your hair. Don’t rinse it out and style your hair like normal. The ACV.
Beer Hair Rinse
No ACV in your pantry? Try a can of beer. Rinsing your hair with beer can make it shiny and soft. Plus you have a nice beverage to drink while you are in the shower.
DIY overtone
If you like to dye your hair fun colors you probably know about Overtone. It’s a color depositing conditioner that won’t damage your hair. If you want to make your own Overtone you can easily do it by adding bright colored hair dye to white conditioner. Keep your hair color vibrant between dye jobs with this inexpensive hack.
Learn how to make your own color depositing shampoo and conditioner here
DIY dry shampoo with cornstarch
Shampooing your hair every day is not good for your hair. It can dry it out and cause your scalp to produce extra oil. If your hair is looking greasy you can use cornstarch as a dry shampoo. Sprinkle a little onto the roots of your hair and then brush it out. This will help you go an extra day between shampoos.
Check out more dry shampoo recipes for different hair colors here
DIY clarifying shampoo
If your hair has a lot of build up then you might want to try a clarifying shampoo. Don’t go to the salon and spend a ton of money on an expensive shampoo. Just wash your hair with a little Dawn dish soap. It can help get rid of waxy build up. Use it once a month to deep clean your hair and scalp.
DIY Beauty Hacks with Essential Oils
Pumpkin spice deodorant
Some people are sensitive to store bought deodorant. It can cause itchiness and rashes. That’s no excuse to have bad body odor. Now you can smell like your favorite basic-girl beverage with this Pumpkin Spice Deodorant recipe. Use ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils for this fun and easy DIY.
Check out the full recipe here
Make Mouthwash
Store bought mouthwash can be very minty and strong. Some times it feels like it’s burning my mouth. Now you can make your own with the following ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon of baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil. I recommend using food grade oils because you are putting it in your mouth.
Get the full DIY mouthwash recipe here
Neroli Rose Facial Oil
After your face is squeaky clean after using the oil cleansing method and a face mask you will want to give it a little moisture. Try making your own Neroli Rose facial oil. It smells divine and will make your skin glow. Use neroli and rose oils along with almond oil for this facial oil for dry skin.
Check out the full Neroli Rose Facial Oil Here
Essential oil perfume
If you like to smell good but are sensitive to synthetic fragrances then you may want to give essential oils a try. Regular perfumes usual bother me but I can always use essential oils with no problem. Add 20 drops of your favorite oil with a half ounce of carrier oil into a roller ball and stash it in your purse. Roll it onto your wrists and behind your ears throughout the day to smell great and reap the aromatherapy benefits.
Check out all the details of making your own essential oil perfume here
Tooth whitening toothpaste
If your teeth aren’t looking their whitest you may be tempted to go buy some Crest White strips. If you have activated charcoal you can make your own whitening toothpaste. Mix a capsule of charcoal with 1 tsp of baking soda and mix with just enough water to make a paste. Brush your teeth as usual.
Get more details on making your own tooth whitening toothpaste here
Brown sugar coffee scrub
If your skin is feeling a little dry and itchy you might want to try a body scrub. Don’t buy expensive scrubs from the store. Everything you need is in your pantry right now. Use these ingredients to make your own body scrub:
- coffee grounds
- cinnamon
- brown sugar
- honey
Get the full recipe and instructions for brown sugar body scrub here
What’s your favorite DIY beauty hack? Let me know in the comments!
You may want to update your advice on toothpaste for pimples, as it is actually bad for your skin. Here is one link, https://www.healthline.com/health/toothpaste-on-pimples, but there are plenty more.
thanks I will check it out!