Do-It-Yourself Oatmeal Face And Body Scrub

Do you love natural exfoliators, but don't love the prices you pay at the store? Is there someone on your list that loves bath products, but is allergic to some of the ingredients in commercial blends? Here's one you can make from things you may already have in your cabinet.

Lavender, Oatmeal and Tea Tree Oil Face and Body Scrub

¼ cup coarsely-ground oatmeal. Quick oats or slightly-cracked whole oats work best.

2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar

5 drops each of lavender and tea tree essential oils (or 10 drops of a blend, which can usually be found in drug stores).

In a small glass jar, combine the agave or honey with the oats and stir until well mixed. Once the oats have absorbed the liquid, stir in the oil.

This can be given as a gift or kept as a treat for yourself.

The best thing about scrubs like this is that they kill germs that can cause breakouts, but they don't irritate your skin the way alcohol-based antiseptics do. The only thing I see that could irritate sensitive skin is lavender, in which case you can use another essential oil. It's best to make small batches of food-related beauty products, but the ingredients are generally not very expensive. The agave is also rather good in hot tea. Enjoy!

Beauty Products You Probably Already Have In Your Kitchen

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Have you ever been in a department store or spa and seen all of the fancy beauty products they have? I have and, to be honest, it can be quite intimidating. Besides the fact that I can't identify half of the tools they use, the creams and exfoliants are priced so high that you'd think they were more valuable than that ring you got for your 'Sweet Sixteen' present! The point is that when it comes to our looks, many women will spend whatever it takes. But what if I told you that you didn't have to? What if I told you that you could make beauty products that work just as well as what you find in the stores, but are at a fraction of the cost? What's more, what if I told you that you probably already have everything you need to make them in your cabinets right now? Well sit tight, because I'm about to do exactly that. Here are some ideas for 'beauty on the cheap'.

-Baking soda makes for a better exfoliant than a lot of commercial products, particularly if you have sensitive skin. It doesn't leave any kind of residue on your face and is all-natural, so there are no harsh chemicals to irritate your skin. Just take a little bit in your hand, use just enough water to make a paste, and rub it on just like you would any other exfoliant. It might not get rid of your blackheads right away, it can 'leave the slate clean' for your other products to work.

-Tea bags soaked in cold water can soothe puffy eyes.

-Shampoo or conditioner also makes for a great shaving cream.

-Rub the inside of a ripe avocado peel on your skin to moisturize skin after a day of tanning. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse it off.

-To take off stubborn makeup, add a bit of baby shampoo to soap and water to break it up without a lot of scrubbing. Other shampoo works too, but baby shampoo is best because it's formulated not to irritate the eyes.

-Dabbing lemon juice onto a pimple can help dry it up and get rid of it.

-Use an olive oil-table salt mixture to rid your entire body of rough, dead skin. Just pour some table salt into a container until it is about half full, add enough olive oil to cover the salt, shake it up and rub on any part of the body you want to exfoliate. Olive oil has great moisturizing properties, so you'll be killing two birds with one stone.

-Oatmeal that is just slightly moistened can be a good exfoliant, as well as soothing irritated skin.

With a bit of experimentation and ingenuity, it's pretty easy to make your skin just as beautiful as the day you were born without having to spend a lot of money. Sorry Clinique; we won't be needing you anymore. I'm sure you'll manage.