Make It Monday: DIY Spa Treatments

We all like a pamper every now and again. As nice as it is though it is a treat that my budget will not stretch to on a regular basis. 

I was looking online as i had forgotten the amount of sugar i needed for a sugar face scrub and come across this infographic from Pretty Crafty Things. I am tempted to try the anti redness mix as i have noticed my cheeks are getting redder than i would like them too. 

Enjoy the pampering ladies and gents :)

Frugal Friday: Homemade natural facial hair remover

As you may be aware by now i am one to try anything at least once. You wont know if something will work out cheaper or more efficient unless you step out of the box and try something else. This is a tip which is close to my heart, and i imagine many women too. I have a hormone imbalance and suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, i end up with a lot of fluff around my face which causes me a great deal of embarrassment. I usually wax but over time it works out a lot, i'd much rather use something i already have in the house. Feeling slightly fed up the other day i started googling about hair removal and this video was among the results. This video is aimed at women... sorry guys.

Heres the video to show you how to do it :) 

        

Grab a free or discounted haircut or beauty treatment.

We all love a little bit of pampering right? It can however work out really expensive if you have a few treatments at once. Websites like Groupon or Wowcher can offer deals and save a huge amount of money but i have found a better option. 

How does a free or really cheap hair cut sound? a new hair colour? A free or really cheap wax? or fancy some new nails?  

It sounds too good to be true right? Many trainees or college students need real people to practise on, guinea pigs if you like and because of this many colleges offer very discounted prices for a whole range of treatments. They also will occasionally look for models where could get a treatment done for free. I know at first i worried about this as i am very funny about my hair but the first time i went to a local hairdressing college, i paid £20 for a completely new style and a new colour and she was amazing, very chatty and friendly and very careful. Her tutor was on hand if anything was to go wrong but she did a brilliant job and i imagine is now a very competent hair dresser. If you enquire about being a model generally you do not have the choice you do when you just walk in and pay so bare that in mind, but if you are looking for a completely new change, this could work in your favour. You of course also need a photo of your new look taken for the students portfolio. If this is something that interests you then find a college that does a hairdressing or beauty course and give them a call. They may have a salon open to the public where you could help the students and take advantage of a bargain beauty treatment. 

As well as discounted and free treatments under supervision, maybe trainees and students who have had experience already or completed a level 1 or 2 course will also advertise outside of college for guinea pigs. These are generally free treatments and include nail technicians, hair dryers, dentistry and many more. Obviously these are trainees who are not under the watchful eye of a tutor but they do have more experience and have perhaps worked with the general public before. 

You may find adverts for models in the local paper or on sites such as gumtree or local selling pages but i found this while having a google. 

Salon Guinea Pig is a uk based website where trainees in the beauty field can advertise their services in one place. Adverts generally tend to be depending on what the student is looking for extra experience in rather than the choices you want but once you have made a profile you can tick the treatments you are willing to be a guinea pig for. I found lots in London, but not many up here in Nottingham but i will be keeping an eye on it. Its a site to bookmark for the future :) 

Frugal Friday: Make up tip

I am not into make up in the way you would expect me to be. I like to wear a little just to make myself feel better but i have no clue how to apply it. Make up is a luxury for me. I have sensitive skin so i can not use most of cheaper brands. I have to make what i do buy stretch further as it works out costly.  This seems like a great tip for using foundation.

Has anyone tried this? Does it work as well as it looks?

DIY face mask - Honey and kiwi skin brightening mask

I've used this recipe reliably for 3 years now. I still enjoy using shop brought, but i reserve that treat for birthdays or xmas. I really like this particular one but you could pretty much make up anything using just 3 simple ingredients and some flavouring. I tend to chop and change flavorings every week so only make a very small batch at a time which lasts me 3-4 days. This particular one i made was for 2 days use.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 4 tablespoons of natural yogurt
• 1 kiwi. 

These are all things i have in my house at any given time. Cost is buying from scratch is:

• Kiwi - 30p each or 6 for £1 - Tesco
• Honey - 99p Tesco
• Yogurt - price varies depending on brand - mine is Tesco own brand - 49p
• Olive oil - £1.25 (can buy smaller bottles) 

The main ingredients for any face mask is the yogurt, olive oil and honey. The kiwi in this instance is optional. 

Benefits to the skin:

• Honey - helps your skin retain moisture and rich in anti oxidents, its also an anti- inflammatory
• Olive oil - Its a fantastic mouisurizer
• Yogurt - Is supposed to be great for clearing acne. I cant say for definite that it does, but is used in these recipes to provide a creamy texture.
• Kiwi - Is said to smooth wrinkles and improve skin texture. 

To make the face mask is just 1 easy step....

Mix all ingredients in a bowl

• Puree the kiwi or if that's not possible mash into a liquidy mixture with a fork. 
• If you want - heat up the honey for a few seconds in a microwave to soften right up

The mixture should be between thick and runny. You want it runny enough to smooth on but not thick enough that it sticks to a spoon. 

To use

• Open your pores up, either by facial steaming or washing with warm water. 
• Using clean fingers, apply thickly to your face. 
• Leave for 10-15 mins. It may start to tingle slightly. 
• Wash off with warm water and splash your face with cold water to close your pores. 
• Pat your face dry. 

Like anything you put on your skin, test first to make sure you have no reaction. I have very sensitive skin and have not experienced anything other than a slight tingle. 

This is a fantastic, cheap face mask full of natural products. There is many many different flavorings you can use if you fancy trying lots of new things. Each batch costs me less than £1 a time and in my opinion does the same job as the shop brought creams. 

Some of my favorite flavorings are: 

• Honey and papaya (not often i make this, its more of a treat)
• Honey and oatmeal
• Strawberry (just use strawberry instead of kiwi)
• Avocado and olive oil (no honey in this one unless wanted)
• Berry face mask (use berry's instead of kiwi)
• Kiwi and banana
• Kiwi and avacado
• Honey and lemon

With regards to the yogurt, I've read online a while ago that some have used strawberry yogurt, peach yogurt etc. I have tried this and in all honesty it does the same job as the natural yogurt. You could make a 1 time use using a 20p cheap yogurt rather than buying a big tub of natural yogurt. I use natural yogurt because i eat it in my cereal so its always in the house. 

And there you have it. Do let me know if you try this, id love to know what you think :)

DIY body scrub

Im a big fan of body scrubs. In the cooler weather my skin drys out horribly and i can spend hundreds of my hard earned money buying things to help moisturize my skin. About 10 years ago, a lady told me that she makes her own body scrubs on a monthly basis, stores them in little pots and were so good that she hasn't used a store brought scrub for years! I recently decided now our finances have hit an all time low, i need to remove the things which are not necessary. Soap and water just wasn't cutting it and remembering what this lady told me, i decided to give it a go and let everyone know my results :)

Ingredients needed:

• Sugar - white or brown (not splenda)
• Honey
• Olive oil

It can be kept in a tub for up to 30 days so i haven't put specific amounts. Do NOT store in the fridge as this will cause it to harden up. I made around 10 small lip balm size pots using 

• 3 Tablespoons of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Step one: Place all ingredients into a bowl

You can warm the honey up for 15 seconds in the microwave so its easier to mix in if you wish. Lower the amount of time in the microwave if using a smaller amount. 

Step 2: Mix well

It should have a lumpy texture. I didnt break the sugar up too much

Step 3: Pour into a little pot or tub to keep. Or if using apply to your skin like you would any other scrub and then wash off. I brought my tubs from 99p shop but thoroughly washed out old tubs could be used too.

To apply:

• Remove all make up and wash your face. (if using on your face)
• Pat your skin dry and then apply a thick amount onto your skin
• Rub in a circular motion and leave for around 50-60 seconds
• Rinse off
• If needed or wanted apply moisturizer 

Result:

I was worried it would be really oily and difficult to wash off. It was in fact the opposite. It washed off easy and wasn't too harsh on my skin. I have dry patches on my arms and this did remove the dry skin and soften those patches up. I used some on my face as my nose in particular gets very dry and was impressed with the results. As well as feeling smooth, my skin also felt nice. This mixture also doubles up as a lip scrub but as with anything i would avoid the eyes. I would defiantly use this again and make this part of my weekly pampering routine :)

I have never used a body scrub as part of my daily routine as I've never thought it was needed. Its natural and suitable for all skin types although i would recommend not using it daily/nightly.

Would love to hear if you decide to try this :D