5 Household Items to Boost your Self Care Routine
Vinegar
Both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar have amazing healing properties, without the chemicals found in a lot of store bought items. And even better? It’s cheap and easily accessible; that’s if you don’t already have a bottle in your kitchen! Using it safely (that is, always diluted with water) vinegar has properties that kill bacteria, kill fungus, can ease dandruff or an itchy scalp, serve as a rinse for oily hair, aid in acne breakouts, and even relieve a sunburn: All according to 1,0801 Home Remedies which also states that “Apple Cider Vinegar is often favored”. ACV (apple cider vinegar for short) has a slightly less abrasive scent and has been vastly researched for it’s healing properties. It’s easy to see with just a little bit of research why this vinegar made from fermented apples is so popular in the natural beauty world!
One way you can add apple cider vinegar into your wellness routine is by using it in your hair. Because it lowers PH levels and is antimicrobial, it can be used as a preventative measure on your hair and scalp, to help if you have dandruff, or have frizzy and dull hair.
Healthline has a great, simple ACV hair wash that you can make at home! Mix a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water and pour it over your scalp and hair from root to tip evenly, after washing and conditioning your hair. Then you just let the solution sit for a few minutes and rinse it out!
Buy Apple Cider Vinegar at your local market, or online: here
Olive Oil
Pretty much everyone has a bottle of olive oil in their kitchen, right? Many different oils can be used to boost your skin or hair care routine, but I’m highlighting olive oil here because it’s cheap and so easily accessible! In a pinch, olive oil can be used on chapped lips or any other patches of dry skin. It can also be used as a treatment for dry hair. It’s clear that Olive oils' main benefits are as a moisturizer. Olive oil is a natural emollient and according to a Byrdie article is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The article also states that you can use the oil either before your moisturizer, or mix it with one you already use. While this is an awesome go-to moisturizer that you only need to travel to your kitchen to get; it can be a little too much for acne-prone skin, as too much can clog the pores. Interestingly the article makes this point about olive oil as a moisturizer: “...as with all moisturizers, the best time to apply olive oil is when your skin is still slightly wet from your shower or bath.” So, add some olive oil to your before-bed routine for some deep moisturizing! Or dab some on your lips during the winter months when your lips can become excessively dry and chapped. The possibilities are numerous.
Buy at your local market, or online: here
Lemon
Lemons are another common ingredient that can be added to your self care routines to add a little zest to your life. According to the book 1,801 Home Remedies, “Lemons are an extraordinarily rich source of healing chemical compounds that improve immunity, strengthen blood vessels, help skin heal, and block cell changes that can lead to cancer.” This amazing citrus is not only an easy addition to your self care routine, but has a myriad of benefits for acne prone skin, oily skin, and age spots. It can also help with extra oil on your scalp/hair. An article in healthline outlines why lemon is beneficial for age spots or other forms of skin damage because of its antioxidant properties. “Lemon juice naturally contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help reduce skin damage and premature aging.” Lemon is also a natural astringent, which helps when you have oily skin or hair.
In a Makeup and Beauty Blog Jenn writes about several DIY ways to add some lemon in your life. One interesting “Sugar Lemon Foot Scrub” combines lemons as well as previously mentioned olive oil to pamper your feet! Add some brown sugar and you have a beautiful, natural scrub to rub on your tired toes.
You can find lemons at your local market, and information about Jenn: here
Honey
That golden syrup that you remember coming in a plastic little bear is not only for your tea! Honey has a multitude of benefits for your skin and hair, and like with every ingredient on this list it is easy to find, use, and you probably already have some available! Honey can aid in healing skin, acne, and age spots. Honey also naturally kills bacteria; which is what makes it so useful for acne-prone skin. According to an article by healthline describing the benefits of using honey on your skin: “In its natural form, honey is produced by enzyme activity, plant matter, and live bacteria coming together to create a powerful ingredient with hundreds of practical uses.” Raw honey is a little bit more expensive, but just as easily accessible and has even more benefits for your skin than your typical teddy-bear bottle does. Raw honey is “packed with components beneficial for your skin, especially if you have acne or autoimmune skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis”. Honey’s ability to balance bacteria in the skin makes it perfect for treating acne, and it being a natural exfoliator means it can revive dry skin.
One super cool way to use honey on your skin? All by itself! That’s right; you can use raw honey as a natural spot treatment for acne. Just apply it over night and rinse off in the morning. This and nineteen other skin recipes including honey can be found in a blog called “Hello Glow” written by Daria Groza.
You can buy raw honey online: here
Avocado
Avocado is a wonderful fruit for moisturizing both skin and hair! You can easily buy this beautiful green fruit at your local market and add it to masks for your skin or hair, as it’s a natural moisturizer and can cost less than expensive masks and conditioners on the market. If you need to give your skin or hair a creamy boost of moisture, look no further. The oils of an avocado contain vitamin E and act as a natural emollient. This means, it’s a great ingredient for soothing, smoothing and moisturizing irritated, dry or dull skin. It also has properties that make turning it into a hair mask a great idea. 1801 Home Remedies explains that avocado “moisturizes hair shafts and loads them with protein, making them stronger.” If you want the ultimate, hydrating self-care moment, put together a face and hair mask that you can apply at the same time and then sit back and relax!
Try the recipe of mixing mashed avocado and cooked oatmeal found in Lifehack’s article written by Ella James. For your hair, try a recipe that combines avocado and the last two ingredients we’ve covered in this article! Yes, that’s right, it’s all coming together. This recipe from healthline combines avocado, olive oil and lemon juice to soften hair and relieve a dry scalp.
Now that you have simple, household items to explore; find what works for you! Everyone has individual needs for their skin and hair. Test some ingredients on patches if you have allergies or very sensitive skin. Taking care of your skin and hair should be fun! Get creative and find the recipes that would add some pep to your usual self care routine.