Beautiful with Food Stamps

Food program recipients can choose beauty products that are every bit as effective as those who have hundreds of dollars to spend on themselves. The secret is buying food with the purpose of using it on your skin, on your dentures, on your hair and so on. These things really work. If you find yourself scrimping and saving to buy basic needs like hair rinse or skin moisturizer, look at how these food items can solve your beauty and personal care problems.

Instead of buying clarifying shampoo, put a teaspoon of baking soda in a quarter cup of water, mix it in, then apply to your scalp and hair. Use the same motions as you do to shampoo, then rinse thoroughly. Follow with a vinegar rinse (1/4 cup of vinegar to a cup of water) and your hair will be clean and soft.

Dry, frizzy or fly-away hair? Don't buy hair tamer or cream rinse. Instead, put a little olive oil in the palm of your hand and apply it to your hair. Easy, though... a little goes a long way. Brush it through your hair after applying. If you get too much, use a little vinegar on a cloth to wipe some of it off.

Instead of buying those expensive hot oil treatments for your hair, use olive oil. Massage into your scalp and hair, wrap with a moist, warm towel and leave it for about 15 minutes, or if you can, leave the oil in your hair for an hour, then shampoo as usual. If you can't wait that long, use a gentle shampoo so you won't strip out the beauty benefits of the oil.

Vinegar is a good denture soak. It brightens and kills germs and bacteria overnight. Rinse your dentures well before using them and if the vinegar tends to irritate your mouth, brush with a little baking soda to neutralize any that may be left.

Baking soda is a good tooth powder for real teeth. Put a little in the palm of your hand and dip a wet toothbrush in it, then brush as usual.

More olive oil uses: Put a couple of tablespoons of it in the tub instead of bath oil. Use it for a massage oil; it's great for your skin, too. Also, use it to soak your nails before doing a home manicure.

More food and beauty wisdom: eggwhite makes a great facial for normal skin. Whip an egg white for a minute, until it's frothy but not meringue like. Wash your face and apply the egg white. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, or until it dries completely. Remove with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Mix equal parts of onion juice and vinegar and use it daily on age spots. This will take a few weeks to work, just like its expensive (non food!) relative from the drug store.

Another skin beauty treatment is alpha hydroxy products that make old skin cells flake off. Instead of buying the expensive product, use vinegar and water half and half. Smooth on your face and leave on a few minutes, then rinse and dry with a soft towel. You may have to rinse twice, but your skin will be soft and fresh. Follow up with a little olive oil to moisturize.

And finally, for dry, chapped skin, use any fat product: Shortening, vegetable oil, margarine, butter, lard... even bacon fat if you can stand the smell (and don't have pets that will attack you!). Wash your hands and leave them slightly damp, then apply the fat and rub in like lotion. It will make your skin look greasy for a bit, but soon soaks in. Try it and you may never go back to lotion.

Live well, use natural, basic products and you'll be healthier than those who spend great amounts on their personal care.