DIY Beauty Routines

Want to learn how to trim your bangs, give yourself a facial or pedicure, or relax with a smooth body scrub so you can skip a trip to the salon? Save yourself time and money and learn the tricks of the trade once and for all.

Giving yourself a mini-facial is fairly easy. First wash your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser and blot dry. With a microdermabrasion cream, put a good amount on your face and massage smoothly and gently in a circular motion for a minute or so. Rinse your face well with lukewarm water. Apply a facial mask and let it stand for about 10 minutes. If you want to degrease an oily complexion, use a clay-based mask. For dry skin, use a creamy facial mask to hydrate and soften dry skin. Finally, rinse off the mask and pat your face dry. Moisturize immediately. This takes 20 minutes to do at home and costs @ $25 for the microdermabrasion scrub, which can be used multiple times, and a mask for your particular skin type. To make your own exfoliating mask try this: mash together 1 tablespoon each of papaya, pumpkin, and plain yogurt; smooth on your face and let it sit for five minutes. Enzymes in the fruit and yogurt will help slough off dead skin.

Want to give your bangs a trim without the expense of a salon visit? If your bangs are wispy, they are easier to cut yourself. If yours are straight and blunt, you are probably better off making an appointment. First you will need a comb and sharp shears. Make a ponytail to keep your bangs central and then separate the hair that falls between the arches of your eyebrows. Comb half-inch-wide sections straight down on your forehead and grasp the ends between two fingers. Holding the scissors vertically, snip off a ¼ inch. This takes 5-10 minutes at home and is free if you have the comb and scissors, which most of us do.

Save yourself about $15 by doing your own smoothing pedicures! First, fill a third of your tub with warm water, ¼ cup of salt, and two drops of your favorite essential oil. Take off any polish and then let your feet soak in the mixture. Using a foot file or pumice stone, soften your rough heels and calluses. Rinse your feet with warm water and blot dry. While your feet are still damp, lather on a thick layer of the heaviest moisturizer you have and rub it in until it disappears. Now, use a multifinish buffer to shape, smooth, and burnish your nails to a natural shine.

Using a softening body scrub speeds up cell turnover and improves circulation. To make your own home scrub, fill a bowl with ½ cup each of sugar and oil (corn, olive, baby-whatever you have), grate in some citrus rind or add a pinch of your favorite herb and mix to form a paste. To cut down on the mess, put this on in the shower before turning on the water. Use fingers or a sponge to lightly massage the mixture into the skin. Rub in small circles to stimulate blood flow. Work from toe to head and then rinse with warm water. Moisturize as soon as you step out of the shower. Cost for a salon body scrub usually runs about $80 as opposed to a free scrub at home. These ingredients most likely are in your pantry!