5 Cheap Ways to Boost Natural Beauty

To save a few dollars (and to mix things up), I turn to my kitchen for inspiration for my beauty regimen. Here are some fun, natural, kitchen-based ingredients for beautifying on a budget:

Pineapple: Pineapple is chock-full of vitamins and enzymes that will make your skin glow. Weekly masks are a great way to give your complexion some extra care and pineapple provides a quick and easy option. Just rub a quarter-sized amount of the mashed flesh on your skin, leave on for several minutes, and rinse off. You’ll feel those enzymes working, leaving you with a bright complexion.

Oranges: Vitamin C is a superhero. It aids the immune system, neutralizes free radicals and bolsters collagen production. A great way to give your skin the freshest dose of this essential nutrient is to topically apply the juice straight from the fruit. In the palm of your hand, add your normal amount of moisturizer or serum. Squeeze a small amount of fresh orange on top, mix well with both hands and apply to your face. I also recommend kiwi and grapefruit for their high C content and juiciness. By adding a fragrant squeeze of juice to my serum each morning, the moisture level in my complexion has greatly increased

Baking Soda: The fine granules in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) make for a gentle yet effective scrub that loosens debris and exfoliates dead cells. To spice up your favorite cleanser, add a pinch of baking soda, gently massage into your skin and rinse thoroughly. For less than a dollar, you’ve created two face products out of one.

White Tea: This tea has garnered accolades for its high antioxidant content, antibacterial properties and anti-aging effects. It also makes for a quick toner. Steep one white tea bag (or about two grams of loose tea) in 1 cup of freshly boiled water for approximately 2 minutes. Let cool then add to a small spray bottle. Use as a toner after cleansing or as a rejuvenating mist throughout the day.