8 DIY At-Home Beauty Remedies You Can Whip Up in Your Kitchen

For many of us, our kitchens are sacred spaces. They house superfoods and other dishes that give us the energy required to lead girl boss lives. But why not go a step further and turn your kitchen into your own personal beauty laboratory, too? If you’re sitting there scratching your head, wondering what the heck we’re talking about, listen up: Some of the best beauty remedies and products can be made from the ingredients sitting in our refrigerators and pantries. Don’t believe us? Try one of the remedies below and see for yourself. 

1.  LIP SCRUB

DIY Ingredients: Sugar + Honey

To properly rock the bold, bright lipstick of your dreams, you first have to make sure you’ve got a clean, smooth canvas. Nothing deters lipstick like dry, flaky lips. Lucky for you, there’s a nice home remedy that takes all of two minutes to mix together and contains ingredients you definitely have in your pantry: brown sugar and olive oil.

All you need to do is combine a tablespoon of each in a small bowl and mix. Once you've created a nice granulated paste, apply it to clean lips. Gently massage the scrub into the lips for a minute or so. Don’t rub the paste too hard or too long—you don’t want to chafe the skin! Rinse the scrub off of your lips with warm water and pat dry with a soft towel. Then apply your favorite lipstick!

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: The Body Shop Paraben Free Moisturizing Lip Scuff

2.  TONER

DIY Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar + Water

Okay, you’re probably wrinkling your nose at the thought of this, but bear with us for a minute. This slightly smelly concoction is like pure magic for your skin, as apple cider vinegar contains anti-bacterial properties that help slough off dead skin cells, making your skin look brighter and smoother. Water works to dilute the acidity in the vinegar.

Mix one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water, then dip a cotton ball or pad into the solution and swipe across your freshly cleansed face. Then revel in the lovely, radiant skin you see in the mirror in front of you!

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Toner

3.  FACE MASK

DIY Ingredients: Honey + Avocado 

If your face is in need of a little moisture, try whipping up a creamy avocado- and honey-infused face mask, which comes strongly recommended by Los Angeles-based esthetician Stacy Cox. Cox suggests leaving the mask on for 10 minutes and rinsing it off with lukewarm water (not hot!). If you’re feeling especially ambitious, try out Cox’s entire at-home facial regimen and give your face the royal treatment.

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: Lancôme Hydra-Intense Masque

4.  HAIR MASK 

DIY Ingredients: Coconut Oil + Avocado

While you’ve got that avocado handy from your face mask mixture, why not use the rest of it on an equally nourishing hair mask? Admit it, those locks are looking a little dry and the hot, summer sun isn’t helping things.

Mix two tablespoons of avocado with two tablespoons of coconut oil and mix well (in a blender, if needed). Comb the mixture through your hair and leave in for up to an hour. Rinse out with shampoo—washing twice if needed to get it all out — and follow with your favorite conditioner. Mark our words: Your hair will look and feel shinier and healthier instantly.

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak

5.  TEETH-WHITENER 

DIY Ingredients: Strawberries + Baking Soda

Between the chocolaty sweets and copious amounts of coffee, our teeth are put through the ringer daily. And, sometimes toothpaste just doesn’t do the trick. And, since we’re not about to give up our long-standing love affair with caffeine, we are totally willing to go the extra mile to keep our pearly whites, er, pearly white.

The solution to going above and beyond is actually right under your nose. Try brushing your teeth with some good old-fashioned baking soda before you hit the hay at night (right after you brush with your normal toothpaste). The agent will help remove stains and whiten the teeth so you can smile freely all day long.

Additional teeth-whitening tips: 4 Makeup Tricks to Make Teeth Look Whiter

6.  MAKEUP REMOVER 

DIY Ingredients: Olive or Coconut Oil

It’s safe to say we all have a love-hate relationship with waterproof makeup products. While we love that they will survive the apocalypse and not even budge from our faces, we hate that we need to walk into a drive-through car wash to remove it all … and even then there are remnants. The thing about waterproof formulas is that they are, in fact, waterproof (shocker, right?), so regular H20 will not was the stuff from your face. The best way to get rid of that mascara or long-wear lip color is by employing an oil-based agent to dissolve the makeup and melt it off the face.

Try dabbing some coconut or olive oil onto a cotton ball or pad and gently rubbing your eye and lip area until the makeup is totally off. Then, wash your face with your normal facial cleanser. Looks like that drive-through car wash just lost its best customer.

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: Garnier SkinActiv Micella Cleansing Water

7.  BRONZER 

DIY Ingredients: Cocoa Powder + Arrowroot Powder + Cinnamon

Those yummy spices you use to create your favorite desserts can double as your faux tan! The natural, powdery cocktail can be used to give your face some warmth or as a contouring product. Oh, and the best part is the arrowroot powder works as a mattifier and will help cover up any excess oil or moisture on the face.

All you have to do is mix one tablespoon of cocoa powder, one tablespoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of arrowroot powder into a shallow bowl or small container. Mix the three ingredients well until completely combined. Then, apply the powder as you would a normal bronzing product (just make sure to tap the brush a bit to get any excess residue off, before applying to the face).

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: YSL Les Sahariennes

8.  EXFOLIANT

Ingredients: Baking Soda + Water

We already talked about baking soda’s benefits on the teeth, now let’s talk the rest of the face. Similar to it’s impact on your pearly whites, baking soda also works as an exfoliant to slough away any dead skin, oil or dirt on the face and helps make it look brighter and more refined.

Simply mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of water and mix the two together well until a paste forms. Work the paste all over the face, using light circular motions. After about two minutes or so of this, rinse the face with warm water and pat dry with a towel.

No time to DIY? Shop it instead: Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub