7 Foods In Your Pantry That Double As Beauty Products

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Self-care is pretty important, but sometimes you don’t have what you need to get the job done or you don’t want to shell out for another new product. The good news is, there are a bunch of foods that you probably already have in your home that double as beauty products. You might even feel more inclined to buy higher quality food products when you know you’re killing two birds with one stone.

1. Egg Whites

Eggs are pretty impressive with their range of uses. Egg whites, in particular, have two important skincare ingredients: protein and collagen. The proteins in an egg white mask help the skin improve and maintain its elasticity, which helps when it comes to fine lines on your face that you’d like to minimize. While this mask might help in the moment, egg whites aren’t believed to penetrate too deeply into the skin so you can’t expect long-term results.

To make an egg white mask you need to separate the yolks from the whites and then whisk the whites until they’re frothy. Spread the egg white mixture on your face, let it dry for about 20 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Lemon juice can help add a refreshing feel to the mask.

2. Coffee Grounds

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Coffee is a life saver in a lot of ways. That bag of coffee grounds in your pantry doubles as a solution for your puffy eyes. If you’ve ever gone to a spa for a face treatment, you might’ve experienced a coffee treatment before, but why pay a ridiculous amount when you can do it just as well at home?

Coffee grounds are thought to be a natural remedy for dark circles and puffy eyes. Caffeine acts as an anti-inflammatory treatment when you apply it to your skin, and it also has antioxidant properties. The next time you’re making coffee, save the grounds, let them cool and apply them under your eyes. Let them sit for about 20 minutes before rinsing off.

3. Baking Soda

The box of white powder can be used for so much more than baking. Since baking soda contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, it’s useful for DIY manicures and acne spot treatments. When you mix baking soda with water, it makes a paste and you can use this as an exfoliator or dab a little on a pimple. Like everything else, use it in moderation. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline substance that’s helpful in managing pH levels. It also helps with neutralizing acidic substances in and outside of your body.

4. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt makes for the perfect face mask. Yogurt contains an alpha hydroxy acid called lactic acid, which dissolves dead skin cells. When you apply yogurt to your face it can help to moisturize, fight acne, relieve sunburn and reduce discoloration. A Greek yogurt face mask can help to reduce acne-related inflammation and redness and it’ll help to hydrate your face. Here’s a recipe for a Greek yogurt mask with honey and oatmeal that’ll make your skin glow.

5. Honey

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Honey is natural and it’s been associated with a ton of healing benefits for your skin. Research has shown that honey is a humectant. It’s also moisturizing, soothing and it slows wrinkle formation.

You can use raw honey to make a moisturizing face mask by spreading a dab of it on dry skin. Let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before you rinse it off with water. For a gentle exfoliator, you can mix honey with baking powder, a ratio of two to one, wet your face and rub it in a circular motion. Here are a few raw honey face masks to try at home.

6. Oatmeal

You know that box of oatmeal that’s been sitting in your pantry for a while, well you should put it to good use and incorporate it into your beauty routine. Oatmeal contains saponins, which help to remove dirt and oil.

You can easily make a face wash for yourself with oatmeal and warm water, a ratio of two to one, and a teaspoon of honey. You can also treat a dry and itchy scalp, especially during the cold months, by mixing oatmeal and water. Spread the mixture all over your scalp, wrap your hair in atowell and let it sit for about 20 minutes before you rinse it out with warm water.

7. Green Tea

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Green tea is way more than just a drink. It’s loaded with polyphenols, which function as powerful antioxidants. Fairly good quality green tea can be used to help you fight acne. Brew the tea and apply it to your skin like a face wash, but then let it sit for a bit before you rinse it off. You can also use green tea as an exfoliator by mixing it with sugar after the water has cooled down.

Check out your pantry and fridge and see which of these natural beauty remedies you want to try next.