Whilst we might think the best beauty products we own are safely stored in our bathroom cabinets, it could be you are actually missing a trick in the kitchen.
It is very possible that a whole host of chemical-free, inexpensive beauty products are sitting in your cupboards and on your fridge shelves, and you don’t even know it.
We’ve had a look at the natural treasures that not only make food taste great but can actually be part of a smart beauty regime.
Coconut oil is the perfect make-up remover. This multi-tasking product can be used to clear foundation and get rid of the most stubborn mascara. Warm a little in your fingers then gentle massage into your skin, lashes and around the eye area. As you rinse this will gently melt make-up away and leave you with silky smooth skin.
If you find you have left over strawberries, why not use them to whiten your teeth? Sounds crazy, but crush a couple of strawberries, add a pinch of baking soda and mix together. Apply the resulting paste to your teeth and leave for around five minutes before brushing with your regular toothpaste. We promise, you will see a sparkling difference.
If your face is feeling tired and tight, why not go for an olive oil and avocado hydrating mask? Step one is to massage your face with olive oil and then add a whole mashed avocado to you skin. Whilst these potent ingredients get to work place cold tea bags on your eyes and relax for 15 minutes. Remove the mask with warm water and watch your skin glow.
The simple strawberry can also be used to ease the pain of sunburn. Mash up several soft berries and gently smooth them onto the affected skin. You should feel natural relief pretty much straight away and can rinse clean with lukewarm water off several soothing minutes.
Oats don’t just make porridge, they are also a brilliant natural scrub. Put a large handful of oats in your blender and grind them into a fine powder. Add some local honey and natural, organic yogurt to create a thick, but smooth paste. Apply to your body, leave for ten minutes, then massage into your skin before washing off in the shower. This will not only scrub away dead cells but also bring your skin alive.
Forget paraben-packed masks, whisked eggs are a great way to make hair shine. Beat three medium eggs in a bowl together with three tablespoons of olive oil. Apply from the root to the tip of your hair and leave on for half an hour. Wash away with your usual shampoo and watch you hair spring back to life.
Eggs can also be used to make a fantastic face mask. For this you need to soak cotton wool pads in freshly whisked egg whites and place them on your face. Leave the cotton wool to harden and then remove to reveal smooth skin and smaller pores – really!
Get natural highlights from lemons not peroxide. Cut up half a dozen organic lemons and squeeze the juice into a glass or cup before adding the same quantity of organic hair conditioner. Mix together, then massage into your hair before wrapping in a towel and leaving for at least an hour. Wash the mixture off, leave to dry naturally and you should see warm streaks lighten your hair without any chemicals added.
For those of you with red hair, try washing it in cranberry juice for really glossy locks.
So, next time you make dinner, look at the products in front of you see what could make your skin look great.