DIY Mayonaisse Hair Mask

Since I have long hair, I'm always interested in hair masks to keep the ends under control.  

In the past couple of years, I have been washing my hair with homemade soap loaded with argon oil and love the results.  This DIY hair mask seems to be a good compliment to my regular routine.

Click here for the article and the recipe.

DIY Cuticle Cream

Love this DIY recipe from Kym Douglas of the Hallmark Channel!



Ingredients for All-Natural Cuticle Cream

1 Tablespoon beeswax pellets
2 Tablespoons Almond oil
1 drop lavender essential oil
2 containers, at least 2 oz



Directions

1. Put beeswax, almond oil, and essential oil into a glass bowl.

2. Melt these ingredients together over a double boiler. Alternatively, you can cook for about 1:30 in the microwave, taking the mixture out and stirring it every 10 seconds. Stop once it is fully melted.

3. When fully melted, pour into a clean container. I used some old chapstick applicators (and a small funnel) so I could roll it on easily. This recipe filled about 3 chapstick containers.

4. Let it cool and harden completely then roll it onto your cuticles daily!

Click here for the rest of the article about nail care from Kym.

DIY Galaxy Soap

I'm totally mesmerized by the simmer in these handmade soaps, even though I'm not sure about using charcoal to make the soap black.  For sure I will try the commercial grade mica and mineral powders to get the simmery effect.

Love the blog Beauty Crafter, DIY Health and Beauty.  I've really gotten into making DIY soap and have a strong interest in making other health and beauty items.  Can't wait to spend lots of time exploring the blog for unusual items like this soap.

Click here to go the tutorial for the DIY Galaxy Soap!

Oatmeal Masks For All Skin Types

Oatmeal is the perfect ingredient for facial masks since it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds which soothe itchy, dry and irritated skin. It is also excellent in absorbing oil, great for acne-prone skin.

I've used oatmeal in DIY masks with amazing results, which is why I was very interested in an article I found on about.com featuring oatmeal masks.

Click here to go to the article.

DIY Shower Jelly

Shower jelly?  I had never heard of it until I read Jillee's post, but it sounds like something I want to try!

If you'd also like to try it, click here for the tutorial from One Good Thing from Jillee.

DIY Banana Mask for Damaged Hair

Gotta love these DIY beauty recipes that use items we may already have.  And now we have another use for those bananas that have ripened too fast.

The oil I strongly recommend is argan oil.  

A couple of years ago, The Captain treated me to one of those magical hair straightening irons from a mall kiosk where they take time to show you what the product will do for you and how to use it.  

The girl used argan oil before and after straightening my hair with the iron . . . I've never had that healthy looking straight hair in my whole life.  In no time, the argan oil made it possible to get that soft, super shiny hair.  And I can now achieve that look at home.

Since then, I have started making my own artisan soaps.  After doing quite a bit of research, I will not make a bar of soap that does not include argan oil.  We even use our soaps to wash our hair.  It is that good!

If you happen to have some bentonite clay from making other DIY beauty recipes, I would recommend using 1/2 tsp in this mask.  It is also an awesome ingredient for hair.

"Bananas are rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can help strengthen hair, and potassium, a mineral which helps hair maintain a healthy pH balance." (about.com see source link)

Can't wait to try this recipe!  

For more DIY hair treatments, click here.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or argan oil
• a shower cap
   

Preparation

Put ingredients in a blender and blend until combined into a paste.

Add a dash of flour if paste is too runny.

Separate hair into 3-5 sections.

Apply mask to each section from roots to ends.

Wind hair into a loose bun if long and place a shower cap over hair. 

Keep it on for 30 minutes and then rinse out, shampooing and conditioning as usual.

DIY Makeup Remover Wipes

These makeup remover wipes sound wonderful.  

I love the idea of tweaking my own blend and having control of what ingredients go in there.  

Click here for the tutorial at Heather's Treasure.

I found the oil Heather used at the Walmart website.

DIY Lip Gloss Recipes

Love the possibilities of making my own lip gloss.  Some of these recipes utilize an existing tube of lipstick in the recipe.  Love the idea of recycling lipstick and giving it new life!

In the past when my favorite lipstick shade was no longer available and I would scrape out all of the lipstick left in the tube, smash it up and add clear lip gloss.   I'll try anything for a little more of a favorite!

Click here for the article from The Socialite's Closet :)

DIY Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Cubes

Sugar scrubs are awesome, but a bit messy for the shower.  Jillee, from One Good Thing, has come up with a recipe for a pre-measured cube.

Click here for Jillee's tutorial.

DIY Exfoliating Loofah Soap

My latest obsession is artisan soap.  I've already tried several sellers on Etsy and still haven't found one that is fragrant enough . . . happy with everything else and will not be going back to using commercial soap.  What really made me happy was an all-in-one soap that I can also use as a shampoo.  No more frizzies!   Now I'm spoiled!

I've been wanting to try out the exfoliating loofah soaps and I've also wondered about making my own soap.  The cost for the supplies is a little more as purchasing three bars of artisan soap.  I would say it is worth a try!

I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs, One Good Thing by Jillee, which always has practical and easy DIY projects.  Click here for the tutorial.  Check out her website for more "good things" . . . you won't be sorry!

DIY Mimosa Sugar Scrub

If you love the benefits of fragrant sugar scrubs, but they are too expensive for your budget, make your own for a fraction of the price!

Although our skin cells shed every thirty days for new ones, sugar scrubs give the process a boost for faster results.  Sugar cane contains a naturally occurring AHA, a glycolic acid which will clear away dead skin cells, rejuvenating the skin to achieve healthy skin.

Sugar is not a magical ingredient that is hard to find . . . you probably have some in your kitchen pantry along with a few more ingredients, you are on your way to making your very own customized fragrant sugar scrub.

Click here to go to the tutorial at Today's Creative Blog.

DIY Sea Salt Spray

Don't you love the way your hair behaves after a day at the beach?

I had no idea there are actually hair products out there that mimic the effects of a day at the beach until I discovered a wonderful blog, Bridgey Widgey . . . Life's A Party!

Bridget has developed a DIY version of a sea salt hair texturizer that will give you those lovely beachy waves as shown in the photo.

Here's her recipe:

Ingredients:
Empty Spray Bottle
3 teaspoons Epsom Salt
3 squirts Water-Based Hair Gel
4 ounces Tap Water

Directions:
Just load your ingredients into your spray bottle!


Check out her blog for variations and more!

Sugar Scrub Recipes

Rebecca at Soap Deli News Blog has the most

delicious looking soaps and sugar scrubs!  

You can either buy the items from her or 

if you want to make them yourself, she has

 provided recipes and even ideas for glass jars.

They would make awesome holiday gifts!

Click here to go to the blog post

Homemade Hair Conditioner - spray on, leave on

For as long as I can remember, I have used Infusium leave on conditioner. It has worked wonders for me through perms, hair coloring, teasing and using wacky hair products & styling techniques that wreaked havoc on my hair. Conditioner is so important for long hair and I have had long hair forever.

Since I've had to start watching my budget and cutting corners everywhere I can, it was time to start using some of those beauty recipes I've gathered through the years. Why pay more money for something that costs way less that will give you the same results?

The following recipe for homemade hair conditioner that is very similar to Infusium is working just as well for me . . . and at the moment, my hair is way past my shoulders and half way down my back.

The recipe is simple . . . 2 parts water to one part conditioner in a spray bottle . . . I went to the beauty supply house and bought a huge bottle of cheap generic conditioner. Use whatever conditioner you like.

For a quick touch up, all I do is lightly spray my hair and my natural waves and curls magically appear, no frizz even in Florida humidity. It dries very quickly, even in my thick hair, but I don't saturate it for a touch up.

When I'm gonna be in the sun, I keep my hair saturated with this stuff.