Before starting my article I will like to say a few words about health.
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease."
"He, who has health, has hope. And he, who has hope, has everything."
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
Cheap beauty tips, really, are endless because most of the desired effects achieved by the various ingredients in commercial products can be achieved with foods in your kitchen or common products in your household. Here is a list of my ten favorite and cheap beauty tips.
1. Do you have children? Swap your expensive facial wash for their gentle baby wash. This is a tip I learned from an esthetician friend of mine. I found a really great baby wash that is made in Turkey at the dollar store of all places.
2. Nourish your body from the inside out. It may be difficult to swallow but a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning has been shown by multiple studies to ramp up your metabolism. For your beauty regimen, it is a great way to get healthy fats into your body which helps to keep your hair, skin and nails looking healthy. Olive oil combined with sea salt also makes a great exfoliating scrub for those rough patches on your elbows, knees and ankles. Or try rubbing olive oil into your cuticles and then covering your hands with socks while you sleep. The oil penetrates the cuticle and moisturizes your nails preventing chipping. Olive oil may be expensive but for beauty purposes a little goes a long way.
3. Ditch your lip balm and opt instead for a store brand ointment with vitamins A and D. It can taste a bit odd at first, but it does wonders for your lips. Simply smooth on a thin layer before bed and wake up with nice soft lips.
4. Put your coffee grinder or food processor to good use by grinding up old-fashioned oats. Mix with honey to form a paste and use as a mask to nourish dry, sensitive skin. Or for a gentle exfoliating scrub, grind slightly, leaving chunks and mix with water. Gently exfoliate face, rinse, and follow up with a toner and moisturizer.
5. Witch hazel, witch hazel, witch hazel. Never waste your money on expensive toners again. This cheap alternative works just as well.
6. You are what you eat! Red veggies (think red bell peppers) are high in age-defying antioxidants. You can eat them with a little olive oil, vinegar and Italian seasonings while you watch Colbert Report! Talk about easy ways to fight aging!
7. Vinegar. This wonder liquid has been credited with lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, easing arthritis pain and helping to facilitate healthy weight loss. Instead of wasting your money on store bought versions of Italian dressings loaded with hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup, whip up your own Italian dressing as described in tip #6. Eat your way skinny? That's a beauty tip I wouldn't soon forget!
8. Forget those expensive under eye rollers designed to reduce puffiness; their main ingredient is caffeine. You've probably got used coffee grounds in your coffee pot as you read this. Put the grounds in a tea bag or carefully wrap in a coffee filter, allowing the moisture to seep through a bit, and then place them on those bags under your eyes for a few minutes.
9. The next time you go out to dinner, skip dessert (and all those empty calories). Stop at the local drugstore, buy a dark chocolate bar (60% cacao or more), and enjoy about an ounce a night. Dark chocolate is packed full of cancer-fighting, anti-aging antioxidants, and, really, what could be easier or cheaper than nibbling on some chocolate every night?
10. Enjoy one glass (4 oz.) of red wine a night. For suggestions on good cheap red wines, see my hub on 10 Cheap Wines. Wine is heart healthy and contains properties that fight aging. Don't overdo it though. Excessive wine consumption is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and leads to a haggardly-looking You the next day.
Most of my suggestions are based around food, and food both topically and internally has the ability to beautify and protect our bodies. Eat wisely, and remember that even seemingly indulgent foods such as wine and dark chocolate can be better for you than those diet foods packed with hydrogenated oils and corn sweeteners.
