10 DIY bodycare treatments
9th Oct 2023 Health
6 min read
You may be loading on the hats and jumpers now that the weather is getting cooler, but that doesn't mean you can't still have smooth, soft, fresh-smelling skin beneath all those layers! Instead of splashing out on expensive products, try these ten DIY bodycare treatments made from products you might even already have in your cupboard
1. Summer body splash
Credit: PeopleImages
Refresh yourself with a splash of this delicate mixture of fruit and flower scents just perfect for remembering hot summer days and nights to get you through the winter
Ingredients:
1/3 cup (80ml) vodka
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops lime essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
2 cups (500ml) distilled or boiled water
Method:
1. Pour the vodka and essential oils into a sterilised 600ml bottle with a tight-fitting stopper. Stopper the bottle and shake for several minutes. Add the distilled or boiled water and shake for several minutes more. Set aside for at least 48 hours or up to three weeks.
2. Place a paper coffee filter in a sieve and drip the liquid through the filter into a ceramic or glass bowl. Pour the liquid back into the large bottle into a few smaller sterilised bottles. Keep one bottle in the refrigerator and store the others in a cool, dark place until needed.
2. Simple fragrant body splash
If you have a favourite perfume oil that you'd like to wear in a lighter concentration, you'll love this easy recipe. Keep this spritzer in your purse for a pick-me-up throughout the day.
"Keep this spritzer in your purse for a pick-me-up spray throughout the day."
Ingredients:
1 cup (250ml) water
A few drops of perfume oil
Method:
1. Have on hand a clean 250ml spray bottle. Pour the water into the bottle and drip the perfume oil drops into the water. Cover the top with your thumb and shake well.
2. Screw the top on and your body splash is ready.
3. Citrus cologne splash
Credit: fizkes
Make this cooling scent at home for spare change and smell like fresh fruit all day long
Ingredients:
1 lime
1/2 cup (125ml) methylated spirits
3 teaspoons lemon extract or orange extract
Method:
1. Juice the lime and strain out the pulp. Combine the methylated spirits, lime juice and lemon or orange extract in a clean bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well.
2. Dab on pulse points. You may also transfer the splash to a spray bottle. Store the splash in the refrigerator.
4. Cellulite massage oil
Include this massage oil—along with regular exercise and a healthy diet—in your tool kit to help lessen cellulite. A regular massage with this oil may help increase circulation and break down fatty deposits.
Ingredients:
30 ml almond oil
1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
1/2 teaspoon carrot oil
14 drops geranium essential oil
6 drops lemongrass essential oil
4 drops cypress essential oil
Method:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a 45-60 ml sterilised glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake vigorously.
2. After a bath or shower, pat your skin dry and massage a small amount of the oil on cellulite-affected areas, using circular movements. Use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, depending on the size of the area you are treating. Apply only once a day.
5. Simple sugar scrub for dry skin
Credit: CentralITAlliance
Here's another yummy body scrub that costs less than a cup of coffee for three or four uses.
Ingredients:
1 cup (220g) of sugar
1/2 cup (12ml) olive, grapeseed or other oil
2 drops vanilla or almond extract (optional)
Method:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and oil. Mix with a wooden spoon until you achieve a paste-like blend. Add extract if desired and stir until incorporated.
2. Transfer to a clean, airtight glass container to slow the breakdown of the oil.
3. In the shower, massage this mixture gently over damp skin. It will exfoliate and moisturise at the same time. Do not use on broken, irritated or scarred skin. Avoid the eyes. This is an especially oily mixture, so it is really best for dry skin.
4. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for six months to a year.
6. Cranberry sugar scrub
The beauty of sugar scrub recipes is the way they offer up scent while managing to exfoliate, nourish, and polish the skin. Here is another spa-quality product you can make in your own kitchen.
"A spa-quality product you can make in your own kitchen"
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (80g) frozen cranberries
1 teaspoon glycerine
1/4 cup (60ml) sweet almond oil
1/4 cup (55g) sugar
2 drops orange essential oil
15g oat powder (grind oats in a blender if needed)
Method:
1. In the container of a food processor, combine cranberries, glycerine and almond oil and process for 30 seconds—just enough to blend the ingredients without turning the berries to pulp. You want to keep the mixture thick.
2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the sugar. Stir in the essential oil. Add just enough of the oat powder to create a cohesive mixture that you can apply to your skin.
3. In the shower, rub the mixture on your skin. Massage in and remove with warm water.
7. Body powder
Clary sage blossoms. Credit: jokuephotography
This fresh-smelling and silky after-shower powder can be used every day. For a more feminine product, use just lavender and rose essential oils.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (75g) arrowroot
20g white cosmetic clay powder
7 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops clary sage essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil
Methods:
1. In a medium bowl, mix the arrowroot with the white cosmetic clay. Add the essential oils and mix well with your fingers.
2. Store in a tightly covered container or a couple of days to allow the powder to absorb the oils, then use all over your body as desired.
8. Body spray
This citrusy mixture smells good, tones the skin, and feels delightfully cool.
Ingredients:
3 teaspoons finely chopped orange peel
3 teaspoons finely chopped lemon peel
45 ml vodka
3 teaspoons witch hazel
1 cup (250ml) water
5 drops lemon verbena essential oil
10 drops bergamot essential oil
10 drops orange essential oil
Methods:
1. In a small jar with a tight top, add orange and lemon peels to the vodka. Cover and leave for one week in a cool, dark place.
2. Strain the liquid into a clean spray bottle. Add the witch hazel, water and the essential oils. Shake well and use as needed. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
9. Shaving gel for women
Credit: Prostock-Studio
Using just four ingredients you probably already have at home, you can make your very own gel for shaving legs and underarms. It's a good recipe to make in a pinch, but it will also help you cut one more expense from your weekly shopping bill.
"Using just four ingredients you probably already have at home, you can make your very own shaving gel "
Ingredients:
30 ml conditioner
30 ml shampoo (preferably the same brand as the conditioner used)
1/2-1 teaspoon baby oil
1 teaspoon hand cream
Method:
1. Start with a clean bottle with a secure cap. Pour the conditioner into the bottle, then add the shampoo. Mix together. Add the baby oil and then the hand cream. Secure the top and shake until all the ingredients are well blended. Let the mixture sit for about one hour before using.
2. lather legs or underarms with the gel, shave and rinse skin thoroughly. The shaving gel should keep for about one month in the bathroom. If the mixture separated, just shake it up before you use it.
10. Warm herbal body treatment
This warm, scented spa-style treatment will relax and rejuvenate you—for the cost of a few tea bags!
Ingredients:
8 cups (2 litres) water
4 chamomile tea bags or other gentle herbal tea
3 peppermint tea bags
sprigs of fresh rosemary or sage (optional)
Method:
1. In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags and herbs. Cover pan and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the tea has cooled to a comfortably warm temperature, remove the tea bags and herbs.
2. Drop several clean but dispensable hand towels into the tea until saturated, then wring them out. Wrap your upper arms and legs with the tea-soaked towels. You may also place a soaked towel on your torso, but don't put one on your face.
3. Lie down on a protected bed, couch or pad and rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the towels and relax while cooling off for another 10 to 15 minutes. Shower off the residue.
Banner credit: Mizina
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