SilverStyle: DIY Beauty Tips

SilverStyle is a weekly blog focusing on fashion and beauty both in and outside of Blair. Come back next Wednesday for the next edition of SilverStyle.

SilverStyle: DIY Beauty Tips

A cute outfit is no good if your hair and skin do not compliment it. I know I have had this problem several times before, and it really is awkward when your outfit looks better than you do. Now that we are transitioning into fall, your skin and hair will be sensitive to the harsh weather and it's essential that you take care of both. I have compiled a few Do-it-yourself (DIY) methods you can use to have glowing skin and healthy hair even when the weather's fighting against it.

Brown Sugar Facial Scrub (Courtesy of Lovelyish)
This scrub is perfect for unclogging pores and clearing rough patches from the skin. The olive oil is used for softening the skin, the brown sugar is used for gentle exfoliation and the honey is used for the soothing effect.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons warm olive oil
-1/3 cup brown sugar
-1 cup honey
How to DIY
Mix three table spoons of warm, not hot, olive oil with about one third of a cup brown sugar and then consistently add spoons of honey until your mixture is gooey. Apply the scrub to a clean face for 1 to 2 minutes, making sure to massage any rough patches. Then, wash the scrub off with warm water and apply a good facial lotion afterwards. The brown sugar is the key ingredient in this scrub because it exfoliates your skin and leaves you feeling brand new.

Avocado hair mask

Photo: Avocados contain vitamins, minerals, and fats that help nourish hair and moisturize skin.

Avocados contain vitamins, minerals, and fats that help nourish hair and moisturize skin. Photo courtesy of Transient Expression.

Ingredients:
-1 medium avocado
-1/2 cup honey
How to DIY
For this mask, mix one medium avocado with ½ cup of honey until completely combined. Work this mix through your hair from root to tip and make sure to cover every single spot. After about five minutes (give or take depending on your personal preference), rinse out the mask and shampoo and condition your hair like normal.

Orange Spice Foot Scrub (courtesy of Whole Living)
Winter brings in a lot of afflictions, one of the most annoying being cold feet. Luckily, a mixture of warm, wintry spices can act as circulation boosters for your feet and will relieve numbness. This is also a good scrub if you are just looking to relax.
Ingredients
-1/2 cup whole oats
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
-4 tablespoons warm water
-1 teaspoon olive oil
-1 tablespoon honey
-1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
-4 drops sweet orange essential oil
You will also need two hand towels for this mask, one for each foot

How to DIY
For this scrub, grind ½ cup of whole oats in a food processor until finely crushed. Then move to a medium-sized bowl and combine the whole oats with ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 4 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger and 4 drops of sweet orange essential oil. Stir all of the ingredients together until they combine to make a thick paste. Spread a thick layer over your feet and then cover your feet with a warm hand towel (you can make it warm by putting it in the microwave for about two minutes). Sit back and relax for fifteen minutes, and when you're ready to remove the paste, carefully lift off the hand towels and wash your feet in warm water. PAT dry, do not rub dry, because your skin will be sensitive at this point.
As you can see, many of these scrubs and masks can be made with ingredients that are already in your house. Preparing these DIY scrubs not only helps your skin and hair, but they also leave you feeling better and more refreshed. These scrubs are also a great idea for sleepovers or any time where you need to de-stress a little. Keep checking SCO for more beauty tips!