March 30, 2020 – By Heleayner Davies
Although we are facing very difficult, challenging and unpredictable times ahead with many businesses now having to operate from home, let’s look at this as an opportunity to reflect on the most important things in life. We must now more than ever, make a conscious effort to take care of each other and most importantly, ourselves.
If you’re anything like the Keisei team, you use your beauty routine as a tool to combat your worries and anxieties. In fact, many women note that when they dedicate the time to focus on themselves through self-care rituals, they are left feeling a lot more relaxed, calm and comforted.
So, we have compiled a list of our top 7 ‘do it yourself’ zero-waste beauty treatments to ease the mind and soothe the soul during this particularly tricky time. The best part? They require minimal ingredients that you’ll most likely already have in your kitchen pantry and they take hardly any time to make.
1. Avocado hair mask
Why not use up those leftover (and overripe) avocados that you have lying around in your kitchen and create your very own nourishing hair mask. They’re extremely moisturising and are rich in scalp-loving vitamins such as biotin and vitamins e, c and k.
To make, simply mash one whole avocado in a bowl and mix together with 2-3 tablespoons of organic coconut oil. Apply the mask 2-3 times per week, starting at the tips of the hair and working your way towards the scalp. Leave on for 15-30 minutes and your hair will be left feeling silky, glossy and stronger than ever before.
2. Makeup remover
If you’re anything like us, you have about 5 different makeup removers in your bathroom cabinet. One for removing eye makeup, one for removing face makeup…the list goes on.
Not only is this harsh on your bank balance but generic makeup removers are often packaged in unrecyclable plastics and are filled with chemicals and synthetic fragrances that can aggravate sensitive skin.
The alternative? Use a teaspoon of organic coconut oil, massage into the skin as you would a cream cleanser and rinse off with a warm washcloth.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin use jojoba oil combined with witch hazel as it is non-comedogenic and therefore won’t clog your pores. Additionally, using an oil won’t only melt away all traces of dirt, grease and makeup but you’ll soon find that your skin will look less oily as the more oil you feed your skin, the less it will produce!
3. Vanilla lip scrub
During the cold winter months, many of us suffer with dry, chapped and flaky lips. So, why not have a go at making your very own lip scrub? It’s super easy to make and this recipe smells good enough to eat!
All you need is 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of organic honey and a couple of drops of pure vanilla extract. Simply mix all of the ingredients together to make a paste and pop into a small glass jar.
To apply, rub a small amount onto the lips (whilst trying not to eat it all) and then rinse off with warm water. Your lips will be left feeling smooth, soft, hydrated and you’ll have the perfect pout in town.
4. Oatmeal face mask
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s bound to show on your skin. In fact, according to webmd.com stress can cause the skin to become more sensitive and reactive. So, what better way to soothe the skin than by making your very own face mask!
Our favourite is an anti-inflammatory oatmeal face mask that only includes 2 ingredients that you’ll most likely already have lying around in your kitchen.
All you need is 1 tablespoon of porridge oats, 1 tablespoon of plain yoghurt and 1 teaspoon of honey. Simply mix all of the ingredients together, apply to the face and leave on for 15-20 minutes.
The oats are hypoallergenic and act as a natural exfoliant that soothes irritated and eczema-prone skin, the honey has antimicrobial properties that fight against acne and the yoghurt contains lactic acid to deeply moisturise and hydrate the skin.
5. Sugar body scrub
Let’s not neglect our bodies, they need some TLC too. Body scrubs are often overlooked as an essential part of any skincare routine, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of freshly shaved and exfoliated legs on clean bed sheets, am I right?
There are so many ways that you can make a homemade body scrub, but our favourite only includes three ingredients. All you need is organic coconut oil, sugar and an essential oil of your choice. Simply mix all of the ingredients together, put into a mason jar and pop it into the fridge to ensure that it stays fresh.
Top tip: body scrubs work best when applied to dry skin, before showering. You’ll be left with a much better result and your skin will appear smoother with a more even tone.
6. Coconut body moisturiser
After exfoliating it’s important to ensure that your skin is well moisturised. However, if you have sensitive skin you may find that most generic body lotions irritate you. One waste-free alternative that is to use raw organic coconut oil. It smells divine and will leave your skin hydrated, smooth and glowing.
Additionally, why not try adding a few drops of some lavender or chamomile essential oil to calm the mind and melt any bedtime worries away? You’ll be off to dreamland in no time.
7. A great treat to finalise any treatment: the Facial Massage
A facial massage is one of the best ways to reduce puffiness, plump the skin and boost lymphatic drainage. Start with a cleansed face and use an oil that is suited to your skin type, ensuring that your skin is a little slippy so that you’re not pulling or tugging on the skin, as this can cause fine lines and wrinkles.
There are many different ways of performing a facial massage, however our favourite is a brightening massage by celebrity facialist Abigail James (linked below). The best part? It only takes 3 minutes so it’s the perfect relaxing and reviving treat in between those working from home conference calls with colleagues.
Heleayner Davies
Heleayner is a beauty writer that is passionate about sustainability and the welfare
of our planet. She is a lover of natural beauty alternatives, beauty podcasts, the 70s and
coffee. You can find her on Instagram @heleaynerdavies.
6 comments
Thanks for these tips. I’ve started doing the hot oil thing and my hair feels so amazing!!! M definitely going to bookmark this page!
I’m glad you like it! I hope the results were great, have you tried any other DIY?
Great article! Thanks a lot.