Spas and salons may have shut their doors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t level up your beauty routine right from home – using ingredients straight from your kitchen. As a beauty editor I’ve been lucky enough to learn firsthand what the best in the biz whip up for their own DIY treatments, and I’m sharing them all with you. So slip on your most cosy soft pants, pour yourself a glass of wine (it’s 5:00 somewhere!), and let’s get glowing.
By Sheela Soskin
1. GLOSSY HAIR HACK
Lackluster lockdown hair? I don’t know her! This ultra-easy tonic, picked up from a stylist backstage at New York Fashion Week, immediately made my hair more soft, shiny, and smooth.
The benefits
Shampoo. Commercial. Hair. Need I say more?
The ingredients
– Apple cider vinegar
– Distilled water
The technique
- In a spray bottle, mix one part apple cider vinegar with 4 parts water. Shake well.
- Spritz onto wet hair and style as usual. (The salad dressing smell will dissipate—don’t let it dissuade you!)
2. BEE’S KNEES FACE MASK
We love a luxury (read: $$$) face mask moment, but this handcrafted one is way more rewarding. Feeling fancy? Use high grade manuka honey.
The benefits
This mask works wonders on all skin types to hydrate and soften, plus the honey has antimicrobial properties to help calm redness and rashes.
The ingredients
Raw organic honey
A pinch of spirulina (you can get it from any health food store)
The technique
- Put a dollop of raw honey and the spirulina in a bowl. Mix it up and add a few drops of water. (This will help it spread on more easily.)
- Apply and leave on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse off with warm water.
3. BUZZY BODY SCRUB
Store-bought body scrubs are often expensive and full of harsh chemicals and other nasty pollutants. This homemade one contains just two ingredients you probably have on hand (I see you, fellow coffee addicts!), and costs next to nothing.
The benefits
This stimulating scrub reduces the appearance of cellulite, moisturises, and detoxifies.
The ingredients
Coconut oil
Coffee grinds
A hair catcher in your shower drain for the grinds
The technique
- Mix up a big scoop of coconut oil and the grinds from your morning cup of coffee.
- Stand under the shower for a few minutes and then turn the water off. (This will prevent all of the scrub from rinsing off too soon – plus you’ll be doing your part to conserve H20.)
- Grab a handful of scrub and give yourself a thorough massage starting at your ankles and feet, working upwards towards the centre of your body.
- Rinse it all off – but don’t lather up after or you’ll lose the moisturising benefits of the coconut oil.
- Use a washcloth to remove any oily residue.
4. DOES-IT-ALL FACE MASK
I picked this one up from an LA aesthetician who swears organic, all-natural skincare and gua sha – not botox and fillers – are the real secret to looking forever fresh and youthful. Her cult following (including A-listers and beauty insiders) must mean she’s doing it right… right?
The benefits
This mask is chock-full of healthy fats that soothe and moisturise, while golden turmeric reduces inflammation and pigmentation.
The ingredients
A dollop of full fat Greek yogurt
A tiny pinch of turmeric
Half an avocado
The technique
- Mix everything up in a bowl until smooth.
- Apply and leave on for 20 minutes. (Hint: wash your hands immediately after so the turmeric doesn’t stain your fingers.)
- Rinse off with warm water and pat dry with a fluffy towel, then hop on a Zoom call to show off your glowing complexion.
5. SMOOTHIE FOR YOUR STRANDS
A hair stylist on set shared this DIY mask recipe with me, and I like to do it once a month to keep my strands in check. Start with a healthy fat, then get creative with your concoction—anything natural and organic is fair game.
The benefits
It’s ultra-nourishing, like a deep conditioning treatment you’d get at the salon. Plus, you get to pat yourself on the back for being zero waste – this one is great for using up produce that’s seen better days.
The ingredients
Any healthy fats (like avocados or Greek yogurt)
Raw honey
Bananas
Citrus fruits
Seriously – any natural stuff you have in your kitchen
The technique
- Throw all ingredients in a blender and mix it up.
- Apply to damp hair, pin it up, and leave on for 20-30 minutes—or just enough time to watch an episode of Indian Matchmaking. (What? Just me?)
- Rinse with shampoo.
