What is your best DIY beauty secret? Share!
I’d say it’s probably mixing glycerin and water together to create your own mixing medium, though it’s not much of a secret 
Thanks to Aman for today’s question! Got a question idea? Submit yours here.
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I recently tried using aloe vera gel as an under makeup primer. It’s so soothing a cooling (great in the hot weather) and does seem to make the makeup go on nice and last longer.
use baking soda as shampoo if you need to strip serious product buildup off your hair.take twosmall handfuls of baking soda (onein each hand) and rub it over your hair. keep it off your scalp since it’s too abrasive. then be sure to deep condition. it’s a good thing to keep in mind if the 2012 apocalypse is for real.
An advisory, this is not for everyone. Baking soda left my scalp feeling uncomfortable (I have a sensitive scalp though), and also left my hair smelling funky. I’d rather just shampoo twice if it were that dire of a situation!
yea, this is definitely for heavy duty situations only.
Using nail polish over water to make fun patterns.
ooh how?
Cuuuuuuuuute haha.
Woah, can you explain that? It sounds really cool.
It’s a technique called marbelling. Plenty of tutorials online
More details, pleease! Sounds wonderful!
hey i do those!!! love it you can view my marbling samples here : http://robzae.deviantart.com/gallery/#Marbling
So basically take a plastic cup 3/4 full of room temperature water and about 2 or 3 colors of nail polish and drop them in concentric circles. Before the nail polish dries, take a tooth pick and drag the colors. Dip your nails (or false nails) into the color horizontally (this is key). Once your nails are under the water, you can change to a vertical position and then use the tooth pick to clean up the excess nail polish before your take your hands out. It is a bit messy and takes a while to dry, but it’s a fun design with lots of possibilities.
Christine, what you mix glycerin and water for?)
Mixing medium
Grow your own lavendar and chamomile, toss a few sprigs in boiling water, and soak a cloth in it and soak your face.
Castor oil on my eyelashes and eyelids every night. It makes my eyelashes conditioned and they’ve grown slightly (I wouldn’t compare it to drug-based lash treatments though). The oil helps hydrate my dry skin overnight and keeps my eyelids from looking crepe-y.
Yogurt as a face mask to moisturize and exfoliate (lactic acid, y0).
Baking soda mixed with a mild cleanser will also exfoliate well.
I agree with Heidi’s comment about aloe vera gel. It makes my skin feel really nice and is a great cheap alternative to eye gel.
I make skin freshener from a mineral water such as Evian, glycerine, distilled rose water, and distilled orange blossom water. It’s very refreshing, smells lovely, and is very moisturizing thanks to all the glycerine in it.
I do the same though I sometimes use lavender hydrosol or water. For a special treat add just a drop of neroli oil.
Do you use this to set/fix your makeup or more as a moisturizer?
Brush Cleanser: 1/2 cup of 70% alcohol, 3/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon dish soap, 1 teaspoon soap or shampoo (for the smell). Put in a apritzer bottle. Works like a charm!
I was thinking of running out to grab some brush cleanser this morning, but I think I’ll give this a go instead. I have all the ingredients. Thanks!!!!
Olive oil used as a moisturizer for my nails. Better than any moisturizer found in the market! =)
Mixing aloe vera with vitamin e oil for a light but hydrating and healing moisturizer!
I mist my face with water before I use my moisturizer. No idea whether there is a scientific basis, but I feel like with a slightly damp face the moisturizer will lock in the water (rather than depending soley on the cream for moisture).
I use a lot less product with a much better result. :]
I use undereye concealers in a shade a little bit lighter than my skintone to make my look brighter and refreshed but I don’t know if it’s a secret
It’s not a huge secret, but I like to mix falf of a banana with some yeast and apply it as a mask. It’s very effective against spots and acne, and the banana is very beneficial to the skin. And helps me to be able to stand the smell of the yeast.
Using the softest toothbrush bristle head I can find attach it to an electric toothbrush and use it to exfoliate my face.
I don’t know how secret this is, but extra virgin olive oil makes the best eye makeup remover! It seriously takes off EVERYTHING.
Milk of Magnesia to control my oily skin for 8+ hours. Visine as a mixing medium and using my hair polisher as a face primer.
Milk of Magnesia is THE BEST!
Hair polisher as a face primer? Hehe, what brand?
hand-and body scrub: just mix baby-oil with sugar (salt is to harsh and leaves scratches on the skin), rub in on dry skin, rinse with luke-warm water and gently pat skin dry with a towel. No nail spa ever managed to get my hand that soft, though they use ready-made peelings with salt/sugar and oils, probably there are also detergents (which are totally unnecessary) in the stuff they use.
Adding a couple capfuls of glycerin to pure acetone! It’s just like Zoya’s Remove+ without the scent, for a whole lot less!
Awww, Roslyn!
I would say spritzing some rosewater onto my face and leaving it slightly damp before applying my foundation in summer. I have lank oily skin, and this trick helps to keep my face practically oil-free in summer heat.
Also rubbing some sweet almond oil into my nails each night. Keeps them gorgeous, split-free and strong.
Do you still use the oil if you have nail polish on (if you wear it that is)? Like, to moisturize the skin around the nail and the cuticle I guess. I have the oil here and am trying to use it up as it was a disaster on my face and in my hair.
Gelatine powder mixed with milk to make my own peeling mask or nose strip to pull out all the gunk in my pores.
Really? How do you do it? Like, what’s your recipe?
Michelle Phan has a video on youtube on how to do this
Every day, before breakfast, I eat one tablespoon of pollen. It helps eliminate any toxins in my body and it keeps my skin nice and healthy.
Making an amazing moisturising liquid by mixing 1 part glycerin, 2 parts rose water and 1 part lemon juice. Shake it up for a lovely, all natural and super cheap moisturiser. This is my grandmother’s recipe from India which she said she used all the time, especially in the winters.
Just take some on a cotton ball and apply on your face overnight. It seems scary and pore-clogging but trust me it isn’t
Most people make the mistake of using glycerin by itself which is TOO heavy. The rose water and lemon balances this out really well. You can even use it on your feet. The next day, just wash your face with your normal cleanser and you will be amazed at how SOFT and smooth your skin will be.
Fyi – I recommend getting rose water from your nearby Indian/Pakistani/SE Asian grocery store where it will be significantly cheaper compared to other places, e.g. Crabtree and Evelyn where it was a ridiculous price.. something like HK$200ish (US$25+)
tomato scrub, milk cleanser and yogurt mask.
Honey + Milk = a runny paste you spread evenly onto your face. Softens(fat in the milk), soothes (honey), promotes new skin cell growth (lactic acid).
This is probably not a “secret,” per se, but it’s a money saver! I never, ever buy those manicure touch-up pens. I just dip a q-tip in polish remover and twirl it around on the inside of the bottle rim until it’s pointy, and clean up my polish with that.
i like mixing together a little bit of olive oil with sugar and use it as a lip scrub
Same here! Turns into a paste and works like a charm
Honey and brown sugar is also a good alternative
I’ll try your recipe too!
I use Apple Cider Vinegar on my face as a toner. It smells like ass, but my skin is looking awesome and it feels so soft. I recommend diluting it with green tea, for sensitive skin though.
Pure, unrefined coconut oil! I use it on my hair. It doubles as a leave-in conditioner and styling product. It’s just as effective as gel or hairspray and doesn’t flake. I use it to moisturize my entire body instead of lotion. I use it to moisturize my lips. If my face wasn’t super oily to begin with I’d use it there too. I also use it on my cuticles. You can pretty much bathe in this stuff and enjoy the benefits. It absorbs shockingly fast. It leaves no greasy feeling behind. It has a light, natural coconut scent but it’s not so strong that it will mix with your perfume or other scents. I really consider it a miracle product. Oh, and BTW I also use it for baking and stir-frying!
Whitening toothpaste and an old (preferably stiff/hard) toothbrush to lighten yellow nails, olive oil mixed with sugar as a hand scrub, and antibacterial dish soap mixed with olive oil as a brush cleaner!
Probably a lot of people do this but here it goes anyway: I use thermal spring water (like La Roche Posay or Avéne) to fix my make up. Just spray all over my face once I finish my look (just don’t exagerate, or it will just melt!) and make up will last much longer.
Also my grandmother always uses lemon as a face peel. Just open the lemon in half and apply to your face, except for eye area. I suppose it is a DIY citric acid peel.
I use a toothbrush to exfoliate my lips….which seem to constantly need it.
The use of burnt tortilla, more well-made charcoal mixed with your toothpaste, ayuara to whiten your teeth, so if you get your hands on the famous tortillas, do not hesitate to do it … I love how my teeth are after brushing.
Honey + Cloves is the best exfoliating mask i have tried and the stuff is right out of my pantry
I did the treatment for the first time at the beginning of the month and my skin has been glowing ever since 
I do it once a week now!
I mix vitamin C with any generic , simple face lotion for a very potent and fresh Vitamin C treatment. Once C hits water, it starts to oxidize very quickly, so if you crush a C tablet, mix a small amount of water ( just a few drops) and then add something like Dramatically Different Lotion from Clinique, you have a very effective and inexpensive Antioxident Facial treatment. Just don’t do this with Emegen C, it’s got flavors, sweeteners and other stuff you do NOT want on your skin
This is only kind of DIY and kind of a secret, but…..
When I have about 15-20% left of an eyeshadow pan (ie, when there’s lots of pan showing which makes it an eyesore in my palettes, lol) I scrape the remaining contents into a small jar. When I have a few different colors saved up I will mix them together and re-press them to make new eyeshadow shades
Recently I mixed Star Violet with Magnetic Fields and got something that looks similar to BB Black Cherry!
Idk how much of a “secret” this is since I see a lot of people mentioned glycerin already. That said in the fall/winter-time I tend to get very dry, chapped hands – I apply straight glycerin (like from the bottle) to my hands at night and wear cotton gloves; in the morning when I remove the gloves my hands feel nice and soft.
This may take a few days to really get rid of all the dryness, and I do recommend to scrub the hands (with your fav body/face scrub – depending on how intense you want the scrub to be) prior, so the glycerin can absorb better.
Hope this helps.
Olive oil, there is nothing liek it. Mixed with sugar for a scrub (skin or lips) used as a moisturiser (I had a hideous bout of conjunctivitis which lead to eyelid eczema, completely red, I looked like i had been beaten up for a few weeks – even medical moisturisers caused pain), used as a makeup remover, you could use it on your hair, nails, even drinking it (two tbl soons a day are meant to be good). Love it.
Caffeinated chapstick has a funny aftertaste on my lips, but works wonders to wake up my eyes in the morning!
trust me on this one gals: mix apricot seed oil with any cheapo body lotion. feels divine!
adding Lustre Drops ‘Pink Rebel’ to my daily foundation – it gives the face a nice glow
hmm well okay 2 things and they really work for me. I have oily, acne prone skin and have used antibiotics, oral and topical, and other medication. Anyway a couple of months ago I started using a daily mask of tumeric, like a teaspoon with 3/4 tsp of milk on my face. It completely calms everything down. The tumeric is fresh and I grind it in a blender and then pound it to a powder. It’s kind of time consuming but totally worth it. Leave it on for 15 minutes, then wash your face, tone and moisturize.
Not really secrets since I share them with all my customers but olive oil mixed with salt to use as a body scrub, adding a tbsp of sugar to face wash for exfoliating the face, olive oil as part of my brush deep cleaning routine are some of my favorites
1) DIY hair refresher for curly hair: vegetable glycerin, distilled water, and essential oils mixed in a spray bottle. Helps hair to stay moisturized and refresh curls.
2)I mix baking soda with my facial wash. It’s a vert light but effective everyday scrub for my sensitive skin.
Gargle with 3% hydrogen peroxide (dilute it a little more with water).
It kills bacteria in your mouth and whitens teeth.