It’s
that taxing in-between time of the semester again – spring break is
over, papers and projects are coming due, and finals are looming ahead.
It’s clear that college students are stressed right now, and with that
stress comes the need for relaxation. And what better way to unwind than
by pampering yourself and indulging in some me-time?
Of course,
as college students, we can’t all afford to shell out for a trip to a
high-end spa. So how do you get all the benefits of a spa treatment
without the hefty cost? Easy. Raid your kitchen!
Here are three
of my favorite do-it-yourself beauty treatments that are easy (and
fairly cheap) to whip together in your dorm room or apartment.
1. The Olive Oil Hair Treatment
Olive
oil isn’t just for cooking — it’s great for your hair, too! Olive oil
has been proven to give hair a healthy sheen, help to repair split ends,
and reduce frizz.
To give your hair a conditioning treatment,
massage about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your hair and scalp. The
amount you’ll use should vary depending on the length and thickness of
your hair. And remember to massage it in well – the massaging feels
really nice on your scalp, but is also important to the treatment, as
massage stimulates helps promote a healthy scalp.
Next,
take a warm, damp towel and wrap it around your head and treated hair (“turban” it). Leave it on for about 30-45 minutes. This allows the olive oil to work into your hair to have the full effect.
Finally,
rinse out the olive oil with shampoo. This might take a few shampoo-ings (when I tried it, it took 2 rounds.) Give your hair further rest by allowing it to air dry, if you have the time. Then say hello to your luscious locks!
2. The Miracle Mask
This DIY mask, made of
nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing!
The
secret? Nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories, which can
reduce swelling and redness in skin. They’re also great for soothing
acne scars and preventing infection.
In addition, the nutmeg and cinnamon also work to exfoliate your skin when you wash this mask off.
Before you begin,
it’s
always a good idea to do a small test with homemade mixes on your skin
to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction to any ingredients. So
remember to do a quick patch test on sensitive skin, like that on the
inside of your wrist, before applying this mask to your face.
To create the mask,
mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed,
apply
the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with
warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation.
3. Brown Sugar Body Scrub
One of my favorite DIY beauty treatments is this brown sugar body scrub, found on
The Frugal Style. It’s the perfect way to get rid of dry winter skin, as well as prep your body for any
sunless tanner you may be applying.
To create the scrub, just
mix
together half a cup of coarse brown sugar with a tablespoon of honey, a
little olive oil, and 1/4 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, then apply
all over your body and rinse. The scrub not only smells delicious, but leaves your skin feeling ultra-smooth.
