w.b.t.
Mayonaise
Frizzy locks will benefit from a staple cookout condiment–mayo! Banowetz said to combine two teaspoons of natural eucalyptus tree oil with 1/4 cup of mayo and use in the shower post-shampoo, letting it saturate your locks for ten minutes.
Mint
Tired of trying to fight oily strands? Prevent them with this easy mint-infused shampoo, courtesy of InStyler celebrity hairstylist Dean Banowetz. Add a few bunches of mint to water, boil, strain, and add the minty water to your regular shampoo (use a 2-to-1 ratio, with more shampoo than water). Cleanse and condition hair as usual, using the mint concoction weekly.
Oatmeal
Plan a spa day at home next weekend with this easy oatmeal mask. Perkowska's recipe calls for cooking a serving of oatmeal with milk and reducing the amount called for to ensure the mixture stays super thick. Leave on for 10 minutes for exfoliating super-power.
Egg Whites
Oily skin? Paint a thin layer of egg whites over a freshly washed face to help fight shine, suggested Perkowska.
An Herbal Poulitice
Fight acne with a time-tested poultice (an herb paste wrapped in cotton cloth). Josie Feria, Director of Spa Operations at Lapis spa, suggests grinding a mixture of herbs, such as dandelion and yellow dock, and slowly adding warm water to achieve a paste consistency. Once blended, put the paste into a clean piece of cotton fabric, secure, and let sit on affected area until the paste has dried. Helpful for fighting acne-inflamed skin, the trick is also good for sunburned skin.
Silk Pillowcase
Protect your lovingly cared-for strands even while you sleep. Edward Tricomi, lead stylist and co-owner of Warren-Tricomi salons, suggested investing in a silk pillowcase. It will help avoid tangled tresses, keep your style longer, and, most noticeably, make hair silkier.
Milk & Honey Bath
Lactic acid, found in milk, is a natural skin-softener, said Darrell McCurtain, a therapist at the Golden Door Spa. If filling an entire tub feels too indulgent, try using a small basin to soak feet or hands, or add a few cups to your bath water. Throw in a few teaspoons of honey to capture its anti-bacterial effect.
Boxers
Curly-haired ladies should borrow a (clean!) pair of their man's boxers to dry their locks, since a towel's fibers can actually increase frizziness. Simple cotton is far less agitating. "My best friend will literally jump out of the shower and wear her boyfriend's boxers on her head to help dry her hair and keep it up and out of her face so she can put makeup on," said Dallin James, hair stylist at the Marie Robinson Salon.
Lettuce & Spinach
Fight wrinkles and keep hair and nails healthy by fortifying your diet with lots of silicone-rich foods, suggests beauty nutritionist Paula Simpson. Smart buys include Romaine lettuce, spinach, cucumber, bell pepper, and tomatoes (including the skin).
Celery Seed
Start digging through your spice rack–Simpson identified celery seed as a natural diuretic to combat bloating. She suggested a simple tea recipe to reap the benefits: Pour one cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of crushed seeds, steep for 10 to 20 minutes, and sip.
Parsley
"Ever wonder why there's a fresh sprig of parsley on your dinner plate when you're at a restaurant?" said Simpson. It might be that your host wants to help you avoid awkward conversations later. "It's thought that parsley contains antibacterial properties helpful for fighting bad breath." To make it work for you, chew on a fresh sprig–dried versions won't work.
Honey
As an esthetician at Utah's Golden Door Spa, Jodi Ranson has learned a thing or two about caring for dry, cracked lips. "Honey! It helps to heal and hydrate, plus the anti-viral properties make it good for healing cold sores, too."
| Espresso shot before your next run, anyone? An American College of Sports Medicine study found that consuming caffeine such as coffee, iced tea, or soda (diet!) can help increase physical performance during your workout. "Drink a caffeinated beverage before your workout!" suggested Dr. Elizabeth Applegate, a professor at UC Davis. |
Lemon juice combined with tea is an easy fix for oily hair. "The lemon works as a great astringent but doesn't ruin the pH balance of the hair and scalp," explains TRESemmé celebrity stylist Jeanie Syfu. Do half lemon juice, half black tea and rinse through clean hair.
Forget pricey creams and serums. Ginsberg's pick for a brighter complexion is probably already in your kitchen (or at least at the neighborhood grocery store). "Rub a lemon on your face!"
"If you have untamable curly locks, try mixing a dime-sized amount of olive oil in with your regular styling cream. You'll get smooth texture and unbeatable shine," said DuWop's National Training Manager, Jason Garner.
Garner's quick and easy tip to "make your body feel like silk"? Yup—more olive oil! "After a shower while your skin's still damp, apply olive oil all over your body and pat dry with a damp towel." It's moisturizing
and dead sexy.
In a pinch, olive oil can remove eye makeup! "A small amount of olive oil on a cotton pad can gently remove the toughest makeup," says Joette Balsamo, makeup artist at the Marie Robinson Salon. "Just be sure to remove any oil residue with a clean pad dipped in water." Is that a walk-of-shame tip, or what?
Moisturizing Lotion
Celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger said to try using your regular moisturizing lotion as conditioner for your hair. "It's great hydration for your scalp!"
Salt
Save money on sea-salt spritzes by bottling your own. Combine water, a few teaspoons of sea salt and a dash of olive oil in a spray bottle, shake, and spray, said Hershberger.
Chilled, already-steeped green tea bags are an easy way to fight puffy circles in the morning. Ranson recommends steeping two and letting them sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. The coolness will feel amazing, and the brew's caffeine will help increase micro-circulation.
Black Tea
Beat stinky feet by soaking tootsies in a black tea bath. C.O. Bigelow Proprietor, Ian Ginsberg, said the tea's tannins are good at neutralizing odor.
Baking Soda
Polish-free nails look prettiest when clean—Ginsberg's trick is sprinkling baking soda on a lemon wedge and rubbing it on nails for a fresh white look.
Brushing Your Hair
We've all heard the old wives' tale that you should luxuriously brush your hair every night...well, it's actually true! "One hundred strokes a night for lustrous looking hair," says Ginsberg. "The oils disperse through the hair and keep strands and scalp healthy."
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