Skincare on a Budget

Each day I meet a lot of people who complain about fine lines and wrinkles, spotty skin, dry skin, dry hair, greasy hair, not enough hair, to name but a few, the complaints are endless. We all know someone who has some sort of health and wellbeing problem. What do we do to help keep us looking good?

The majority of us buy and test different products and get sucked in by the skincare companies advertising product after product that claim to take all our cares away. Well today I'm going to tell you how to look good on a budget and it all starts with the kitchen!

What more could a woman want!

Porridge/Oatmeal- This is a wonder food and so cheap. Eat this every morning for a great start to the day. Not only will it keep the hunger pangs at bay but the oats are full of B vitamins and silica making it great for the skin. Have you got dry skin or eczema? Get a white cotton sports sock and fill it with a large handful of oatflakes, place opening of sock under bath tap, turn the tap on and the stream of water will pass through the oats and into the bath. After holding for a minute remove the sock and tie the opening into a secure knot and place in the bathwater for use as a moisturising exfoliator. As you relax in the bath the oatmeal will soften any dry patches, and the milky liquid that oozes out from the sock is also great as a face mask. It will reduce any redness and eliminate blackheads. Its just a super food.

Hellmans Mayonaisse- Made with extra virgin olive oil and free range eggs this is also a super food but just eat a little if you are watching your weight. If your hair is dry and brittle, before washing massage in a good quantity of mayonaisse. Leave for approx 30 minutes, then rinse well with warm water and shampoo twice. No need for conditioner. This will leave your hair shiny soft and manageable. Mayonaisse is great on the face too. Put a medium layer on skin and leave for 15 mins. Remove with a warm flannel/muslin cloth. This mask will help to soften the look of fine lines and leave your skin soft and smooth.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil- This is a must for beautiful skin, hair and overall good health. (EVO)Extra Virgin Olive Oil is packed full of Vitamins especially Vitamin E which is a great anti- oxidant for the skin. Have a quick shower to remove any dirt on your pores. Next fill a bath with warm water. Add a cupful of EVO step in and relax for 20 minutes. When getting out of the bath be careful as the oil will make surfaces slippy,therefore, have a foot towel ready. There will be no need to moisturise after an olive oil bath as the oil will have absorbed into the skin. I'd recommend you have your olive oil bath at night so that you can jump into a nice cosy pair of pyjamas. When you wake up in the morning your skin will feel like silk. Approx. 3 olive oil baths a week will keep your skin in great condition. Don't forget use it at night on the face. I personally find that by morning my wrinkles are less noticeable and my eyelashes are thicker.

Massage olive oil into dry hair and scalp for a great conditioning treatment. Leave for 15-30 minutes then shampoo twice and rinse well. I've actually read stories where people have claimed it helps hair regrowth.

Tomatoes- Eat plenty of these as they are full of vitamins and lycopene- a powerful anti-oxidant. They are best eaten with olive oil as this helps in the absorption of the lycopene.

If you have oily, spotty or dull skin cut some tomato slices and massage into face, avoid delicate eye area. Leave for approximately 10-15mins. Rinse off and moisturise. Don't be alarmed if you feel a slight sting, its all natural.

Potatoes- What can we do with Potatoes besides eat them? Well cut some potato slices very finely and place under the eyes. Lie down and relax for 10-15minutes. This is said to help fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area.

Enjoy experimenting and there will be more to follow!