By Sarah W. Caron

Say bye-bye to those pricey beauty treatments and hello to these fabulous do-it-yourself (DIY) versions that work wonders. From hair treatments to beauty masks, you can make your own beauty!

Who hasn’t stood in the beauty section of a local store staring at the brightly colored bottles and packages of beauty concoctions? Sure, they’re tempting, but you needn’t rely on pre-made solutions – especially when you probably have everything you need to whip up homemade ones right now.

Karen Lee of Westchester, NY, who writes EcoKaren.com, a green living blog, has been using homemade beauty treatments for years. “Blame it on my mother who loved using experimenting with stuff from her cupboards. I was her guinea pig for years.” 

Why make your own? Lee likes knowing what she’s putting on her skin. “I don’t want chemicals on my skin and when I make my own, I know exactly what goes in it. And most of the time, it’s so much cheaper than commercial brands, even if they are safe or organic,” she says. 

Plus, there is the added bonus of knowing you’re using nutrient-rich ingredients that “feed your skin from the outside in,” says Jeanette Zinno, a Soho-based beauty and style editor who loves to create her own beauty solutions.

Beauty from the Pantry

The good news about making your own beauty treatments? You probably already have everything you need. Zinno says that she especially loves using fresh, ripe avocado for homemade beauty treatments. “It’s just so hydrating,” says Zinno.

Things like yogurt are great as well because they allow you to get a great consistency for masks and scrubs, she adds. But be sure to only use fresh, live yogurt without any extra flavoring,  Zinno recommends.

Oatmeal and bran are also good bets for homemade beauty treatments. “They can help draw out impurities,” says Zinno.

Drop in Essential Oils 

Don’t be afraid to work essential oils into your DIY beauty treatments as well. Dermatologist Dr. Stuart Kaplan, founder of the luxury skincare line KAPLAN MD, says that essential oils are good for the skin all year round.

“Essential oils have amazing healing and moisturizing properties that soothe, hydrate and repair the skin, which ultimately keeps sun damage at bay,” says Kaplan. “Using a combination of essential oils is the most effective way to get the most hydration after each application.”

Recipes for DIY Beauty

Zinno shared a few of her favorite DIY recipes with BELLA. “I first became interested in at-home beauty recipes when I was a teenager. My mother taught me about easy ways to use the things we had at home to help hydrate skin or take off tricky makeup,” says Zinno. “I was hooked immediately!”

Avocado Hair Mask – “It hydrates hair and leaves it super smooth.” 

Ingredients:

• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 avocado, mashed

Directions:

1. Stir together the egg whites and avocado. 
2. Apply to hair. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes. 
3. Rinse and then shampoo and condition hair as usual.

Banana Honey Face Mask – “Banana provides moisture and honey soothes skin. It’s a great mask for dry skin.”  

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. fresh live natural yogurt

Directions:

1. Mash together the banana, honey and yogurt.
2. Apply to the face and neck. 
3. Allow to dry for 15 minutes. Remove.

Bran and Oatmeal Scrub/Exfoliator – “This is great to use once a week.” 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bran
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 2 tbsp. milk

Directions:

1. Stir together the bran and oatmeal. 
2. Add the milk a little at a time to desired consistency. The mixture shouldn’t be too powdery or thick.
3. Use to exfoliate the face and body, then shower to remove.