Homemade beauty tricks for winter

I don’t know about you, but winter wreaks havoc on my skin and hair.  In my pre-mommy life, I worked as a licensed aesthetician in a cosmetic dermatology office – and yes, it was awesome.  I’ve gathered some homemade tricks of the trade to share with all you real moms when your beauty routine is singing the winter blues.

Lighten Dark Under-eye Circles

Once summer tans begin to fade, under-eye circles can appear more pronounced.  Try a grated potato treatment to lighten those dark under-eye circles.  That’s right; potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase, which is used in cosmetics as a human skin lightener.

Directions:  Run one potato through your food processor.  Stuff the raw, grated mash into a piece of cheesecloth.  Apply to the area directly beneath your eye, while being careful to not get any potato juice into your eye.  Leave on for 15-20 minutes.  Gently wipe away any of the starchy residue.

Hydrating Pumpkin Mask

Does the cold weather have your skin feeling lack-luster and dull?  Fall might be over, but I still love adding a hydrating pumpkin mask to my routine to rejuvenate my skin.  Pumpkin is a natural super-antioxidant that also gently exfoliates while increasing your skin’s cell-turnover.  Honey is a natural humectant (helps skin retain moisture). 

Directions:  Combine 3 Tablespoons of pumpkin (you may use canned or cooked natural pumpkin), ½ teaspoon of honey with ¼ teaspoon of milk (normal or oily skin) or buttermilk (dry skin).  Mix the ingredients together in a bowl.  After cleansing, drape a warm, wet towel over your face to soften your skin.  Apply mask and leave on for 15 minutes.  Remove with lukewarm water and use a cool, wet towel to remove any excess.

Cinnamon Body Scrub

To restore my body’s natural glow, I treat myself to a cinnamon body scrub. 

Directions:  Mix 2 cups of sea salt (kosher salt works well too) with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.  After cleansing your body with a gentle body wash (rinsing all residue off) massage the mixture all over.  Massage more deliberately on rougher patches like elbows and heels.  Rinse off, pat dry and follow-up with your favorite body lotion.

Deep Hair Conditioner

When my hair starts looking dry and over-processed, I use a natural deep conditioner based in either mayonnaise or yogurt (depending on what I have in the house).  I mix the base with olive oil and the pulp of a ripe fruit such as cantaloupe, mango, avocado, banana or squash – which all contain nutritious oils.  

Directions:  Blend a ½ cup of the mayo or yogurt (more or less depending on the length of your hair) with a teaspoon of olive oil and the fruit pulp of your choice.  Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo and then apply the conditioner ensuring the hair is covered.  Cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes.  Rinse and shampoo again. 

Do you have any inexpensive, homemade beauty tips for winter time?