Whilst a 3-hour spa treatment sounds enticing, we’re looking for stay-at-home alternatives right now. If you’re looking for super easy and effective DIY beauty treatments, we’re here to show you how simple it can be. Making your own beauty treatments is not only a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s also much more affordable. As a bonus, many of the ingredients listed below are basic household items, which means there is no need to go on an extra grocery run!
With temperatures high in Hong Kong, we are constantly being exposed to air conditioners that are harsh and drying to our skin. Regularly exfoliating our skin can remove dead skin cells, which helps maintain an even complexion and avoid the build-up of impurities.
Face scrubs can also improve circulation, helping us achieve a radiant and glow-y summer look. The two-minute recipe below uses honey and oil to hydrate your face, whilst the oats and brown sugar act as a natural exfoliant.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oats (preferably fine oats as they are gentler on your skin, but rolled oats are also fine)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (you can also use other kinds of granulated sugar, as long as it’s not too coarse)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon oil (this can be any oil of your choice, such as extra-virgin olive or jojoba oil)
Instructions
- Blend the oats and brown sugar into a fine consistency using a blender or a food processor.
- Add the honey and oil – mix it well.
- Wet your face with a little bit of warm water.
- Apply the facial scrub you just created, rubbing gently in a circular motion.
- Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
- Enjoy your smooth and soft face!
Just made your morning coffee and wondering how you can be more environmentally friendly? Try this super easy Coffee Body Scrub.
This is a great homemade beauty treatment because what’s left of your coffee doesn’t go to waste, and the caffeine content in this scrub is invigorating for our skin.
It’s also said that caffeine improves blood circulation and reduces cellulite. Coffee is high in antioxidants, so putting this on your skin can help prevent the appearance of ageing. The sand-like texture of the ground coffee acts as a great exfoliant, prepping your skin well for an amazing summer tan. You can also use this scrub for your face, but as ground coffee tends to be more rough, it’s advised to be gentle or mix in small doses with the face scrub on the last slide.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh ground coffee (the finer the better, if it’s too coarse it may be too harsh for your skin)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup melted oil (I normally use coconut oil for the scent, but any other oil is fine)
Instructions
- Mix the coffee and brown sugar together in a big bowl by hand.
- Add the oil and mix well.
- Gently rub your new body scrub all over your body. You can do this in the shower using a little warm water.
Not only is avocado a nourishing and healthy fat for our body, it’s also an amazing moisturiser for our hair. The recipe below includes coconut oil, which is guaranteed to make your hair shiny and soft. The healthy fats are combined with milk which helps cleanse your scalp, and honey which helps lock in the moisture. It’s also recommended to add lavender oil, which has been proven to be highly effective in preventing hair loss, dandruff and lice. The scent is a bonus.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (other typical hair oils, such as olive oil are also good options)
- 3 tablespoons of milk
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 5 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil (optional but highly recommended)
Instructions
- Mash the avocado using a fork in a medium sized bowl.
- Add in the milk, olive oil, honey and lavender essential oil to the mashed avocado.
- Blend all the ingredients in a blender.
- Apply the hair mask onto your hair. Use a comb if you want a more even application.
- Wrap your hair in cling film to make sure you lock the moisture in.
- Leave in for at least 30 minutes before washing the hair mask out.
- Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.
We often add salts and bombs to our bath, which are pretty to look at and smell good, but it often doesn’t provide any nourishment for our skin. This milk bath below is one of the easiest homemade beauty treatments out there. We often use oil as a moisturiser but that doesn’t suit all skin types. The main ingredient here is milk, which means you can go to bed with soft, smooth – non oily – skin!
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups of milk (Cow’s milk works well and it’s recommended you opt for the full-fat and whole milk option as the high fat content will give the most moisture to your skin. However, semi-skinned can also get the job done)
- Alternatively, you can also use 1-2 cups of unsweetened non-dairy milk (Almond and coconut milk are the best because they are the richest in oils, which will make your skin feel silky and hydrated)
- Rose petals, or any other fresh or dry flowers (this is completely optional but adding flowers can change your whole bath-game! Not only does it feel super luxurious to lie in, it’s also very aesthetically pleasing)
Instructions
- Add your milk into warm bathwater and if you wish, add in some flowers as well.
- Enjoy your lovely and moisturising bath.
Okay, this one isn’t a full treatment but we had to add it in because it’s just such a simple way to take your shower up a notch.
We might not always be able to go to the spa but why not make your daily shower spa-like? Hong Kong homes aren’t known for being the most spacious, so this is especially for those of you without a bath. The steam created from the hot water will pick up and release your scents, creating a wonderful spa-like experience.
Ingredients
- A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (I prefer lavender for night-time showers – to relax – and eucalyptus for morning showers – to energise).
- Option to include body scrub from number 2!
Instructions
- Add a few drops of your essential oil onto a damp shower sponge and place this in front of you in the shower (you can also put it on the floor, but the scent may be less intense). Diffusers are another way to enjoy the fragrance.
- Enjoy your scented shower.
Featured image courtesy of Maddi Bazzocco via Unsplash, image 1 courtesy of Melissa Di Rocco via Unsplash, image 2 courtesy of Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash, image 3 courtesy of K8 via Unsplash, image 4 courtesy of Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash, image 5 courtesy of Anshu A via Unsplash.