Fashion
8 Ways To Treat Skincare Issues With Household Items So You Can Save Your Money For Better Things
Flawless skin: It's something we all hope for, but just like that annoying neighbor next door with an affinity for playing Linkin Park, you have to deal with the cards your dealt. Whether occasional acne is your problem or you just can't seem to lock in the moisture on those heels once winter strikes — not to fear: We have the home remedies you need to combat even your worst skin issues, no trip to the grocery store required.
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Oily Skin
The issue: No matter how many times you wash or blot your face with an endless amount of oil sheets, you still feel a slick surface (not to mention uber paranoid that people think you have a sweating problem).
The fix: Apple cider vinegar. Even if you never use it in your cooking, this vinegar can be your new best friend. Since the pH level of apple cider vinegar is comparable to the pH level of the mantle layer of our skin, soaking it will help restore pH balance.
Mix together two cups water with one tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Dampen a cotton ball, and swipe the mixture over skin. Don’t rinse, simply pat skin dry.
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Acne-Prone Skin
The issue: Fact: You feel like you’re in middle school. Reality: You’re in the working world and have a shiner on your right cheek that gleams like the top of the Chrysler Building.
The fix: Grab the potatoes. No, we’re not making French fries. Instead, skin and slice thin. Then, place potato slices on vulnerable acne spots for at least 30 minutes at a time. The phosphorus, chloride, potassium, and sulfur in the starchy vegetable help heal sore pimples and lessen redness.
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Dry Skin
The issue: You (and your skin) crave moisture more than the Sahara Desert.
The fix: A milk bath. No, you don’t need to actually fill a tub with 1%. However, dampen a washcloth with milk, then lay cloth over portions of face that are dry and irritated for approximately 5 minutes. The lactic acid in the milk will not only increase your skin’s ability to hold in moisture, it will also exfoliate dead skin cells.
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Dry Cuticles
The issue: They hurt. They’re cracked. They make you afraid to get a manicure for fear of the guaranteed “OW!”
The fix: Mix equal parts honey and olive oil, then soak hands in mixture for 10 minutes.
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Callused Skin
The issue: They’re not just cracked, they’re painful. Considering your feet are arguably the most abused part of your body, the callouses on your heels certainly aren’t doing you any favors.
The fix: Lemon. The fruit’s high acidity levels helps soften callused skin. Place an inch-wide slice of lemon along the callus of the foot, securing it with a bandage, then covering both with a sock overnight. (Hint: Make sure the sock is cotton.)
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Aging Skin
The issue: You’re starting to become more and more aware of the crow’s feet developing around your eyes and the slender wrinkles surrounding your nostrils.
The fix: Coconut oil. Made up of anti-inflammatory dietary fatty acids that are super important for skin health, coconut oil aids in increasing elasticity in the skin when applied topically. Feeling super adventurous? Try oil pulling while you’re at it.
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Chapped, Flaky Lips
The issue: No matter what you do, your puckers feel cracked, chapped, and all sorts of ouch!
The fix: Honey. Not only is honey a great moisturizer, but it also has antibacterial and healing properties that help to treat chapped lips. Either apply it as-is, or make a paste out of 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon glycerin. Apply the honey paste once in the morning and once at night.
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Rough Skin
The issue: The surface of your skin feels more rough than the idea of trying to use Fifty Shades of Grey lines with your boyfriend.
The fix: Baking soda. When mixed with water to form a paste, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda works as a pure, gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and give you soft, smooth, refreshed skin, from your face to your toes.
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