Forget the beauty aisles, your kitchen fridge and cupboards could be as far as you need to go for sustainable spa-like treatments
With the cost of living continuing to bite, many of us are looking for ways to shop savvy and cut back on expensive buys – especially when it comes to items regarding beauty and skincare.
Despite this, the average Irish household still throws out 150kg of food every year with fruit and vegetables being among the foods that most often end up in the bin! To counteract this, food waste expert Sophie Trueman, from the food-saving app, Too Good To Go shows the smart ways we can transform our leftovers into beauty and spa treatments at home.
Create a skin mask from banana peels
Banana peels work well in many recipes but they can also provide a nourishing boost for your skin. Next time you finish your banana, rub the interior of the banana peel on your skin (or blend the peel up with water to create a thick mask). The high potassium levels present in the peels hydrate and moisturise skin, while the vitamin A makes your complexion appear brighter.
- Cut banana peel into very small pieces and add into a bowl
- Add little bit of water and blend to make a paste
- Apply the paste on your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes
Make an eye compress from teabags
Before you add milk to your next round of tea, remove the tea bags and place them in the fridge for a couple of hours. Once they’re cool, lie down, close your eyes, and place a tea bag beneath each eye for five minutes to reduce puffiness.
Exfoliate with coffee grounds
High antioxidant levels make coffee grounds great for fighting free radicals. Plus, the caffeine stimulates blood flow, which revitalises and brightens the skin. Mix up a nourishing and exfoliating scrub by blending the grounds with shea butter and your choice of essential oil.
Use potato water as a hair rinse
Who would have thought that water left over from boiled spuds would be great for your hair? Run the water through damp hair for a post-wash rinse. The vitamin B, zinc, niacin and iron in the water will help to promote hair growth, while the vitamin C is great for hydrating the skin at the root of the hair. Potato water can also be used on the face – apply it with a reusable cotton pad for a hydrating effect.
- Boil the potato in cold water for 10 minutes
- Let the leftover water cool down
- Run the leftover water through damp hair for post-wash rinse
- Make sure the potato isn’t wasted and use it for your dinner!
Repurpose rice water as facial toner
Rice water is another underrated skin saviour. It’s great for soothing dry, irritated skin: simply use it to soak a reusable cotton pad, then sweep the pad over your face for a soothing effect. Alternatively, add it to your bath water before you hop in.
Use cucumber ends to de-puff eyes
For many of us, the end of the cucumber is quick to get tossed. But the cucumber-over-the-eyes look is a spa classic for a reason (it works really well) and the end of the vegetable has the exact same powers as a regular slice. Put simply, the cooling properties of cucumbers work to reduce swelling and puffiness under the eyes, while vitamin C and folic acid stimulate new cell growth to leave your under eyes feeling firmer and fuller.
