I think we can all agree that staying motivated and feeling good are both pretty difficult when you feel like you haven’t got anything to look forward to. However, I am a big believer that if you look good, you will feel good, be more motivated, and it will lift your spirits. Taking care of ourselves doesn’t need to be lengthy or expensive, so here are some DIY tips you can use at home to help yourself to glow from the inside, out.
Exfoliation: Number one tip to having great skin, exfoliate. Using an abrasive product will help to buff away dead skin cells, revealing the healthy, glowing skin underneath. If you haven’t got a body exfoliator at home then make yourself a simple sugar/salt scrub. You can do this with a cup of salt and a natural oil (coconut oil is a nice lightweight oil). This is very basic but an easy, inexpensive alternative to buying one off the shelf. Salt will give a more abrasive scrub so if you have sensitive skin then sugar is a better alternative!
Moisturise: After exfoliating, it’s advisable to use a moisturiser to nourish the skin. Again, coconut oil is a lovely lightweight oil for the body, leaving it super smooth. Try to avoid using coconut oil on the face as it can be the cause of block pores (comedogenic). Instead try something with a lower comedogenic rating such as sunflower or almond oil if you have them in your kitchen cupboard.
DIY face masks: If you’re stuck at home and fancy a night of pampering then why not have some fun making your own face masks? A simple and easy one for all skin types is oatmeal and honey. Oatmeal is a great ingredient for helping sensitive, eczema prone skin, and honey is a natural humectant (meaning it attracts moisture towards itself), making it super hydrating and soothing. If you are making products with fresh ingredients then use them straight away as they won’t keep and aren’t safe to use later on!
Hair colouring: So you have your hair highlighted or coloured and it’s going to be a while before you can get to the hairdresser… Why not try a root cover up product? These are temporary cover ups to use on the roots of the hair to give the illusion of it having just been coloured. Quite a few haircare brands now sell these online and they’re a safer alternative to trying to colour your hair yourself and getting it wrong! Alternatively watch some youtube videos on different braids and ways to put your hair up, to help hide the roots.
Nails: A good way to maintain the health of your nails when you can’t get to your salon is to keep up with the basics. Gently shape the nails with a nail file, push back the cuticles after you’ve had a bath and they’ve softened, and use an oil on them before bed to prevent dry hang nails appearing! If you wash your hands a lot then they will need some TLC. For an extra nourishing treat, slather the hands with a rich hand cream or body butter and wrap them in cling film, sit and let them soak it all in for 10-15 minutes before removing. Give yourself a little massage as you rub in the excess, the heat built up underneath the cling film will help the product to soak in!
These are just a few tips you can do at home with some of the products in your cupboard – it doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated! If you’re using DIY ingredients then always remember to take any allergies you might have into consideration and only make enough for a single use so as not to waste any. Finally remember to treat yourself kindly, there’s only one you, so look after yourself!
‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ – Ephesians 2:10.
