Did you know that you can pamper and treat your skin using some home-made recipes? These DIY beauty recipes are cost effective, easy (and fun!) to make and the natural ingredients really do good things for the skin and hair.

There are a huge number of natural products that you can use to treat your skin, but two of the best are yoghurt and honey.

Yogurt contains high amounts of Lactic Acid, an AHA proven to be successful in refining pores, exfoliating the skin and stimulating collagen production. It’s not a harsh acid and is so gentle even sensitive skins can use it.

Honey is an all natural humectant, this means it retains water to help keep the skin soft and moisturized. It also functions as an antimicrobial agent so it is good for acne prone skin.

Both of these products make great binders for other things you may want to add to the mask.

Moisturizing Mask (dry skin)

2 tablespoons plain yogurt (choose a full fat organic yoghurt)
1 tablespoon honey
1-2 tablespoons cooked & cooled oatmeal
Mix everything together until it forms a smooth paste. Spread over the face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with a warm washcloth.

Aspirin Mask (acne)

This one is great for acne or breakout prone skin as the aspirin contains salicylic acid which is a beta hydroxy acid or BHA that penetrates deeply into the skin to unclog pores and exfoliate. Proceed with caution if your skin is sensitive.

5 uncoated aspirins
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 dollop honey

In a bowl, mix the honey into the yogurt. In a separate dish, dissolve the aspirins in a few drops of water/aloe juice to help the tablets dissolve faster. Combine the aspirin with the yoghurt, mix into a paste, and leave on the face for 10-20 minutes. You can gently rub it off and use it as an exfoliant.
NOTE: do not use if you have an aspirin allergy.

Strawberry Teeth Whitener

Strawberries contain a whole lot of malic acid, a tooth-whitening agent, although they also contain natural sugar, so make sure you brush and floss afterwards.

How to whiten your teeth with strawberries:
Mix: 1 strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Crush the strawberry, then mix in the baking soda until blended. Use a toothbrush to gently apply the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for five minutes, then brush thoroughly with your usual toothpaste to remove the berry–baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) This can be used once a week to brighten the teeth.

Avocado Banana Facial Mask

This is a fabulously moisturising mask for dry and ageing skin – and a great way to use up old bananas and avocados! Bananas are a powerhouse of B vitamins as well as containing magnesium and potassium. Avocado is packed with good fats which are very nourishing for the skin.

1/2 overripe banana, mashed
1/2 overripe avocado, mashed
2 tbsp plain yogurt (not nonfat)
1 tsp olive oil
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Apply the mixture to clean face and neck. Leave on for 20 to 30 min. Rinse off with plenty of warm water.

Exfoliating Tomato Facial Mask

Tomatoes have an astringent effect on the skin so they are great for oily and acne prone skin. They also contain loads of vitamin C and A, so they give the skin a brightening boost. Oats are soothing and anti-inflammatory and great for sensitive or itchy, inflamed or irritated skin.

1 overripe tomato
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. instant oatmeal

Puree all ingredients in a blender.
Apply to your face and let it soak in for about 20 minutes.
Rinse with plenty of warm water.

Egg & Honey Mask

Honey stimulates and smoothes, egg and almond oil penetrate and moisturise, and yogurt refines and tightens pores.

1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon almond oil
1 tablespoon yogurt

Mix together all the ingredients and apply to the face. Wash off with warm water after 15 minutes.

Pineapple Exfoliating & Moisturizing Mask

Pineapple contains a powerful enzyme called bromelain. Bromelain has been shown to be anti-inflammatory as well as a powerful cleanser. The enzymes and fruit acids in pineapple brighten the skin beautifully by exfoliating the skin, but be sure to use sunscreen afterwards.

4 large pineapple chunks
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tsp raw honey

Pop all ingredients into a blender, then apply to the skin. Leave for 20 minutes then wash off with warm water and a soft wash cloth.

Deep Cleansing Oil

Known on the internet as ‘The Oil Cleansing Method’ or OCM for short, this is world famous for deep cleansing the skin, drawing out impurities and gently treating acne while nourishing the skin and leaving it soft and smooth. Oil dissolves oil, which is why this cleanser leaves the skin soft but actually helps to cleanse oily skin.

The basic ingredients are Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Castor Oil. Castor oil draws out dirt and bacteria and the olive oil moisturises the skin and contains beneficial antioxidants. Extra Virgin Olive Oil must be used as it is less heavy than other oils. In some cases, even Extra Virgin Olive Oil can break out the skin in which case you can substitute the olive oil part of the cleanser with grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil and evening primrose oil as they have low pore-clogging probabilities.

The ratio depends on the person and the skin being treated.
A basic blend is 50/50 of each oil.
For oily or acne prone skin, you may like to try less olive oil and do a 75% castor oil to 25% olive oil. For dry skin try 75% olive oil to 25% castor oil.

To cleanse the skin, massage the oil into the face (don’t be frightened, go with it!) then after you have given your skin a delicious massage run a face cloth under hot running water, wring it out then place over the face. This steams dirt out of the pores. Allow the face cloth to cool, then further massage the skin and repeat the process. Three steams is a good amount to really clean the skin. For the final step, wring the facecloth out until it is clean again then wipe the skin gently.

Sugar Body Scrub

Sugar is a natural form of glycolic acid which is used to exfoliate the surface of the skin and stimulate new cell growth. With this recipe you can adjust the sugar according to the 'scrub' you require. So for a soft body scrub choose a soft brown sugar and choose a coarser grain for gardener's hands or calloused feet.

1 Cup of brown sugar
Olive oil – mix in enough to dampen the mixture.
Rub onto wet skin during bath or shower for soft and glowing smoothness!

Hair Treatment Masks

The Deep Conditioning Mask is perfect for dry, coloured and damaged hair and it only has 2 ingredients: avocado and mayonnaise.

Avocado Conditioning Mask Recipe:

Mix half a small jar of real mayonnaise with half an avocado in a medium sized bowl. Squish the mixture with your hands until it is blended together completely. Apply the mask onto your hair, covering from scalp to tip. Pile your hair on top of your head and cover with a shower cap or food wrap and leave on for 30 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair

Removes Hair product build-up and leaves the hair soft and shiny. NB: If your hair is chemically treated consult your hairdresser before attempting any DIY treatments using apple cider vinegar.

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water

After conditioning the hair use this mix as a final rinse.

To treat dandruff
Make a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar to water and apply to your scalp. It will unclog your pores and reduce your dandruff.

Coconut Oil Hair Nourisher

Coconut oil has been used in Asia and the South Pacific for years as a hair and skin care product. All you need to do is rub the coconut oil into your hair – from the scalp to the ends, pop on a shower cap and sleep with it overnight. Wash it out thoroughly in the morning to remove the oil – the hair will feel nourished and soft.