9 Do-It-Yourself Beauty Treatments

Day spas typically charge up to $100 for some of these treatments, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice treating yourself. Give these DIY beauty recipes a chance.

by Jennifer Colonia

Summer is soon approaching and with it the need to slough away dull, wintry skin with a trip to the spa. But those with strained wallets may find it challenging to dive into bank accounts for $80+ skincare sessions.

If you’re frugally-minded and like to be the master of your own beauty regimen, there are a wealth of homemade beauty treatments to play with in time for beach season. Luxurious hair and skin don’t require a high-maintenance routine. In fact, many seemingly low-key items in your kitchen can replicate pricey spa treatments with only a few dollars.

Not only do you get to save money on the beauty treatments you love, you’re also creating all-natural concoctions that are healthy for your body.

Your home’s kitchen is a gold mine of nutrient-rich antioxidants, moisturizers, and antiseptics that provide your skin the nourishment it needs within a budget. Putting these DIY beauty treatments into a regular routine can put hundreds of dollars back into your pocket and achieve the results you’re looking for.

1. Oil-Absorbing Face Masque

In addition to cleansing your face and applying toner, skin needs an extra vitamin-infused boost every now and then. Those with oily skin can benefit from mixing one ripe banana, one tablespoon of honey, and a few drops of lemon juice together.

Bananas are a great acne treatment and have inherent anti-inflammatory agents, while honey provides a moisturizing balance. The small amount of lemon juice offers an antibacterial effect to zap blemishes before they start.

Spread this masque with a clean makeup brush or with fingertips. Keep the masque on for 15 minutes and wipe off with a warm damp cloth. If you have dry skin, replace the banana with half an avocado for an infusion of natural oil.

2. Facial Steam

Every good facial includes a steam session. Even if you don’t have a professional esthetician steam wand, you can achieve the same results at home. Fill a large pot with water and add six drops of an essential oil of your choice (like eucalyptus, lavender or chamomile). Bring water to a boil.

Take the pot off the heat and carefully transfer water into a clean, stopped sink. Grab a chair, and with a towel draped over your head and shoulders, hover your head over the sink. Breathe in deeply for added relaxation. Stay in this position allowing your pores to absorb the steam for 10-15 minutes, then pat skin dry.

Sign Up for Savings

Subscribe to get money-saving content by email that can help you stretch your dollars further.

Twice each week, you'll receive articles and tips that can help you free up and keep more of your hard-earned money, even on the tightest of budgets.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

3. Spiced Spot Treatment

Acne spot treatments can easily cost $10 or more for a small 0.25 fl. oz. drugstore tube. For a do-it-yourself blemish formula, mix enough honey, cinnamon and nutmeg to create a thick paste. Cinnamon and nutmeg have antiseptic properties that kill off bacterial infections like pimples. Dab the affected area with the paste and leave on skin overnight; for sensitive skin, keep on skin for 20 minutes, then rinse clean.

4. Mid-Week Eye Depuffer

Stress and fatigue are especially evident in the delicate eye area, causing puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. Instead of letting your morning tea bag go to waste, make it do double-duty by refrigerating freshly steeped bags. Once cool, place the bags over closed eyes and hold there for 10 minutes. Tea contains tannins, which reduce swelling. In minutes, you’ve helped your savings effort and look rejuvenated for a new day.

5. Cure Chapped Lips

If you’re like me, misplacing your lip balm is a common occurrence, but a DIY beauty lip balm can save your pout and some cash. This easy do-it-yourself lip balm involves petroleum jelly and turbinado sugar (i.e. raw sugar). Mix the two together to rid lips of their unsightly dryness. The sugar is a gentle exfoliator and the petroleum locks in the moisture for added softness.

6. Intense Body Scrub

Full body scrubs are among the leading expenses at day spas, after facials. Body treatments cost an average $85-$100 for a single visit, but crafting your own scrub can cut costs considerably. Mix 1/2 cup used coffee grinds, 1 cup turbinado sugar, and 1/4 cup pure olive oil into a clean, sealed jar. Whenever needed, gently work your way up from feet to shoulders using the scrub.

If you’re concerned about plumbing, you can place a large towel on the floor and exfoliate outside the shower. Simply take a warm damp cloth to remove the scrub. The body scrub can be stored for up to three weeks if refrigerated.

Related: DIY Salt Scrubs for Silky Skin

7. Quick Skin Repairer

The most problematic skin areas for most spa-goers are the elbows, knees, heels and ankles. The acids in citrus fruit like lemons and oranges soften and lighten trouble spots in no time. Cut a lemon or orange in half and rub the exposed fruit on rough skin. This inexpensive skin solution will provide results and rewards in the form of money saved.

8. Hair Repair

The damage done by flat irons, blow dryers and chemical treatments can be detrimental to your tresses. Unfortunately, many hair-reviving products come at an equally detrimental consequence for those on a strict budget. A homemade beauty treatment requires ingredients that are likely in your kitchen already.

Mix one bottle of dark stout beer, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and one egg white into a bowl. Comb the mixture into hair, focusing on the ends. The proteins in the beer coat damaged cuticles and ridges along the hair shaft and oils in the mayonnaise seal in moisture. Keep this leave-in treatment in hair for 15-20 minutes and then rinse clean. This is a great monthly practice to uphold instead of paying your hairstylist an extra $40 for a similar treatment.

9. Weekly Hair Rinse

As a final DIY beauty tip, combining 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup water creates a cost-conscious weekly hair rise for just a few cents. The apple cider vinegar breaks down product buildup from shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. This gentle formula is safe to use every week and can bring shine and softness to treated hair.

These are just a few examples of the DIY beauty treatments your home has to offer. Day spas typically charge up to $100 for some of the treatments listed above, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice these feel-good beauty treatments. By giving DIY beauty recipes a chance, you’re in turn giving your finances a fighting chance to succeed at bigger savings goals.

Reviewed April 2024