If you’re like me, the recession has bitch-slapped you back to reality. So when a somewhat lucrative job faded away from me like Whitney Houston’s singing voice, I decided to get resourceful when it comes to my standard of living. Sure, in some cases, this means stealing toilet paper from the Starbucks bathroom, or dining on the free cheese samples at Whole Foods. But when it comes to skincare, it’s pretty easy to save a lot of cash by eschewing typical cosmetic stores in favor of your kitchen pantry.
Feel the Burn: We’re all familiar with the benefits of eating, drinking, and cleaning with lemon juice. But on your skin? The reason lemon is so ideal for cleaning is because of highly acidic quality; literally, it will burn through the germs. And while that’s great for the kitchen stove, the idea of burning through the skin on my face is a little less appealing. But I had heard it clears up visibly clogged pores, so I gave it a shot. Gently rub a halved lemon on yourself face (after cleansing and exfoliating) while lightly squeezing. The smell is divine, but for those with highly sensitive skin like me, it can be a bit itchy and irritating.
Drip It and Rip It: If I could take caffeine in IV form, I would gladly get on the needle. But until then, I use my leftover coffee grinds as the ultimate exfoliator. In the same way that caffeine stimulates the brain and lets you take on the day with an extra boost, caffeine wakes up your skin with its antioxidant abilities. This may not be the best idea if you’re averse to smelling like a latte, but I’m all for a skin stimulator that packs a punch and smells like a coffeehouse.
Aw, Honey Honey: Candy Girls seem to have it right; sugar is top of the line when it comes to making your skin glow. But if sugar is your diet’s enemy, it’s your skincare’s best friend. Combine vegetable oil, a few slices of orange, and sugar in a jar until it forms a gooey gel. It’s the perfect pre-self tanning exfoliator for your body, and it will really slough off the dead skin that accumulated during the winter. I’m even an advocate of using it on the face to really clean out clogged pores. But always remember to moisturize after heavy exfoliation- you wouldn’t plant a garden and leave it un-watered, right?
Megan Johnson is a writer in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. She chronicles her simultaneously entertaining and massively embarrassing life on her website, Down and Out in Beacon Hill.
