Tip of the Day: Saving Money Using Substitutions

This post is the first in a series of at least three, (depending on how much info I find to share,) about substitutions for various things around the house.  Today, I will focus on skin care and beauty products.  Some of these homemade remedies I've tried and others, I'm just holding onto, waiting for the day I need to use them.  If you try them out, report back and let us know how they work.  Here goes...

Instead of expensive shaving cream for your legs, I use cheap hair conditioner.  It works great!  I never get razor burn and my legs feel soft and smooth when I'm done.

To get rid of dark under-eye circles, (which probably pertains to most of us late-night bloggers,) run one potato through your food processor and stuff the raw mashed potato into a piece of cheesecloth.  Apply to the area directly beneath your eye.  Be careful not to let the potato juice come in contact with the eye itself.  Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes.  This works because potatoes contain an enzume called catecholase which is used in cosmetics as a human skin lightener.

If you suffer from puffy eyes, soak a cotton ball in cold milk.  Place the cotton balls on your closed eyes and relax for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you want to get rid of age spots, rub a small slice of lemon on them daily.  You will notice them lighten within a month.  This works because the acidity from the lemon is a natural skin lightener.

Not only do you get a ton of benefits from eating bananas, but they are also great as an anti-wrinkle treatment because they contain a natural antioxidant.  Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy.  Spread all over face and leave for 15 to 20 minutes.  Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash of cold.  Gently pat dry.

For skin blemishes, (I assume we're talking acne here,) cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a bandaid over it.  Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing.  This claims to work overnight!  (Just in time for that big date!)

To get your lips free from dry skin, apply the following lip exfoliation treatment before applying lipstick or gloss.  Mix 1/2 cup sugar (natural exfoliant) and 2 Tbsp. yogurt (hydrating milk protein) together.  Rub in small circles all over lips.  You can lick it off or rinse it off.  (This homemade remedy doesn't specify what type of yogurt, but I wonder if you use banana, maybe it will keep your lips from wrinkling, as well!)

To get incredibly soft feet, mix 1/2 cup sugar with 2 Tbsp. lotion.  Massage this scrub mixture into your feet to exfoliate.  Rinse with clear water and pat dry.  Apply some additional lotion to your soft feet.

Join me next week for my tips on medical home remedies.  Some of these are incredible and cost pennies, instead of dollars.

If you have any tried-and-true, (or not,) home remedies that will help save us money while at the same time make us look and feel good, let us know by emailing me or commenting below.