spruced by marlene

I’ve stopped counting how many „beauty products from the kitchen cupboard“ tips I’ve collected. And then not used. Or, rather: never correctly. Starting with an avocado and egg white face mask that dried so quickly that I almost had to remove it with a hammer and chisel. Or olive oil as a deep conditioner. Fabulous idea – until I rested my oiled up hair on the couch and fell asleep. One day, I’ll have to let somebody explain to me the correct dosage of cornstarch as a dry shampoo. Somebody who it doesn’t make look like they’re getting ready for Halloween. And before I remember to save used teabags for later use against swollen eyes, I’ve gone through ten tubes of eyecream.

Coconut oil is the exception. Firstly because it needs no other ingredients. Secondly because using it is so foolproof that even I can do it. And thirdly because it smells like summer. Which is pretty great when it’s summer. In winter, it’s like medicine. There are roughly 187 uses for coconut oil (and everyone has one. Gwyneth! Gisele! Everybody!). These are my four – which I’m actually using.

| As a lip balm. I have a serious addiction to lip balm. What helps against it is putting a few drops of oil on the lips in the morning and at night, which makes them veeery soft. If you don’t lick it off immediately.

| As a make-up remover. It’s gentler than a lot of make-up removers, especially for the delicate eye area. I take a little oil and gently massage it around the eye, then take the mascara off with two cotton pads. Supposedly the oil can even make your lashes grow longer. It definitely works as a rich, overnight eyecream against dryness.

| As an anti-frizz potion. A couple of drops for smoothing down strands, good-bye radiator hair.

| As a lotion/moisturizer. I only use it pure in the evenings, because it makes my face look a little too shiny. After a bath there’s nothing better than mixing the oil with some unscented body lotion and applying generously.

And now I’d like to know what DIY beauty tricks you’ve got.