DIY Summer Beauty Survival

Summer, in all its blazing glory, brings with it a number of potential beauty dilemmas. Sunburns, insect bites, dry and brittle hair, along with plenty of SWEAT, of course. You can stock up on a small arsenal of beauty and health products at your local drugstore.... or, you can head to your kitchen.

In fact, my own bathroom is starting to look more and more like my pantry these days. Gone are the rows of bottles and tubes, replaced with a few simple tried and true products. As you prepare for warmer days, be sure to have these five frugal items on hand for those inevitable nuisances.

1. Baking Soda

This essential has a multitude of uses, but in the summer it is especially helpful for insect bites. Make a quick paste and apply it directly to the skin for fast relief. Or add baking soda to a bath to soften skin or soothe a burn.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Another kitchen favorite, apple cider vinegar leaves dry and brittle hair soft and shiny when used as a conditioning rinse. Keep it in the shower in a plastic bottle and rinse as usual. The vinegar smell does not linger once your hair is dry.

3. Coconut Oil

I buy this wonderful oil in bulk for skincare and cooking, of course. Extra virgin coconut oil is wonderfully soothing for sunburns and moisturizes dry or chaffed skin. It also doubles as SPF 25 sunscreen when applied liberally and often.

4. Raw Honey

Sticky and sweet, raw honey is a must for any type of skin ailment. Apply to cuts, bee stings, burns, or simply as a facial cream. Honey has natural antimicrobial properties, and prevents infections around wounds. 

5. Olive Oil

Extra sweat means oily skin and potential breakouts, even as an adult. It may sound crazy, but washing your skin with oil can actually clear up acne! Grab some extra virgin olive oil and learn more about the oil cleansing method. It also removes stubborn eye makeup with a quick dab and swipe on a cotton ball.

You likely have many of the items above in your pantry, so why not give these remedies a try? My children balk at tubes of medicine, but when mom breaks out a jar of coconut oil or honey, they are more willing to sit patiently. I have found them to be just as, if not more effective than store bought solutions, without any of the harsh chemicals.

Read more natural sunburn relief ideas here. Do you have any frugal summer beauty tips to share?