SAVE MONEY + LOOK GREAT // 5 AU-NATUREL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

The $300 billion dollar beauty industry has tricked us into thinking that to have good quality beauty products, you're going to have to spend a lot of dough.

The average women between the age of 16 and 65 shops for cosmetics five times per year. And on average those women spend $15,000 on cosmetics in their lifetime (and yes, sometimes more).

But what if simple, whole, and inexpensive ingredients (that you probably already have in your pantry) could work just as well as the well branded, cutely packaged products you buy at the fancy beauty stores.

Going natural with beauty products may seem a little “pie in the sky” or a regime that is exclusive to those living in community with waist length dreadlocks... But our very notion of what beauty products are supposed to look like (and cost) is as a result of this multi-billion dollar empire’s marketing tactics.

But here is the simple truth: there are a ton of ways to look and feel more beautiful without spending your life savings.

Here are my five favourite au-naturel beauty products that work, and won't break the bank.

Coconut oil (obviously).

There is no way this list could be complete without this sweet, sweet oil. So of course takes the first spot. If you are unfamiliar with the wonders of this magical oil, simply type it into your search bar, this claim will be supported by millions of blogs, worldwide. Here are just a few 15 of my favourite uses for coconut oil. (note: I always use virgin, organic coconut oil)

1. Lather up with this great basic lotion. Its cooling properties make it an amazing summertime moisturizer.
2. Get cooking! Use this non-dairy butter substitute in baking, stir-frys and even on toast. It’s great for cooking because it has a high smoke point.
3. Mascara be gone! Use as your eye makeup remover
4. Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
5. For super smooth legs, use instead of shaving cream
6. Protect from harmful ways with this natural SPF 4 sunscreen
7. It’s a delicious tropical massage oil
8. Due to its high lauric acid and MCFA content, it’s a great metabolism-booster
9. If you rub a tiny dab on your hands and then your hair, it’s a great frizz-reducing hair serum
10. Pucker up and use as a natural lip balm
11. Use as an intensely moisturizing leave-in conditioner. Rub into dry hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours... wake up to silky soft hair, just rinse out! Grat for winter static.
12. Reduce the itch of mosquito bites
13. For some people, it can help to reduce acne
14. It’s great to stimulate hair growth when rubbed into the scalp, daily. It’s also a great deep conditioner — just apply it before bed, put a shower cap on and rinse out in the morning
15. Add to smoothies to give them a nutritional and flavour boost

Raw Honey

Start looking to the honey jar for more than sweetening your tea. Raw honey is extremely anti-bacterial and ultra moisturizing. 

Use raw honey, as a simple face mask. Warm it between your fingers, and then softly apply it to your entire face. Leave it on for five to ten minutes, and then rinse with warm water. Voila — sweet, soft, glowing skin. For dewy skin, repeat weekly.

Put your Bioré face strips down, and pick up raw honey for natural blackhead removal. Add a few drops onto a lemon wedge and rub it all over your face, emphasizing trouble spots. Leave the mixture on your skin for about five minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Skip your regular shampoo and instead mix ¼ cup apple cider vinegar with a cup of water to eliminate chemicals and product build-up. Follow with your usual conditioner.

Green Tea

What does it do? More like What doesn’t it do? It flushes out toxins from the skin and helps majorly to promote radiant, smooth, acne-free skin. Not only is it a natural fat burner, but it’s also a natural diuretic which helps to eliminate excess water weight and bloating.

How it does it: Green tea contains catechins — anti-bacterial agents that suppress acne-causing bacteria and help to regulate hormonal imbalances. It also possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness in blemishes and scars.

Green tea can also combat dark under eye circles with this super effective home remedy:

How to: Chill a cup of green tea in the refrigerator. Dip 2 cotton cotton pads in the cool tea and place them on your closed eyelids. Sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes. As an alternative, you can swap the cotton balls for chilled, used tea bags.

For more green tea uses (because like coconut oil, the list goes on. And on and on), click here.

I hope you enjoyed these suggestions to swap your expensive beauty products with au naturel alternatives. Be mindful that, although awesome and convenient, these all-natural beauty tips are nothing without proper self-care like sleep, physical activity, plenty of water, stress management, and a nutritious diet.

Happy cosmetic grocery shopping!

"Tannis Miller is a Creative Communications student majoring in public relations who strives to inspire health, balance, and creativity in a modern world of stress and chaos. She is a certified personal trainer and former professional fitness model who believes in self-care inside and out. Tannis is an advocate of emotional expression, stress-management and all things fashion and beauty."

Visit Tannis' blog for more inspired health & beauty.