Our recipe rolodex is filling up fast thanks to all the homemade beauty treatments we've been testing out. Now that we've stocked our kitchen cupboards and refrigerator bins with fresh finds from the farmer's market, we'd like to get as much use out of our favorite fruits and vegetables. (And we can finally make use of that pricey cold press juicer we paid for.)
We've got 11 homemade recipes for all your fall beauty problems, from dry skin to clammy feet, with recipes, courtesy of holistic nutritionist and culinary consultant Peggy Kotsopoulos and esthetician and Orgo Beauty creator Rianna Loving.
Dandruff
What you'll need: 4 tablespoons of almond oil, 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons of mashed bananas.
Recipe: Wisk ingredients in bowl and massage onto scalp for a minimum five minutes. (You can allow it to stay in hair for up to 15 minutes). And then wash out.
"The almond oil is rich in fats and vitamin E for deep conditioning, helping to moisturize and hydrate," says Kotsopoulos. "Plus, B vitamins help to nourish scalp, while the Greek yogurt contains lactic acids that cleanse and remove dirt, build-up and dead skin cells."
Lackluster hair
What you'll need: Lemon juice, white wine vinegar and olive oil.
Recipe: After shampooing, rinse hair with a combination of warm water and three tablespoons of lemon juice and vinegar. Follow with a conditioner.
Loving explains, "Lemon juice is a brightening citrus that gives life and shine to lackluster hair, while vinegar has healing properties that aid dead stands."
While hair is still damp, rub in a tiny bit of olive oil. "Olive oil is best when raw. It locks in moisture, especially during winter and on humid days," she adds. "It is full of calcium and vitamin E and K -- vitamins that you normally find in dark green vegetables."
Static hair
What you'll need: Coconut oil
Recipe: Rub a small amount of coconut oil between the palm of your hand and lightly pat down the top of your head. "Just the tiny bit of moisture will tame flyaways and hydrate tresses without leaving hair greasy looking," says Kotsopoulos.
Rough elbows and heels
What you'll need: Fresh figs, hardened coconut oil and sugar (optional if you choose to make a more aggressive scrub).
Recipe: Take ripe figs and mash or blend then in a bowl. Add coconut oil. This mixture will gently exfoliate, as the fig seeds will lightly clean and remove dead skin, according to Loving. "Coconut oil is highly nutritious and moisturizing. Make sure the coconut oil is not melted. Place in fridge if you have to solidify, because if you are like me and prefer more exfoliation, add some sugar to this and create a dry scrub. Once this touches your skin, the coconut oil and sugar will melt." Apply while you're in the bath tub or shower and be careful as it may cause a slippery surface.
Dry, scaly skin
What you'll need: A half cup of pumpkin purée, 1 banana, one quarter cup of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seed butter.
Recipe: Blend all ingredients well and gently rub on face in a circular motion. Let sit for 20 minutes, then wash off. The pumpkin purée contains vitamin A, which protects against UV damage; vitamin C, which increases collagen production, preventing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles; and zinc, which adds brightness to face, soothes, and moisturizes. And the pumpkin seed butter is high in fats for moisture and in zinc to combat acne and to pump up the glow factor.
Rosacea/redness
What you'll need: One quarter cup of aloe (scooped from inside of plant) and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Optional: Add 1 teaspoon of sea buckthorn seed oil.
Recipe: Mix ingredients together and apply directly to affected area of skin. The sea buckthorn seed oil helps with a number of skin issues such as acne and rosacea.
Kotsopoulos explains, "Aloe is highly regarded for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It’s especially beneficial in the treatment of skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rosacea. Lemon contains malic acids, which reduce symptoms of rosacea."
Clammy feet
What you'll need: Baking soda and white wine vinegar.
Recipe: "Baking soda is a well-known deodorizer, which also absorbs moisture so you can sprinkle some into sneakers or powder onto feet," says Loving. "Also cleanse feet daily as much as possible, don’t forget to dry between toes."
Three to four times a week, soak feet in water with white wine vinegar. White wine vinegar helps cleanse and balance oils within the skin.
Dry under-eye patches
What you'll need: Cold cucumbers and jojoba oil.
Recipe: Apply thinly sliced cold but not frozen cucumbers to eyes and leave on for 15 minutes. Cucumber is a natural inflammatory and hydrator with a variety of B vitamins that help your blood flow, according to Loving. Afterwards apply jojoba oil under the eyes and leave on over night. "Jojoba oils play the role of healing the skin. Oils are best used at night when you can leave them on without worrying about looking oily during the day, but also because that's when your body absorbs, formulates, and restores its natural balance," says Loving.
Flaky skin around eyebrows and nose
What you'll need: Apples, lemons and apricot oil.
Recipe: Juice an apple with the skin on. Add a tiny bit of freshly squeezed lemon and use a cotton pad to apply in an upward and outward direction. "Apples and lemon act as an exfoliant. Apples also help to tone and boost collagen production," says Kotsopoulos. Follow with apricot oil to help moisturize.
Dry lips
What you'll need: Jojoba oil or shea butter.
Recipe: Apply jojoba oil onto lips before bed. Jojoba oil moisturizes skin with its high nutritional vitamin E and zinc properties. It is also rich with copper and iodine. Or you can use shea butter. Shea butter comes from the nut of a shea tree grown in West Africa. Its natural moisturizing components are considered to be one of the best remedies for dry, cracked skin.
Cracked cuticles
What you'll need: Raw honey, aloe vera juice and olive oil.
Recipe: Mix raw honey, aloe vera juice and olive oil in bowl. Massage onto cuticles for five minutes. Be sure to repeat this treatment two to three times a week. Loving recommends aloe vera because it aids cracked skin, infections, scrapes and cuts.
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