Don't throw away these good-for-skin kitchen leftovers

Tips and Tricks

Apr 22

It’s one thing to know how to cook and bake, but the beauty junkie takes it to a whole new level by knowing her way around the kitchen scraps. That’s right, we're challenging you to get nifty with what some might consider as refuse! Aside from repurposing your coffee grounds, there are more food leftovers that can double as beauty treatments. Get thrifty with your routine, and save a few pesos with these DIY hacks! (Hint: Use the extra funds for cheap thrills or set them aside to splurge on a big-ticket item!)

Pineapple Scrub

In the culinary world, pineapple is a known natural tenderizer for meat because of its high enzyme content. Now it’s time to take this tropical fruit into the bath to tenderize… your skin!

When peeling the pineapple, allow a small part of the flesh to get sliced off together with the skin. Cut the peel into rectangles that you can easily handle. You can add sugar to the inside of the peel for an added level of manual exfoliation, then gently rub it across rough areas like ankles or elbows while you’re in the shower. Don’t rub too hard or too long though, as it can cause irritation if you overdo it.

Papaya Whitener

Papaya whitening products are everywhere, so it’s obvious that it is a superstar ingredient for getting those stubborn, uneven-toned areas to naturally lighten. As with the pineapple, it’s the enzymes in the fruit that works wonders on the complexion.

After cutting the flesh of the papaya away, take the peel and rub it over those problem areas. Wait a few minutes before rinsing it off, then proceed with the rest of your bath routine as usual.

Eggshell Skin Soother

Crushing those eggshells has never been this much fun! For this recipe, you are required to wash and dry eggshells, then crack them into smaller pieces. Mix these up with some apple cider vinegar and let them steep for at least a few hours. Then they are ready to be applied to itchy or inflamed skin for some TLC.

It sounds crazy but it works! Eggshells are rich in a kind of calcium that takes on astringent properties when mixed with the cider vinegar. The resulting mixture calms the skin and gives it an extra layer of protection against triggers that cause skin sensitivity, like insect bites and rashes.

Lemon Peel Manicure Booster

Aside from getting your fingers to smell great, leftover lemon peel can breathe life into tired-looking nails. During your at-home mani-pedi sesh, rub the lemon peel over freshly cleaned nails. It will bring back some sheen to those nail beds. Guess this is what inspired Burt's Bees to create a Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream!

Banana Peel Overall Brightener

Banana peels may remind us of funny gags, but they’re good for more than just causing your favorite cartoon characters to slip and fall. The mineral-rich, whitish portion inside the peel that protects the flesh of the banana can be used to brighten both the skin and the teeth. Just rub the inside portion of the peel on the area you want to whiten. A few regular rubs every now and then should do the trick.

Teabag De-bagger

This is the type of trick that grandmothers pass on to their granddaughters: Wring out the excess liquid on used tea bags and press them against your eyelids and under eye area to bring down puffiness and dark circles. You can also pop the bags in the fridge beforehand for an added cooling effect. The caffeine and other remaining nutrients that didn’t make it to your cup will perk up your skin!

One woman’s trash is another woman’s spa day. These are wise words to live by, so don’t absent-mindedly dump these leftovers next time you’re playing domestic goddess. And if you’ve got your own crafty beauty recipe from <s>scratch</s> scraps, we’d love to see them. Show and tell in the comments below!

Sources: Snapguide, Foodtrients, Michelle Phan, Beauty Glimpse, Thank Your Body, Style Craze, HealthnBodyTips.

DIYbeauty hack