Hiya Gorgeous!

Today I’m super excited to announce our new beauty editor… Danielle Shine!

Danielle is a Natural Foods Chef and Health Coach who specializes in making DIY beauty recipes. She’ll be sharing her talent with us here at KrisCarr.com—and I’m so excited to have her on board!

This week, Danielle will be showing us how to use common kitchen ingredients to make our own beauty products and skincare at home.

How cool is that? While you’re whipping up that morning smoothie or healthy dinner, why not add some skin and haircare recipes to the menu too.

Without further ado, here’s the amazing and wonderful beauty advice from Danielle…

Kitchen Cupboard Skincare Essentials

by Beauty Editor Danielle Shine

Having just spent a small fortune on the latest n’ greatest brand-name skin care products promising to make my skin look clearer, glossier, brighter, healthier, *insert-more-desirable-words-here* I did NOT want to hear this news, but boy am I glad I did!

I’d just scored the job of all jobs: I was a fashion PR girl in London, destined to live a life FILLED with glamour, style and sophistication! Only… I wasn’t feeling so fabulous because my skin was constantly dry, dull and flaky—prone to breakouts any day of the week, usually right before important meetings, first dates and anything remotely exciting requiring me to look and feel my absolute best.

I was tired, broke and desperate.

I’d begun asking anyone with normal-looking skin to PLEASE HELP ME, buying anything and everything recommended in a bid to bring back healthy skin that would make me feel confident. And then finally someone told me:

“Beauty products are highly overrated and filled with all kinds of nasty chemicals that confuse your body. You have all you need at home in your kitchen cupboards, start there…”

The day I received this advice had been a long one. I was tired and desperate to go home and scrape off the thick-as-cement foundation I’d applied that morning to hide all the multitude of issues I was dealing with underneath. I had one more meeting then I was done…That was THE meeting that changed the skincare game for me!

Long story short, I met an A-list celeb client who was visiting the office for a fitting.

She took one look at my makeup-drowned-face, promptly telling me I had to:

1. Clean up my diet (light bulb number one)
2. Go back to skincare basics by ditching expensive products in favor of more natural, gentler and more effective solutions often found in my kitchen cupboards!

Because I’m not one to keep anything health-supportive to myself, here are some of the BEST kitchen cupboard items I’ve found to be incredibly effective when it comes to skincare…

Food-Based Beauty Recipes

Cacao Butter

If you’re a chocoholic like me, you’ll already know this healthy fat-filled plant butter is the main element you need to create a healthier version of your favorite chocolate bar, but did you know cacao butter is also used in MANY beauty products like body lotions, lipsticks and face creams?

Cacao butter is included in mainstream beauty products because it soothes sensitive skin and helps reduce inflammation. Rich in vitamin E (far more than shea butter, another common ingredient used in commercial moisturisers and stretch mark creams), cacao butter also contains Vitamin K and health-supportive fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, arachidic and palmitic which lubricate the skin, forming a protective healing layer to lock in moisture and promote healing.

How to use at home:
Warm a little in your hands and massage it into arms, legs, elbows – anywhere you need extra moisture!

Break off a 1-inch piece and drop it into your next bath. The hot water will melt its buttery goodness which can then be absorbed into the skin, leaving it silky smooth minus any synthetic chemicals!

Coconut Oil

Most commonly known as the sweet-smelling, deliciously-decadent oil that complements MANY real-food-recipes, coconut oil is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks to its potent antioxidants, antibacterial properties and moisturizing fatty acids that possess potent disinfectant and antimicrobial properties, coconut oil possesses the power to moisturize, safeguard and help skin heal FAST!

A little goes a LONG way, but have fun experimenting its effectiveness via the suggestions below.

How to use at home:
Massage 1 teaspoon worth onto skin before shaving. Using coconut oil in place of overpriced chemical-laden shaving creams is a much safer, more simple and sterile way to nix unwanted hairs on your body while moisturising those areas too.

Massage 1-2 teaspoon/s over makeup, following with a warmed facial cloth to easily, effectively remove every last bit of the day—including all the microscopic grime, bad bacteria and dirt build up that naturally accumulates on your skin.

Sweet Almond Oil

A great health-supportive oil to move from your kitchen to the bathroom to take advantage of its many healing benefits. Sweet almond oil is packed with vitamins E and A, monosaturated fatty acids, protein, potassium and zinc that support, strengthen and soothe skin FAST.

When applied topically, the Vitamin E in sweet almond oil helps promote softer, smoother looking skin. It also aids in protecting the skin by actively reducing free radical damage that contributes to premature aging.

Vitamin A is often celebrated for its effective wound healing abilities. Aside from its powerful ability to reduce acne, it also supports production of collagen responsible for keeping skin supple and wrinkle-free.

How to use at home:
Dark under eye circles BE GONE! Gentle massage 2 drops onto the skin around your eyes, using very light touch, two to three times throughout the day and watch the darkness turn to light.

Want longer, more luscious lashes? Combine 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil with 1 teaspoon castor oil, find a spare mascara wand and paint on this magical mixture before bedtime.

Vanilla Extract

Got organic vanilla extract? Don’t just use it in baking! Vanilla extract has long been used to reduce skin infections and support wound healing. It houses potent anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin and provide protection from free radical damage. It also contains essential B vitamins including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid which (internally and externally) help maintain healthy-looking skin.

How to use at home:
Ditch synthetic, chemical-laden perfumes and create your own instead! Combine 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract with 2-3 tablespoons of sweet almond oil (depending on your preference of scent) in a darkened spray bottle which will keep it fresher for longer—up to 6 months. Shake well before each use and spray on pulse points for best results.

Create a delicious-smelling, antioxidant-rich bath by blending 1 tablespoon vanilla extract + 1 cup oatmeal + 1 cup water + ½ cup baking soda. Pour this sweet-smelling paste under running water to infuse into your bath. The oats will soothe dry, itchy skin while the baking soda will help to remove bacteria and any odours from the day.

A few more fun foodie ingredients to consider playing with…

Organic cornstarch

Most commonly used as a thickening agent in liquid-based foods like soups, sauces, gravies, custards and yogurts, cornstarch can also perform a variety of helpful beauty roles too. Given its main role is to absorb moisture, it’s best used in place of things like talc powder and dry shampoo (when paired with a little baking soda). A little sprinkled directly onto an unruly knot will help to lubricate the fibers of your hair, making it MUCH easier to manage!

Beer

Weird but true, this yeast-y beverage makes the BEST rinse and setting lotion for your luscious locks (your hair!). Best used when flat not fresh, the sugar and protein in beer work to thicken your hair, so the next time someone offers you a ‘cold one’, say yes, open it up and leave it for a couple hours, then *BOOM* hello amazing hair treatment! Oh, and ladies, do NOT worry about any weird beer smells, the odor disappears as soon as your hair dries, I’ve tried and tested it.

Liquid Chlorophyll

Was it just me who jumped on the bandwagon of adding liquid chlorophyll to water a few years ago or did you do this too? Back then it was quite pricey, though nowadays it’s much cheaper and easier to find. Essentially, chlorophyll is to plants what haemoglobin is to blood: an extremely VITAL part of healthy (plant) life. Aside from it being a great addition to your diet, it makes for a wonderful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory toner for your skin also! Apply a little on a cotton bud and pat onto any areas that may need a little extra love and attention – chlorophyll is an excellent wound healer.

Your turn: Did this article inspire you to try this at home? Let us know! And if you’re already tinkering with making your own beauty products, tell us about it in the comments below. We’d love to try them out!

Peace & beauty,