When it comes to the best beauty products from your kitchen, you simply cannot ignore olive oil.
Being a powerful emollient, it adds body, shine, softness and resilience to your hair. It easily penetrates all the way down to the hair shafts to help retain moisture.
Apart from being one of the best oils for hair, it is also good for your skin and nails. The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil help protect the skin against photo aging from prolonged sun or other ultraviolet (UV) exposure, according to a 2012 study published in PLOS ONE.
Olive oil is also good for weak and brittle nails. The moisturizing property of this oil helps repair damage and softens nails and cuticles.
To enhance your overall health, include 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in your regular daily diet. Also, you can use it in your beauty regimen specifically for your hair, skin and nails.
Hair: Massage your scalp with warm olive oil for a few minutes. Cover your hair with a shower cap and allow the oil to soak in for 30 to 45 minutes. Finally, shampoo your hair as usual. Use this hair care treatment twice a week to enjoy healthy and beautiful hair.
Skin: Massage your body with some warm olive oil. Wait 30 minutes, then take a shower. Gently pat dry your skin and apply a light moisturizer. Use this remedy daily to enjoy flawless skin.
Nails: Massage your nails thoroughly with some warm olive oil. Wait 15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. Do this 2 or 3 times daily.
Avocado
avocado
Whether it is the fruit, seed or its oil, avocado should be a part of your beauty care regimen. From dry skin to scars and hangnails to damaged hair, avocado has many beauty uses.
Here are some ways to use avocado to enhance the beauty of your hair, skin and nails.
Hair: Make a hair mask with 1 mashed ripe avocado and 1 tablespoon each of jojoba oil/olive oil and yogurt. Apply the mask on your damp hair. Put a shower cap on for 1 hour, then rinse the mask out with lukewarm water. Use this hair mask once a week. You can also massage avocado oil into your scalp once or twice a week.
Skin: To promote healthy and soft skin, rub the pulp of ripe avocado against your skin 30 minutes before taking a shower. Repeat this treatment 2 or 3 times a week.
Nails: Prepare a paste with 1 tablespoon of avocado pulp and a little coconut oil. Apply it on your nails for a couple of hours. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat dry. Do this once in a while to keep your nails healthy and prevent hangnails.
Eating half an avocado daily helps protect your skin. A 2012 study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal reports that regular intake of avocado bolsters cells’ power centers against harmful free radicals.
It is also one of Mother Nature’s best moisturizers. Being a humectant, it keeps both skin and hair well moisturized. The high amount of healthy fat, vitamin E and protein in avocado helps protect the skin from damage, keep your hair healthy and prevent hangnails.
Green Tea
green tea
Green tea has many beauty benefits. The high-quality antioxidants in this tea prevent harmful free-radical damage that contributes to skin aging. It protects the skin against UV damage and reduces signs of premature aging like wrinkles, age spots and saggy skin.
A 2003 study by the Medical College of Georgia notes that green tea aids skin rejuvenation. It can be used to treat skin diseases and wounds.
When it comes to hair, the catechins in green tea contain 5-alpha-reductase inhibiting properties that help block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), one of the key causes of hair loss. A 2005 study published in the Journal of the National Medical Association reports that the polyphenols in green tea prevented hair loss in rodents.
Green tea is even good for strong and healthy nails. It also prevents yellowing of nails.
Simply drinking green tea 2 or 3 times a day will help to enjoy beautiful hair, skin and nails. Also, use the following beauty remedies.
Hair: Brew 3 to 4 cups of green tea, depending upon the length of your hair. Allow the tea to cool. Pour the tea on your damp hair and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use this remedy 2 or 3 times a week to nourish your hair and boost hair growth.
Skin: Empty the contents of 1 or 2 used green tea bags into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and a little lemon juice to it and mix thoroughly. Apply it on your clean face and neck, leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse it off. Do this once or twice a week.
Nails: Brew a cup of green tea, add a few drops of wheat germ oil and allow it to cool. Soak your nails in it for 10 to 15 minutes, twice a week.
Lemons
lemon
Lemons are a nutritional powerhouse that are excellent for your hair, skin and nails. The fruit’s juice as well as its oil and peel can be used for beauty purposes.
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that combats free-radical damage that can lead to aging. It even boosts collagen production, which restores skin elasticity to help maintain a smooth and youthful appearance.
A 2013 study published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal reports that vitamin C is helpful in treating photo aging, hyperpigmentation, tissue inflammation and promotion of tissue healing.
When it comes to hair, lemon is effective at treating dandruff and scalp itchiness. It helps balance the pH level of your scalp to prevent scalp infection and support hair growth.
Lemon also supports nail growth and prevents yellowing of nails.
Starting your day with a glass of lemon water can help your skin and hair look beautiful from within. These natural beauty remedies will ensure that you feel gorgeous on every front.
Hair: Add the juice of 2 lemons to 1 cup of water. After shampooing, rinse your hair with this solution. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse your hair with plain water. Use this remedy once or twice a week.
Skin: Put some honey on a piece of lemon and use it to gently rub your face, neck, hands and legs. Allow the juice to remain on your skin for 5 to 10 minutes, then take a shower. Do this once or twice a week.
Nails: Prepare a nail soak with equal amounts of lemon juice and castor oil or argan oil. Soak your nails in it for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this remedy a few times a week.