DIY Summer Treatments for Glowing Skin

To get healthy looking skin for summer doesn’t have to mean burning a hole in your pocket. You can mix up some DIY treatments using everyday staples like sea salt, lemon juice, sugar and strawberries. Here are 10 homemade treatments to rejuvenate and boost your skin giving you greater looking skin this summer.

1. Simple sea salt body scrub

How it helps: Hours at the pool, scorching temperatures and saltwater can all leave skin rough and covered in dead skin cells. Not only does a salt scrub leave your skin soft to the touch, but it also helps you achieve an even tan if you use a self-tanner.

What you need: 1 cup course sea salt; ½ cup baby oil

How to make it: Combine ingredients in a screw-top jar. Allow the mixture to sit for 24 hours. Stir the mixture and scrub any rough areas for a few minutes, and then rinse.

2. Gentle scrub for keratosis pilaris

How it helps: Often called “chicken skin,” keratosis pilaris (KP) is a harmless condition that leaves the arms and legs covered in tiny bumps. Many people find that their condition gets worse in the warm weather when skin is oilier and doesn’t exfoliate properly. Try this DIY scrub and  get a head start on treating KP this summer, without irritating the skin.

What you need: Equal parts sugar and olive oil; several drops of vitamin E oil

How to make it: For the first part of this treatment, mix the sugar and olive oil and use to scrub the skin. Then, add a few drops of vitamin E oil to a warm bath and soak for about 20 minutes. After getting out of the bath, apply your body moisturizer immediately. You can try vitamin E oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil as an alternative to regular lotion. This mixture can be stored for about a week.

3. Coffee and vanilla extra-exfoliating body scrub

How it helps: Is your regular body scrub not quite cutting it on tough spots like the elbows and knees? This sugary-sweet recipe  is perfect for rough patches of skin. Plus, it’s rich in antioxidants and smells good enough to eat. It’s especially great if you find that your elbows and knees don’t look even when using self-tanner.What you need: ¼ cup olive oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (preferably non-artificial extract); ½ cup fresh coffee grinds; 1 cup sugar

How to make it: Combine vanilla and olive oil in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the coffee and sugar. Put the two mixtures together and blend until they create a paste. Use in the shower, making sure to wash skin with gentle soap or gel to remove any residue. Don’t use this mixture on the face or sensitive spots.

4. Razor burn soother 

How it helps: Daily shaving can do a number on your skin, leaving it red and sore, or worse, causing razor burn. Try this soothing recipe to reduce signs of razor burn.

What you need: 2 strawberries; 1 teaspoon sour cream

How to make it: Combine ingredients in a small bowl and spread over irritated areas. Let sit for a few minutes and rinse with cool water. Depending on the size of the area you need to cover, you may need to adjust the recipe to make a larger quantity.

5. Pumpkin foot scrub

How it helps: To get your feet back in shape for summer, a pumpkin scrub is perfect. That’s because pumpkin is an excellent source of exfoliating enzymes. Plus, coffee stimulates circulation, and the oil softens the skin.

What you need: ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree; ¼ cup brown sugar; 1 tablespoon almond oil, olive oil or jojoba oil; 1 tablespoon ground coffee beans; lemon juice from half of a lemon

How to make it: Simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl and scrub away. Since the lemon juice acts as a natural preservative, you can store this concoction for a few days.

6. Deodorizing foot treatment

How it helps: Let’s face it: Feet don’t smell their best during the sweaty summer months. Thankfully, plenty of ordinary household ingredients work surprisingly well with removing odor and keeping feet feeling fresh.

What you need: ½ cup baking soda; ½ cup organic cornstarch; about 15 drops of organic lemon essential oil

How to make it: In a small container — use one with a lid — combine baking soda and cornstarch. Add the lemon essential oil, stir and let sit overnight so the lemon can absorb into the mixture. Sprinkle a small amount into your shoes, let sit a few hours and dump out excess powder before wearing.

Note: Don’t worry if you can’t find the organic versions of these ingredients. Just use the regular stuff.

7. Lemon elbow scrub

How it helps: In addition to rough skin, the skin on the elbows can begin to look dark and dull. This easy-to-make scrub uses lemon juice, a natural skin lightener, to help the skin look lighter and brighter.

What you need: 1 lemon, cut in half; a few teaspoons of sugar

How to make it: Squeeze out the juice from each lemon and discard — or save for another recipe! Next, fill each half with sugar, and twist onto the elbow.

8. Chlorine hair treatment

How it helps: If you’re a water goddess and spend most of your summer days swimming in the pool, you might be plagued be an unpleasant side effect: that characteristic chlorine-green hair. This at-home recipe helps neutralize the effects of chlorine on your tresses.

What you need: 2 tablespoons baking soda; ¼ cup fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon mild shampoo

How to make it: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and apply to dry hair and scalp. Use a plastic bag or shower cap to cover your hair and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then rinse and shampoo.

9. Sunburn soother 

How it helps: We try to avoid it, but sometimes, a day in the sun can result in a painful sunburn. This cooling recipe won’t work miracles, but it will help to ease discomfort while your skin heals.

What you need: 4 tea bags; 16 tablespoons of dried mint or 32 tablespoons fresh mint; 2 cups water

How to make it: Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes, and then remove from the stove and let it sit for 15 minutes. Finally, strain the leaves from the mixture and place in the fridge until cool. You can either use this liquid with a cotton ball to dab on small sunburned areas, or add the mixture to a cool bath and soak.

10. Citrus mint toner

How it helps: These refreshing, brightening ingredients combine to make a toner that’s ideal on a hot summer day. It’s great if your skin tends to get oilier and acne-prone during the summertime.

What you need: 1 cup water; ¼ cup lemon peel, finely grated; ¼ cup grapefruit peel, finely grated; 1 cup fresh mint leaves

How to make it: Boil the water first, and then add the lemon peel, grapefruit peel and mint leaves. Let the ingredients boil for a couple of minutes to soften the peels. Let the mixture cool, then strain and remove the peels and leaves. This toner will keep for up to three weeks, but make sure to keep it in the refrigerator.

Summer weather comes with its share of skincare concerns, but with some basic ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes, you won’t have to spend your hard-earned cash on pricey beauty products. Not only are these skin and hair treatments effective, but they’re also a lot of fun to make!