Okay, I admit it.  I have dry skin.  Buying oils and lotion seem like such a waste of money and yet I know it's a necessary evil.  But, today was a happy day because I decided to run an experiment and make my own after-shower body oil. Huzzah!

Meet the ingredients.

3 T Olive Oil
1 tsp Pure Aloe Vera Gel (optional)
2 pellets of busted up old bronzing powder
5 drops essential oil: grapefruit & spearmint

It's so easy. Combine everything in a small pump bottle and you're done!  I'm so excited to share this frugal creation with you — it works like a charm.  

I like the addition of the bronzing powder because it gives my skin an extra glow after the shower.  I used a chopstick to break up the powder in my pump bottle.  Then I shook the whole thing like a madwoman and this is the end result.

There you have it. A quick way to make your own body oil using stuff you probably already have in your bathroom/kitchen.  By the way, you can use any combination of essential oils, or leave them out for a more natural aroma.

**

Make your own baby wipes.  Use good quality paper towel and some simple ingredients.  If you prefer an even simpler method, mix up the cleaning liquid and pour it into a spray bottle instead of saturating the paper towel.  These are especially great for road trips, and also to remove makeup.

Ingredients:
2 T baby shampoo
2 T olive oil 
2 drops tea tree oil OR 1 T white vinegar
4 drops essential oil of your choice
2 Cups Water

Method:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Cut roll of paper towel in half with sharp knife. Pour ¼ of the liquid in the container then put the cut side of the paper towel roll into the container. Pour the remaining solution over top of the paper towel roll. Let stand for ten minutes and then remove the cardboard centre from the roll of wipes. Pull wipes from the centre to start using.

Stop buying store-bought nose pore strips. You can make your own natural version at home for a fraction of the cost.  When done properly, homemade strips can remove a significant amount of gunk from the surface of your skin without the ouch!  It's pretty cool.  I love how my face feels afterwards.

Ingredients:
1 egg1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Paper towel cut into strips

Method:
Separate egg white into a mixing bowl.  Whisk until frothy.  Add fresh pepper and mix well.

Apply a thin layer of egg white across your nose. Be sure to apply this layer everywhere you want the paper towel to stick. Place the paper towel strips across your nose.  Saturate the paper towel strip with more egg white mixture. Don't be shy! It's kind of like putting a mini-cast on your nose! I like to use my fingers to apply the egg white.  Go watch your favourite TV show for 30 minutes to an hour.

The protein and glucose of the egg white acts as a natural glue when it dries. It will tighten your skin (temporarily). The black pepper acts as an antioxidant and also stimulates blood flow. This will help bring gunk to the surface of your nose. Peel off your strip after it dries completely and reveal a fresh new nose! You can also use this method as a full-face mask using different sizes of paper towel strips on all areas of your face that you want to target.

This is a super activity for teens and a great introduction to the art of frugality! 

You'll need...
Bottle used nail polish in clear or light colour
Eyeshadow (old colours you never wear)
Sheet of paper
Toothpick

Method:
Tear a letter-size sheet of paper in half. Fold it in half again to create a light crease in the middle of the sheet. 

Use the toothpick to scrape eyeshadow out of the palette and onto small sheet near the crease. Use the tip of the toothpick to break apart the eyeshadow - you want it to be a nice, loose powder consistency. When ready, pick up the paper and shake your shadow into the crease area. Then use the toothpick to push the eyeshadow powder into your bottle of nailpolish. Shake and paint!

The great thing about this is you can change the colour of your nail polish at your whimsy!

Some of the best shades require a few different doses of colour shadow.  If your polish starts to thicken up, just add a touch of nail polish remover to the bottle and shake.  This should get it back to a thinner consistency.