Unconventional Beauty Tricks That Really Work post image

Unconventional Beauty Tricks That Really Work


Even though I could literally open a store with the amount of makeup and beauty products in my possession, my latest obsession has been finding beauty solutions in unlikely places…like the kitchen and medicine cabinet.

It started a few weeks ago when someone told me that Pepto-Bismol works wonders when it comes to clearing up breakouts. I thought it sounded ridiculous, but I was curious enough to give to a try and was astounded by the results (more on that later). This little experiment got me wondering what other unconventional beauty tricks I could try.

I make a concerted effort to live a healthy and natural life. I try to avoid eating anything that comes out of a bag or box, am mindful about the ingredients in products I use (I also have to be because my skin is super sensitive), so was really drawn to the idea of using natural ingredients to solve my beauty issues.

Through my research, I discovered that the best beauty products aren’t always found in the beauty aisle and I was amazed by how dramatically these little tricks of the trade worked. Since I started experimenting with natural beauty concoctions, I can’t go anywhere without someone asking me my skincare secrets (and it’s been pretty funny seeing their reaction when I tell them!).

And here they are:

Pepto-Bismol as a Face Mask– Let’s start with the one that started it all, the Pepto-Bismol face mask. Who knew that his universal tummy-cure also contains bismuth subsalicylate, a common ingredient in face products. Just spread about two tablespoons of the pink stuff all over your face and let it dry for about 15-20 minutes. I will warn you, it does get a little runny and drippy but it will start to dry in a few minutes. Taking it off was a bit of a pain but the effort was well worth it. My face was smooth and glowing, my pores were significantly smaller, and some breakouts along my chin had almost completely dried out.

Coconut Oil as a Night Cream – The benefits of coconut oil span far and wide (increased supports healthy thyroid function, decreased appetite, increased energy, to name a mere few) but my favorite use for this multifunctional item is night cream. Just apply a bit all over your face after cleansing and you’ll wake up with skin that is super soft and intensely hydrated (you can also use it as an eye cream!). I was a little wary of this at first because I, like many, have an oily T-zone, but it turns out coconut oil can actually clean your pores of dirt and oil, reduce sebum production, and it deeply hydrates and cleanses the skin without drying it out. In fact, I noticed a decrease in blemishes within the first week of using this.

Coconut oil also makes a great moisturizer. Use it all over or just on dry patches (I use it daily on my knees and elbows. If your skin is extra dry, warm it up first and then apply).

MORE: Beautiful Skin from the Inside Out and Outside In

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda as a Face Mask – These two ingredients are basically cure-alls so it’s no surprise that when you combine them together, magic happens. Just mix one tablespoon of Hydrogen Peroxide with one tablespoon of baking soda to form a past and apply it all over your face. It’s going to tingle a bit at first but it’s not too uncomfortable. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes then wash it off with warm water and prepare to be amazed by how radiant your skin looks. My skin literally looked like silk after using this treatment and was so bright and smooth I didn’t even want (or need) to put any makeup on.

Conditioner as a Shaving Cream – After shaving my legs with conditioner I don’t think I’ll ever go back to using shaving cream. Conditioner hydrates and sinks deep within the skin, preventing nicks and razor burn and leaving your legs insanely smooth. I also found that it doesn’t clog up my razor like some shaving creams can, a nice added bonus.

Vaseline as Eye Cream – Even though I have about seven different eye creams to choose from, I keep reaching for the vaseline. Since I started using it as an eye cream every night, I’ve noticed a significant decrease in the lines around my eyes. Vaseline is another one of those items that I kind of use for everything. Two of other favorite ways to use is as an eye makeup remover and a highlighter (just dab some along your cheek bones for a beautiful, dewy look).

MORE: Best Eye Creams

Strawberries to Whiten Teeth– This yummy fruit contains malice acid, which acts as an astringent to remove discoloration. Combine it with baking soda for a quick, easy, and cheap way to whiten and brighten your smile. Just mash up one strawberry to a pulp and mix it with 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda. Spread it onto your teeth using a toothbrush, leave it on for up to five minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.

Raw Potato to Reduce Dark Under-Eye Circles – It doesn’t matter how much sleep I get, I am one of those people who will always have dark under-eye circles. Aside from concealer, nothing seemed to vanish those pesky half moons…until I discovered this little secret. Potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals and have a cooling and brightening effect when applied to your skin. Refrigerate the potato and once it’s nice and cold, apply two thin slices over your eyes and leave them on for about 15 minutes.

Aspirin as a Spot Treatment– Got a big zit that needs to be zapped fast? Toothpaste isn’t the only unconventional way to dry it out (and actually, that trick rarely works for me). Instead, try your trusted headache cure. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory and can be used on pimple to reduce redness and swelling.  Just take an uncoated aspirin, add a little bit of water so it begins to dissolve, mash it up using a spoon to form a paste, and then apply to any breakouts using a clean q-tip. Leave it on for as long as you like (it will probably start to get flakey after about an hour).

Apple Cider Vinegar as a Toner– Apple Cider Vinegar is another one of those handy items with tons of good-for-you uses. I try to consume at least a tablespoon of ACV daily (it helps increase your metabolism, reduce appetite, and get rid of bloating) and now I also apply it to my skin daily as a toner. ACV has antibacterial properties which can help control breakouts as well as malic and lactic acids that soften, soothe, and exfoliate the skin. Just combine one part ACV with two parts water and dab it onto clean skin with cotton.

Visene to Make Your Eyeliner Last– For whatever reason, my eyeliner never seems to stay put no matter what I do so this trick is my new favorite. The viscous quality of Visene makes your liner go on easier and more smoothly, adding some moisture which really helps it last. I just add a few drops of visene to my slanted liner brush, dip it in my gel or powder liner, and then apply for liner that seriously lasts for 12 hours. Want another quirky use for Visene? Apply it to a pimple to take the redness out!

Sugar as an Exfoliator— Who knew that sugar is actually one of nature’s sweetest exfoliators? Just combine it with a little olive oil and use it as a lip and face scrub. My skin was radiant and glowing after giving this a try and my perpetually chapped lips stayed soft and hydrated for the entire day.

Neosporin for Pimples – I always used to use Neosporin to help heal freshly popped pimples asap (we all know we shouldn’t pop, but most of us do it anyway, so if you absolutely must pop just make sure your hands are clean and you soak the area with warm water first). What I didn’t know is that if you use Neosporin on an actual blemish, it makes it clear up much faster. The active ingredients in Neosporin are bacitracin, neomycin and polymixin-B, as well as zinc, which are antibiotics and designed to kill bacteria on the skin. I had a hideous pimple above my lip (the absolute worst spot since it’s impossible to cover up). Despite my efforts, nothing was getting rid of it and it just kept growing. Then one day I decided to keep applying Neosporin to it and by the end of the day, it had significantly gone down in size, and by the next day it was gone.

Honey to Reduce Redness– I have very mild Rosacea and am prone to occasional redness and blotchiness. If you’re in the same boat, apply a couple tablespoons of honey to your face and leave it on for about ten minutes. Honey can reduce inflammation and will moisturize and soothe the skin. It can also help kill blemish-causing bacteria.

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Got any quirky beauty tricks of your own? Share them in comments!

 

SABRINA ALEXIS

 

Written by Sabrina Alexis

I’m Sabrina Alexis, the co-founder, and co-editor of A New Mode. I love writing relatable, insightful articles that help people understand relationship dynamics and how to get the love they want. I have a degree in psychology and have spent the last 10 years interviewing countless men and reading and studying as much as I can to better understand human psychology and how men operate. If you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Facebook or Instagram.

4 comments… add one

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Allie

Wow the list has quite a few dangerous ingredients to use on your face. Like sugar; it is way too harsh for your face and can damage your skin if you scrub it. And then my god, baking soda & hydrogen peroxide? Are you kidding me? People use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to clean toilets and hard grease! Don’t try anything except for the few like honey, raw potato slices, etc.

Sabrina, please do your research before you put up dangerous “unconventional” recipes up here.

Reply November 14, 2016, 9:17 am

HH

As someone who is allergic to aspirin, I naturally wouldn’t use it on a pimple. What most people don’t realize is that aspirin (salacylic acid) is an ingredient in many beauty products, especially creams and lotions to “reduce signs of aging” and “reduce fine lines and wrinkles” etc.
I had to learn the hard way by reading the ingredient labels on everything, from high end products in Sephora and department stores to cheap drug and grocery store brands. It caused blotchiness and more redness than I already had. It also caused breakouts (weird, right? I put something that gives me hives on my face and it went crazy). I thought I was going through an adolescence that was worse than the one experienced decades earlier!
Salacylic acid is also an ingredient in Pepto Bismal so beware. It can increase gastrointestinal distress rather than soothe it. Now that I read through labels completely, I’ve found a ridiculous number of beauty products containing it.
Consumer (in more than one sense of the word) beware!

Reply March 2, 2015, 7:25 am

KK

Moisturizer works as a makeup remover. You can put a little bit on a q-tip and your eyeshadow/liner magically comes off. It’s been a lifesaver more times than I can count.

Reply April 1, 2014, 5:24 pm

Anonymous

Strawberry to whiten teeth works short term but
Beware that long term use of it to whiten teeth can be
Bad because it is acidic

Reply April 1, 2014, 3:02 pm

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