Beauty Starts in the Kitchen
By Nikki Patel
Manchester students spend an average of £700 a year on beauty products meaning that despite looking great we are also riddled with debt. However, there’s no need to panic, as by simply heading to the kitchen instead of the beauty counter you can look fabulous without that all too familiar bout of beauty-buyers shame.
Egg and Olive Oil Hair Mask
If your hair is damaged and frazzled from years of straightening and brushing, extortionate Kerastase treatments aren’t necessarily the only option. Simply whisk two egg whites with four tablespoons of olive oil and apply to dry hair, leaving to soak in a shower cap. After 30 minutes, rinse out with warm water. Use this treatment a few times a month to restore damaged hair to its original glossy state, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated.
Berry-Yoghurt Sun Repair Mask
For those of you lucky enough to have had a summer of sun, sea and sangria, chances are your skin is feeling a little sun-stricken. Instead of investing in expensive and unreliable sun rescue treatments, just mash 10 blueberries and mix with a tablespoon of natural yoghurt before applying to your face for 15 minutes. The vitamin-rich berries help to fight fine lines and dryness caused by sun exposure and the lactic acid of the yoghurt exfoliates the upper layers of the skin, repairing UV damage.
DIY Salt Spray
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your mermaid-esque locks. Bring a bit of the beach to Manchester by mixing two cups of warm water, two tbsp of sea salt, two tbsp of vodka and a blob of hair gel and pouring into an empty spray bottle. Next spray onto damp hair, scrunch and let it dry naturally for perfectly textured tresses this semester.
Green Tea and Grapefruit Toner
This toner, which works wonders for oily/combination skin helps to tighten pores, stunt sebum production and calm enflamed acne. All you need is two green tea bags steeped in water, the juice of half a grapefruit and a ¼ cup of witch hazel. Bottle up and refrigerate for daily use.
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