Springtime beauty D.I.Ys

Photo+by+Jessica+Wilson

Photo by Jessica Wilson

Spring has arrived. But let’s face it, our bodies have not exactly recovered from winter yet. We still have chapped lips, dry skin, and the sun has not yet kissed our very pale faces. However, thanks to the rise of the social media site Pinterest and the current Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y) craze, there are plenty of easy recipes you can research to shake off that winter feel and have some fun doing it (and saving some money in the process). Here are a few examples of springtime beauty D.I.Ys.

Body/Lip Scrub:

Use this to revitalize chapped lips. It also works as a moisturizing body scrub when used in the shower! It is hands-down my favorite D.I.Y, and the easiest to make involving just two ingredients:

– 1 cup granulated sugar

– 1/3 cup of coconut oil

Simply mix these two ingredients together, adding more coconut oil, and sugar until you get a consistency you’re happy with, and store it in a sealable container. It’s that simple!

Sea-Salt Hairspray:

Anyone who has ever gone to the beach knows that nothing will give you a better hair day than the salty water and ocean air, and since most of us are currently trapped in Western Massachusetts, those things can be hard to come by. That’s why this recipe comes in handy to get those faux beachy hair waves! You’ll need:

– 1 empty spray bottle (easily purchased at your local dollar store)

– 1 cup warm water

– 1 teaspoon sea salt (regular table salt works fine if you’re in a pinch)

– ½ teaspoon coconut oil

– 1 dime-sized drop of hair gel (Aloe Vera gel can be substituted if you’d rather go the all-natural route)

Add all these ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well until you see the ingredients dissolve. To use, simply spray into hair and scrunch up the ends, giving you that California surfer girl look we all secretly strive for. Find the original recipe here.

* Because the warm water is what keeps the spray mixed together, it may separate after a few days. When this happens, simply pop the bottle into the microwave for 5- 10 seconds and shake again.

Eye shadow/Bronzer:

This D.I.Y includes ingredients that are not usually found in a college dorm room, but if you take the time to raid the spice cabinet at home, you can make do. This recipe is technically for eye shadow, but with some adjustments to the color it can double as a great bronzer.

– ½ teaspoon natural shea butter (This works the best for moisturizing and creating a slightly stickier powder that will actually stay on, however if you already have coconut oil lying around from the other two recipes you can use that as a decent substitute.)

– ¾ teaspoon cacao powder

– ¼- ¾ teaspoon turmeric  (the more turmeric the more golden the finished product, so be sure to adjust based on preference)

– ½ teaspoon arrowroot powder

Soften the shea butter or coconut oil in the microwave; you just want to soften it not melt it, so heat it up in 5-second increments. Then, simply smash all the ingredients together in a bowl with the back of a utensil until everything is blended. Place the mixture into a sealable container and voila! Now you can save a little money on your next trip to Sephora. Find the original recipe here.

These recipes are just the tip of the beauty D.I.Y iceberg. To find more, you can go anywhere from Google to Pinterest, or any online fashion site. Free People’s Building 25 blog is my personal favorite. So take some time out of studying and create something fun and useful. Cause let’s face it, this winter took its toll on everybody and we deserve a break to finally enjoy spring and look beautiful!

Wendy Brown can be reached via email at [email protected]

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