DIY Products; recipe and review

 

Just in case you’re new here, I like to make stuff. So anything that comes with the potential to DIY… I’m on it!!!! I go into making something myself with the thought of being more natural or more cost effective but the bottom line is I just enjoy doing it myself.

So, here are a few DIY products I use with the recipe and my take on how they work or why I use them.

I might be slightly addicted to lip stick/gloss.  If for no other reason than to stop myself from licking my lips or biting them until they are fully chapped. In the winter it seems to be even more of a battle with dry lips. I really like to use a lip scrub before I put on Chap Stick or gloss. It helps get any dry loose skin off before you moisturize.

Several cosmetic lines sell lip scrubs for a pretty penny so I almost never spend the money for them. I found a great recipe to make them at home.

 

Lip Scrub

Equal parts; Sugar, Honey and Olive Oil

I make a small amount and keep it in a tiny medicine cup next to the sink. Use your finger to rub it over your lips and remove any loose skin. I then take a warm moist paper towel and gently dust off any remaining sugar. When I’m done I put on my favorite lip balm and my lips are soft and refreshed.

Review: A+

It works great! Do it only occasionally, 1 to 2 times a week or less. Very cost effective. Takes no extra time.

I have purchased a few lip plumping glosses and I kind of like the results so I thought I would look for a recipe. Found one.

 

Lip Plumper

Add a few drops (3 to 5) of cinnamon oil to a clear lip gloss from the dollar store.

Review: C+

It worked ok but not as well as store bought. The results didn’t last as long and it needed reapplied more often. Ouch! That cinnamon stings!!! Store bought version has a nice tingle…NOT a sting! Cost much less but not worth the time & effort.

I saw a cute recipe on Pinterest for making a lip balm from Kool-Aid and petroleum jelly. I thought it would be a fun thing to do with the kids and a cute little gift to make for friends.

Lip Balm

Mix desired amount of drink mix into a spoonful of Vaseline (petroleum jelly).

You need a small travel jar or something to put your finished product into. I used disposable bowls and Popsicle sticks to mix the ingredients. Then you can have fun with flavors and colors.

 Review: B-

The kids thought it was great to be mixing and they had control over what the flavor was going to be. The color didn’t change much and they all looked sort of greyish but the jars we used were colorful and that it made it pretty.

I was surprised when I tried it out that there is a fair amount of salt in Kool-Aid. Because of the level of salt, I feel it is drawing the moisture out of my lip more than protecting them. I also want to lick my lips more because of the drink flavor. Also, the drink mix does not fully dissolve in the petroleum jelly so it is a little gritty. Fun to make, cute idea but I don’t recommend it for regular use.

 

 

When I can, I try to streamline my daily routines. I don’t wear a lot of make-up and most days I have it down to; cream blush, foundation, mascara and a lip color. By the end of the day I have myself convinced that most of it has worn off and I rarely wash my face before bed. “I’m too tired” “Just tonight, I’ll get back to cleaning make-up off tomorrow” “Urg, it’s late, my shower is just hours away anyway”. Then I wake up looking like a scary Mommy raccoon.

In an effort to simplify the bedtime routine, I found a few recipes for eye makeup remover.

Tried them both and now I’m playing around with a variation of the two combined.

 

Eye Make-up Remover

     #1.

1 cup water
1 ½ T baby shampoo
1/8 teaspoon baby oil

#2.

1 cup water
2 ½ T olive oil
2 T witch hazel
2 T baby wash

Here’s mine…

½ cup water
1 T baby shampoo
1 T Olive Oil
1 teaspoon witch hazel

You will need a small travel bottle to keep your remover in and you’ll need to purchase a package of small cotton rounds. Make sure you shake the remover very well before each use. You only need a few drops on one cotton round per use.

Review: A+

Works great on; eye liner, eye shadow, mascara (didn’t try it with waterproof). Easy to make. Most ingredients should be in your home already. Very cost effective. Added bonus; you can put a few drops on several rounds and place them in a zip baggie to travel.

Now that we’ve made a mess with all our concocting, let’s clean up. I have been using a homemade cleaner since I had my first kid. It’s not for deep, disinfecting cleaning but awesome for all the routine clean ups. I didn’t want to spray harsh cleaners around my kids so I found one with safe ingredients. It works on counters, getting the sticky spot off the kitchen floor, glass doors, windows covered in little fingerprints and I have glass top tables that are constantly bombarded with crumbs, paints, play-doh and other “fun” things.

 

I found this at www.frugaltimes.com/cleaners.html

1/2 tsp. liquid soap
3 T white vinegar
2 cups water

Put it in any spray bottle and keep it handy. I have one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom.

Review A+

I use mine daily. Works great. (I don’t recommend using it on wood surfaces) The ingredients are in your home already and it is very cost effective and much safer than always spraying harsh chemicals.

 

Do you have any good DIY Products you like to use?