This post is all about the best DIY beauty hacks that you’ll actually use and love. We don’t do those boring old face masks around here that waste your honey, eggs and avocado at the very best. At the very worst, they definitely aren’t helpful and can even break you out since applying food topically isn’t good for our skin.
These DIY beauty hacks are simple and fool proof but provide real results. I’m someone that’s kind of lazy but am obsessed with efficiency. I don’t like wasting my time, but with all the bullshit on the internet, I’ve had my fair share of doing so. I’ve tried and tested so many DIY beauty hacks, trends and products that I feel like I really have a pulse on what works or is worth trying. Although I’m constantly fine tuning and experimenting with my routine, this is my up-to-date list of practices and tips I swear by.
Like most women that are beauty practitioners, I love fun little DIY beauty hacks because it makes me feel in control. I can schedule my own beauty appointments since I’m the one performing them. I can light some candles on a Friday night, put on some spa music and unwind from the week knowing I’m doing something to take good care of myself! Like, what’s better than some peace and quiet in your bathroom when the work week is over to give yourself some TLC? But, besides being able to do things my way, I also love that I’m saving money.
Don’t get me wrong, I think a spa trip once in a while is like soul food and I love the experience. But because I’m practical and consistent with my routine, it just makes more sense to be an autodidact, put on my practitioner hat and do the damn thing at home. Just like cooking your own meals from scratch at home will always be healthier than getting take out, having full control of the products used, how much of them are being used and the techniques to use them is always going to serve you better.
If you’ve read my post on 5 Tips For Investing In A Timeless Wardrobe That Will Elevate Your Style, you know I’m all about making educated decisions so you can take control of your own life. Being able to take your self care from the spa to the bathroom won’t just help you financially, but it allows you to be the student. What works for you, what doesn’t work for you and what practices you swear by are all things every beauty practitioner knows about herself. So sit back, relax with a glass of wine or cup of tea, and let me tell you mine that I know you’re going to love.
DIY beauty hack #1: Brow tint
Ah, brows. The feature we’ve all plucked to hell in the early to mid 2000s and now we’re over here trying to grow and thicken. Let’s be easy on ourselves and remember that we can always use a little help to fake a thicker brow look. How did that James Charles quote go? “The eyebrows are sisters, not twins”. We’re trying to create symmetry, not perfection here. We should also keep in mind that brows are super personal. But what I do know is we all love some brow maintenance to feel our best. I absolutely love a tint to my brows, and as you know, love me some efficiency. That’s why I’m obsessed with the results that eyebrow tinting gives me, and specifically eyebrow henna.
I use this eyebrow henna kit from amazon to tint my brows. It’s like $13, lasts me months and actually works. The great thing about henna is that it’s semi-permanent, stays up to six weeks (depending on how much you’re cleansing and scrubbing your brows, obviously), and is free of heavy metals. There’s a ton of different kits on amazon, so you do you and find the one that best resonates. I love that this specific kit offers 12 different shades from ash blonde to black so you can find your closest match.
The instructions are pretty clear that come with the kit, but I have some word of advice based off my own experience. Don’t use the entire packet of powder to mix your solution because a little goes a long way! Start slow and you can always add more powder if you need to and then additional water to create a paste.
The whole process takes me less than 20 minutes and lasts me several weeks. I do wash my face twice a day, so it doesn’t last the six weeks, but let me tell you- It’s so much better than tediously applying brow makeup every morning! Besides, this way, you can feel a bit more put together even on your no makeup days. Kind of like lash extensions, a good brow tint can really pull your whole look together. It’s a relief to look and feel your best around the clock and can make your entire morning process so much easier.
DIY beauty hack #2: Glowing Skin
My DIY beauty hack for the skin is pretty short & sweet: an at-home peel. I want to be very clear that not everyone should be doing an acid peel, especially those with any sort of active inflammation like cystic acne or rosacea! I use an extremely gentle peel that’s great for beginners or anyone who wants to treat themselves occasionally.
Always apply your peel to clean, dry skin for only the amount of time allotted on the instructions. If you want to be extra cautious, cut the time in half for the first time you try it and always do a patch test to make sure you’re not going to have any bad reactions.
I love this baby steps peel because it’s super gentle yet effective. It stings slightly, but not nearly as much as some stronger peels I’ve done, which makes me feel safer doing it at home myself.
Acid peels can make a huge difference to skin texture and evenness when used consistently over time. If you want to treat scarring, you can use it every other week for four to six rounds and then once every month thereafter. It helps even skin tone with post acne scarring, sun damage and enlarged pores. Be conservative and cautious and reap the results of less is more mentality!
DIY beauty hack #3: Nail Repair
I rarely get my nails done at salons nowadays, mostly because I enjoy doing them myself and have invested time into learning how to make my manicures look professional. It’s an expensive habit to go into a salon every three to four weeks and spend $50 minimum, and I’m also skeptical on how sanitary it is. So I do my own manicures normally, but whether I go into a salon or do them myself, I often use gel polish.
If you use gel, acrylic, dip powder or hard gel polish, you’ve probably experienced the damage these manicures can leave after taking it off. They normally leave nails brittle with a sandpaper texture and no matter how careful you are at taking gel or dip powder off, your nails are usually damaged to some extent.
I hate the feeling of weak, brittle nails and hate how they look even more. So I’ve developed a post-manicure routine that nurses my nails right back to health. The results are actually pretty impressive and if you do put a lot of stress on your nails, you HAVE to try this.
After I take the polish off, I groom my cuticles and file my nails as normal. I then use one of those nail files shaped like a rectangular cuboid to buff and polish my nail beds. The final part is my secret weapon for healthy nails: the Julep Take a Breather Oxygen Nail Treatment. This stuff actually works and by the time I take it off a few days later, my nails are strong, smooth and healthy again. For best results, make sure to apply just this product to the nail without a base or top coat. It does have a steep price tag…I was able to find my bottle at Nordstrom Rack for like $9. But, I will absolutely buy it at its full price once my bottle runs out because it just works. If you’re obsessive about your nails like me, you know keeping them healthy is so essential.
DIY beauty hack #4: Post Shaving Routine
I shave a lot. Like I’m shaving something in the shower almost every day. Legs, pits, bikini and arms…it’s all being shaved. And yes, one day I plan on doing laser hair removal at least for my legs and bikini area because it will save me time and effort. But for now, if you shave often and have sensitive skin like me or get itchy and burning sensations after shaving, I got you. My formula gives the softest, most comfortable, smoothest skin.
First of all, I always shave with a mens razor and shaving cream (the brand doesn’t matter). I know some people use soap or conditioner to shave, but shaving cream works for me and mens’ razors give a super precise result. After I get out of the shower and do my skin care, I’m using Bikini Zone Medicated After Shave Gel anywhere I shaved.
It stings just slightly at first, but after a couple seconds, it completely soothes any irritation I have from shaving and prevents bumps, rashes and razor burn so well. It gets the job done, you know? It’s cheap and effective which we love. I do this before moisturizing because my skin is so sensitive that even fragrance-free moisturizer can further irritate my freshly shaven skin if I don’t apply this first. It does exactly like it claims: seals the pores and instantly stops irritation and itchiness.
After I apply the bikini zone gel, I then use this spray bottle to gently mist the skin with water before applying a lotion to lock in that moisture. These spray bottles are the best. I never moisturize dry skin because you’re just locking in dryness if you do. I was using those Evian thermal water sprays but found it to be wasteful as I was literally buying water, so these reusable spray bottles from amazon are the best. They spray a light mist, just like a thermal sprayer would. It doesn’t shoot you in the eye with high water pressure, you know? Anyways, the spray bottle really streamlines my post-shaving routine because it allows me to use the after shave gel on dry skin directly after shaving while still moisturizing damp skin. This isn’t the most glamorous routine with the prettiest products, but you have to have something that works against razor burn that isn’t over the top or irritating. Just try it and experience the magic.
DIY beauty hack #5: The hair
My last beauty tip for this post is for the hair. I went through hell with my hair a while back after I died my naturally blonde hair black. I’ll spare you from boredom with the details but now, I don’t take my hair for granted since dealing with the damage of bleaching my hair back to blonde after box dyeing it black!! After all that damage grew out, I started taking extra good care of my natural hair and just enjoying getting back to my roots 😉
I feel as though my current hair routine is pretty simple but there’s a few extra steps I take on wash days to get the best results. If you do all these steps, your hair is going to look like you got a gloss treatment at the salon. Before washing my hair, I always take a Wet brush to detangle and smooth my locks before hopping in the shower. Sometimes I use this oil to brush through my hair to prevent breakage and if I’m feeling extra motivated, I leave it in as a quick little treatment for 30 minutes before washing.
I then wet my hair in the shower and apply conditioner from roots to ends and have that sit as I shave or wash up. Then, I’ll wash that out and shampoo my roots. I use this clarifying shampoo when I feel like my scalp needs some extra cleansing. I don’t have a specific schedule for this, but I use it sparingly and only on my scalp and roots. After shampooing, I condition only my ends. Then I rinse with lukewarm water and use a microfiber towel wrap post shower.
After the shower, I sometimes apply a small amount of Moroccan oil to my ends. Every once in a while, I’ll use the Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 as a treatment and it’s amazing. I do find that I lose a lot of hair in the shower when washing this out though. It makes my hair look amazing, but I find it to be heavy and experience extra hair loss in the shower. Let me know in the comments if you’ve also had this experience with Olaplex!
When I’m committed to this routine my hair is so healthy and voluminous. I feel like it really strengthens my hair to prevent breakage, takes care of the scalp, moisturizes and protects. It covers just about everything you’d want in a hair routine while being simple enough to maintain.
DIY Beauty Hacks Are Always Evolving
Like I’ve mentioned, my DIY beauty hacks are always changing, improving and evolving. I’d love to hear what your favorite at home tips and tricks are as I’m always looking for new and better ways to take my beauty regime to the next level. I have so much fun being my own beauty guru and I hope you’ve found this post helpful and hopefully try out one of my favorite DIY beauty hacks!
All for now gorgeous,
– Kristin
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