5 DIY Natural Beauty Remedies

I love making my own beauty products. It reminds me of the days in elementary school when my friends and I would make "potions" with household items and soak our feet in them like we were at the spa.

As it turns out, finding your own alternatives to everyday products can have healthful benefits. Natural beats store-bought chemicals any day!

Sunscreen - Skip the chemical-ridden sunscreen and go the natural route: coconut oil. Coconut oil has skin-protecting qualities and was the original ingredient in most sunscreens - before they became overrun with chemicals. Bonus: it smells really good!

Hair Mask - Put coconut oil or olive oil on the ends of your hair (only on the ends to avoid greasy-looking locks) and leave in for at least 45 minutes. You can put the oil on the stove before using and make a hot oil hair treatment, and you can also add bananas or avocados for extra moisture. Add lemon juice or honey to lighten your hair, essential oils to make your hair smell how you like... The possibilities are endless here. Rinse out all of the oil and go about your usual routine with soft, healthy-looking hair.

Acne Spot Treatment - Dab lemon juice on those offending pimples and leave it on overnight. Avoid sun exposure during this time.

Teeth Whitener - Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide + water! Brush with this mixture for whiter teeth. Just be sure not to swallow it, and don't do it every day (especially if your teeth are sensitive).

Face Scrub - Mix baking soda and water into your palms until you create a paste. Gently exfoliate using circular motions and rinse. Your face will be left baby soft!

If you're interested in making more switches to homemade recipes, check out Crunchy Betty's blog! I find amazing new things to try out there, and the good news is that I'm not spending money testing them.

What kind of products do you skip buying and make instead?

My Post-Swimming Haircare Routine

Oh, the pool. How nice is it to cool off after a very hot day?

Here's the thing about me and pools: I cannot keep my hair dry. A lot of girls will put their hair up in top knots and stay in the shallow end to protect their hair, but if I am in the water, I am fully in the water.

And let's just say my hair suffers.

Tangles.

Knots.

Dryness.

Frizz.

Impossible to manage.

After a few summers of getting really sick of this, I've come up with a routine that minimizes the frizz, detangles, smoothes, and softens my hair.

1.  Get out the excess chlorine water - After getting out of the pool, I gently squeeze the water out of the ends of my hair.

2.  Rinse - I hop in the shower and rinse my hair with cold water.

3.  Condition - This part I actually do outside of the shower. I squeeze the water out of my hair again, put a quarter-sized amount of conditioner in my palm (this actually turns into the size of three quarters for me, oops) and rub it all throughout my hair, focusing on my ends and any tangles.

4. Comb - I have to remind myself to be really gentle here, even though I have tangles galore at this point. It's really damaging to brush your hair while wet, so here's how I do it - I comb the last two inches of my hair until it is completely tangle-free and the comb glides through it, and then I move up and do the next two inches, and continue until I get to the roots of my hair and can run the comb down the entire section with ease.

5. Leave it - I don't rinse the conditioner out of my hair after I get all the knots out. I feel like it benefits my hair more if I leave it in. My hair drinks up the conditioner like it's starving, so my hair never looks greasy after this. But if your hair is prone to looking greasy, leave the conditioner in for an hour or two and then rinse it all out.

15+ Ways to Wear Head Scarves

Do you ever buy bandanas and head scarves thinking you're going to wear the crap out of them, only to find them at the back of a drawer three months later?

I'm guilty.

Or maybe you're just looking to get more use out of the scarves you wore to keep warm in the winter.

Guilty again.

Here's a little inspiration if you're in a head scarf rut like I am.

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Basic bun + head scarf combo. Check out the lovely Keiko Lynn's tutorial on how to tie it.

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Gather hair into low ponytail. Pull some fringe out to frame the face and then tie the scarf at the base of your neck.

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Go for the rockabilly look with pin curls, a bun, and a bandana tied in a knot at the top of your head.

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Here Emma tied her scarf in a knot over her hair tie and let the ends hang over the sides. Go for the messy pony like she did, or make it sleek and straight for a preppier vibe.

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Brigette Bardot's updo is given a boho twist by tying it straight back from the forehead.

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To get Nicole Richie's head scarf look, put you hair in a messy half-up bun. Tie the scarf at the base of your neck and let the ends hang free.

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This head scarf is wrapped around the head many times and is finished off with a sweet rosette pattern. Click the link above to find out how to tie it. If the rosette isn't your thing, just tie it in a knot.

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Solange Knowles ties her scarf into a turban. Shirley B. Eniang has a great tutorial on how to tie a scarf similar to this, it's at about the 7:40 mark.

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The turban headband look is adorable and can be worn so many ways. Hair down, hair up, bun, ponytail, braid. Anything goes! Tutorial is in the link above.

And if that wasn't enough inspiration for you, Free People has two really great videos that you may enjoy.

How to Style Scarves by Free People - my favorite is the scarf incorporated in the side braid

Ways to Wear Scarves in your Hair - the first one is really unique and pretty, so make sure you check it out

Get the Look: Mermaid

I have been fascinated by mermaids for as long as I can remember, so it isn't really a surprise that I've embraced the look of beachy hair, flowy clothing, and light ocean blues and greens.

Some mermaid-spiration for you:

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Beachy waves are a necessity for any mermaid look. If your hair is already wavy you can just wake up and spray it with a salt and water mixture. Some of us aren't so fortunate. Here are two youtube tutorials I've found helpful for creating perfect beach hair: curling wand and heatless. For a little something extra, add some well-placed mini braids throughout your hair. Don't be afraid to pull them out a bit and make them messy!

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Check out the colors used on these two Alberta Ferretti beauties. Seafoam green and a light blue, almost periwinkle. Think sheer, flowy fabrics and sequins.

As far as makeup goes, natural is key! Use a tinted moisturizer or BB cream (I use this) and keep your eye makeup simple. Skip the lipstick and go for a clear gloss or balm. Add some bronzer to your cheeks for a sun kissed complexion and you're good to go!

For an easy read by the pool, pick up a copy of Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown. It's a twist on the typical mermaid tale and I flew threw it last summer. I still find myself thinking about it. Give me all the killer mermaid stories.

Leave me a comment if you have any mermaid-related book/film recommendations!