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These 21 Skincare Treatments Cost Almost Nothing, But Can Help You Look Like A Million Bucks

You'll even save a ton of dough on expensive beauty products.
Tom Merton

Each year, we spend thousands and thousands of rupees on skincare products and treatments. But almost everything we really need to keep our skin healthy, happy and glowing is within reach, in our own kitchens and bedrooms. Here are 21 DIY skincare tricks that cost next to nothing, but your skin will forever be grateful for them.

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Olive oil

In addition to being one of the healthiest fats in the market, olive oil offers a host of skin, hair and nail benefits. It slows down skin ageing, helps nails grow, reduces dandruff and soothes inflamed skin.

  1. Add a few drops of lemon juice to olive oil and massage into your scalp to keep dandruff at bay. The Vitamin E in olive oil will keep your scalp healthy and prevent dandruff from accumulating on it.
  2. If you have split ends, dab them with a mixture of olive and coconut oil to hydrate the dry hair.
  3. Since olive oil is lighter than most other oils, it gets absorbed into the skin easily. If your nails are weak due to harsh nail pants or manicures, rub some olive oil into the cuticles and on the nails to boost nail growth. If you can, soak your nails in olive oil for about 15 minutes each week.
  4. If you have irritable skin, you can replace your regular face cream with olive oil. It contains a compound called oleocanthal that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
  5. Extra virgin olive oil is packed with polyphenols, an anti-oxidant that slows down skin ageing by neutralising free radicals. Use olive oil as a daily moisturiser or add a few drops of it to your face cream to stop premature wrinkles.
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Curd

The odour might be off-putting but curd is one of the best all-purpose ingredients in your kitchen. Its anti-fungal properties can help you deal with acne and get rid of pesky dandruff, and the lactic acid lightens blemishes and brightens the skin. It helps in smoothing frizzy hair and restoring shine to dull hair.

  1. For dandruff removal, grind some black peppers and apply to the scalp and leave it on for an hour, then double-wash with a mild shampoo (to remove all odour) and condition thoroughly.
  2. For rough or frizzy hair, add two teaspoons of almond or coconut oil and a egg yolk to curd and leave it on for 30 to 45 minutes before washing it off.
  3. To brighten up the skin, make a paste of curd, orange peel, gram flour (besan) and a few drops of honey and leave it on your face for about 10 minutes.
  4. For acne-prone sensitive skin, mix curd with turmeric powder, sandalwood powder and some sugar or honey and use as a face pack, the zinc in the curd will provide relief to your skin.
  5. Apply plain curd on your face daily if you have patchy skin with blemishes.
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Tomato

Tomatoes are a storehouse of Vitamin A and C, both of which are essential for skin health—both inside and out. Tomatoes help in cleaning and shrinking pores, reducing acne, dealing with tanning and give dull skin a glow.

  1. Use tomato juice as an astringent and face cleanser to clear pores and make them shrink over time, and to get rid of excess tanning.
  2. If you have acne, use tomato pulp as a face pack for about 10 minutes.
  3. A papaya and avocado face mask once a week will moisturise your skin as well as keep oiliness in check.
  4. For glowing skin, add honey to tomato pulp and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
  5. If you've been spending too much time in the pool and feel your hair becoming hard due to the chlorine residue, take a can of tomato juice into the shower with you. Massage it into your hair and let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes. The acid in the juice will break down the chlorine residue and give you back your soft locks. Shampoo and condition well, of course.
nesharm

Sleeping positions

It's not enough to simply get adequate sleep for healthy skin, your sleeping positions and even your bed linen could affect your skin.

  1. Sleeping face-down is terrible for your back and skin. It can give you wrinkles as well as make you prone to breakouts and irritable skin due to the friction between the pillow and the face. People who sleep on their stomach tend to have much deeper lines on their forehead than people who sleep on their back. People who sleep on their side tend to develop wrinkles and creases on the cheek they sleep on.
  2. Your pillow cases and sheets are constantly accumulating oil, dust and grime, so it's important to wash them at least once a week. If you can't change your bed linen that often, at least change your pillow cover every 3-4 days. You will see a dramatic drop in irritation and breakouts.
  3. Investing in good silk pillow covers is a great idea as well, since silk is smoother and less likely to crease and wrinkle against your skin. It also adjusts to the temperature, so its cool in the summers and warm in the winters.
  4. Wear your hair in a loose ponytail or a loose top bun when you go to bed. The hair's natural oils, dirt and even the products you use can clog pores and lead to breakouts, if you leave them loose.
  5. Cranking up the AC to make the room freezing cold can lead to disturbed sleep patterns as well as leave the skin very dry, especially since you're not hydrating continuously in the night.
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Oats

Increasingly, plastic microbeads in cosmetic and household products are being banned across the world for the grave threat they pose to marine life. If you're worried about losing the granular texture in your favourite scrubs and face packs, oats are an eco-friendly, all-natural alternative that your skin will thank you for.

Oats contain polysaccharides that help relieve dry and itchy skin and help in exfoliation. Grind oats to a thick powder and mix it with mashed banana, honey, a tablespoon of milk and use as a face pack or a scrub. It will unclog your pores and make your skin feel smoother. Oats are suitable for all skin types and can be used every day.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.