Whole Story

Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned, celebrity makeup artist focused on enhancing beauty without the need for harmful chemicals. Kristen is also the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of GreenBeautyTeam.com, a site offering natural and organic beauty advice. Running out of shampoo, toothpaste or another beloved beauty product has happened to the best of us. Here are 10 ways to use items from your kitchen when you’re in a pinch so you can get out the door looking and smelling your best. Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo: You won’t get a head full of sudsy lather, but rinsing hair with apple cider vinegar is a fantastic way to remove odor, product build up and dirt. Avocado Moisturizing Mask: For dry skin, especially in the wintertime, mashing up some fresh avocado and applying to the face is a time-tested way to nourish and hydrate dry skin. After 10 minutes, simply tissue off the avocado to leave behind the nutritive oils for a radiant looking face. Baking soda Toothpaste: It may not taste minty fresh, but baking soda on a toothbrush mixed with water (and a drop of tea tree oil if you have it on hand) will leave your mouth clean, odor free and help whiten teeth. Deodorant: Mix a dash of baking soda in with a dash of cornstarch and you have yourself an effective, safe deodorant. Beets and Cherries Lip and cheek stains: We all know how these vibrant red and fuchsia colored foods can easily stain fabrics. Luckily we can harness their staining abilities to give our face a bit of healthy flush. Beets and cherries give the lips and cheeks a tint similar to that of a popular makeup product, which costs $30 in stores. Save some cash using cooked beets or fresh cherries. Dip a brush (to prevent staining your fingers) in the beet or cherry juice and apply where you would normally put your lip and cheek color. An extra tip for lips: first apply the stain, then follow up with lip balm to give the mouth a more hydrated, polished look. Coconut Oil and Olive Oil Makeup Remover: These oils will gently remove even the most stubborn makeup, including waterproof mascara! Put a quarter size drop of oil on your hands, a cloth or cotton pad and rub in gently to take off any makeup and dirt from your face. Body Moisturizer: Simply pour some oil into your hands and start spreading it around wherever you have dryness. If you have a favorite essential oil handy, add a few drops in to smell extra delicious and for a little aromatherapy. Hair Conditioner and Curl Tamer: Both oils have wonderfully moisturizing properties for hair, especially for wild and untamable curls. The more dry and curly your hair, the more you can use. Apply oil from the ends of the hair working your way up, and stop a few inches before reaching the scalp. Coffee Grounds Body Exfoliator and Cellulite Reducer: For a body scrub that will wake you up and will reduce the appearance of cellulite, mix together 1/2 cup of coffee grounds, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add a dash of cinnamon in a non-breakable bowl. In the shower, after your skin has warmed in the water, use firm, circular movements to apply the scrub all over your body. Stop the water if possible to allow it to soak in for two minutes, then rinse off. Tea Bags Puffy Eye Shrinker: There’s no need to throw out used tea bags, instead cool them in the refrigerator and they can be used in the morning as a way to shrink puffy eyes. Chamomile is the most popular for this trick, but black teas can also de-puff and offer anti-oxidant benefits when rubbed over the skin. You might just come to love these naturally beautifying foods so much that you aren’t only applying them in a pinch but as a regular part of your beauty routine. Got any other suggestions? We’d love to hear them!