Just as there are some basic principles and things about life, basic things every lady should have in her bag, there are also some natural household products and items every one who is beauty conscious must have at home.
The importance of natural items cannot be over or underemphasized.
These items come so handy and have a lot of usefulness and benefits, from culinary to beauty that they can be used for, which points to the reasons we need to have them. There are actually a whole lot of them but today, we shall be looking at 10 and the benefits/purpose they serve.
1. Tumeric: Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant, commonly used in Asian food probably knows turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine. It contains a yellow-colored chemical called curcumin, which is often used to color foods (used in jollof rice/spaghetti, fried rice or sometimes stew) and cosmetics. Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching. Some people use turmeric for heartburn, thinking and memory skills, inflammatory bowel disease, stress, and many other conditions, though there no good scientific evidence to support these. For beauty purposes, tumeric is very effective in lightening and smoothening the skin and when mixed with other items, it is just great. For instance, honey and turmeric make a great and easy face pack to perk up your skin, turmeric and coconut oil have anti-fungal properties. Mix turmeric powder with pure coconut oil and apply on your skin to reduce redness, inflammation and dry patches.
2. Shea Butter: Shea Butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. It is also edible and is used in food preparation in African countries. Occasionally, shea butter is mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different. Its high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make it an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.
3. Carrier And Essential Oils: Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and flavor, or “essence,” of their source. Peppermint, Lemon, Lavender. Lavender oil can be very calming and helps support sleep and relaxation, Rosemary, Frankincense. Although other oils like coconut, olive and jojoba are plant extracts too, they are carrier oils, not essential. It is generally better to stir the essential oil in at the end of cooking or when the food has cooled but some oils such as basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme are quite strong and may actually benefit from cooking a little to get a milder flavor. All of these oils too have great effects and impacts on the skin and in beauty, so it is a must to have at least one of both essential and carrier oils.
4. Baking Soda: exfoliation, shampooing, heartburn treatment, mouthwash, canker sores, teeth whitening, deodorant, may improve exercise performance, itchy skin and sunburns, calluses and baking are some of the things baking soda are used for, now you see why you need to have it.
6. Apple Cidar Vinegar: is a natural laxative that can improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels, improves insulin sensitivity, increase satiety and help people to lose weight, reduce belly fat, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and improves heart health. Aside these, ACV is used in cooking, baking, and salad dressings and as a preservative. See also 10 Wonders Vinegar Can Do For Your Beauty.
7. Honey:Â we do not need to say too much about honey – it is well known for its many benefits. Using pure honey as a face mask ordinarily brings glow out of the skin, not to mention using it with some other great items.
8. Black Soap: helps to cleanse the skin, soothe and heal eczema, reduces blemishes and dark spots, fight facial and body acne, calm psoriasis, reduce oily skin, minimize fine lines and wrinkles and many more. See more Benefits Of African Black Soap And DIY Solutions To Make With It.
9. Aleo Vera: the gelly slimy plant heals burns, moisturizes the skin, promotes oral health, clears acne, relieves anal fissures and improves digestive health.
10. Lime/Lemon:Â both lime and lemon contain lots of vitamin C, an important antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. See some beauty uses of lemon and lime.
Photos Credit: Getty
