DIY Health and Beauty Remedies For Summer

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With summer right around the corner, we’ll all soon be reaching for sunburn soothers, bug-bite remedies and frizz-taming hair masks. But why buy these fixes at the store when you can make them yourself with natural ingredients in your own kitchen?

Before you stock up on summer supplies, check out these five commonly-used remedies that you can make yourself.

The Problem: Sunburn

No matter how hard we try to slather on the sunscreen, it’s almost inevitable that someone in the family will get too much sun this summer.

Store-bought soothers can cost big bucks, and the back of the bottle often reads like a science experiment. But you can easily whip up an all-natural salve of your own that will provide just as much relief on the cheap.

DIY Fix: Cucumber, Aloe and Honey Salve

Price: $5 or less

What you’ll need: half a cucumber, aloe vera gel and honey

How to make it

1. Peel the cucumber with a vegetable peeler, and mash it up with a fork in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Add four tablespoons of aloe vera gel. If you have an aloe plant around the house, you can squeeze the gel right out of a fresh leaf, or you can buy a small bottle of pure aloe vera gel from your local health food store.

3. Next, add about three tablespoons of honey and stir well with a spoon. Depending on the juiciness of your cucumber, you may need to add a little extra honey. The mixture should be firm enough to stay on the affected area without dripping off.

4. Clean the burn well with cool water and a gentle soap before applying the mixture. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, and wash with cool water when finished.

The cucumber, aloe and honey all have soothing, cooling properties. All would work on a burn or sunburn on their own, but when used together, the mixture quickly relieves pain and promotes faster healing.

The Problem: Itchy Bug Bites

Bug bites, bee stings and poison ivy are common summer ailments that can really put a damper on a nice day outdoors.

Many treatments you’ll find in the store contain harsh chemicals that may sooth the itch but tend to dry out the skin – which can actually increase healing time.

DIY Fix: Banana and Oatmeal Mash

Price: $5 or less

What you’ll need: banana, natural whole grain oats, baking soda and a small button jar

How to make it

1. Mash up the banana in a medium-sized bowl. Scrape the interior of the peel into the bowl and stir.

2. Add one-fourth cup of whole grain oats and one tablespoon of baking soda and stir. If the mixture is still too thick to apply easily, add a little water until the consistency is more desirable.

3. Rub the mash on the affected area, and leave it on for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Put any extras in small button jars, which you can find at a local sewing or crafts store. Put the jars in the fridge for up to two weeks, and take a jar with you for picnics, hikes or trips to the beach this summer.

If you’re in a pinch, placing a banana peel directly on a bug bite or bee sting will also sooth itching and burning.

The Problem: Shiny Skin

The summer heat can often leave skin looking shiny and oily – not the best look for any beach bunny.

Many shine treatments you’ll find at the pharmacy or beauty supply store fix the problem by drying out your skin. This may help in the short-term, but the summer sun can often leave your skin dry and sensitive already. So, it’s better to reach for a gentler treatment that reduces shine without over-drying.

DIY Fix: Rosewater and Witch Hazel Astringent

Price: $10 or less

What you’ll need: rose petals, undiluted witch hazel, water and glass mason jars

How to make it

1. Start by making your rosewater. Pick enough rose petals from your garden to fill one cup. If you have to buy roses or rose petals from a florist, make sure to rinse the petals well to remove any chemicals. Place your rose petals in a heat-resistant bowl.

2. Bring two cups of water to a boil, and turn the heat off. Allow the water to cool for about two minutes, and then pour it over your rose petals. Cover with a pot lid or plate and let sit for 30 minutes. Strain out the rose petals and reserve the water.

3. Once you’ve allowed your rosewater to cool, leave one cup in the bowl, and put the rest in glass mason jars to store in the fridge for later use.

4. Add one-third cup of witch hazel – which you can find at a local health food store – and one cup of spring water to your bowl and stir. Store your astringent in glass mason jars in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

5. Use this astringent in the morning and at night as needed to gently reduce shine and keep skin healthy and moisturized.