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There’s nothing like a luxe product to make you feel like a beauty goddess, but sometimes, the best and most effective tips are the easiest. From DIY masks and Vaseline to regular ol’ ice, here are the super easy, super cheap tricks our editors use every day.
“A trick from my grandma: If your skin is feeling congested, nothing works like a good steam. Add a few drops of essential oil (I like tea tree or lavender), throw a towel over a bowl of just-boiled water, and take a hot minute to open those pores. I finish by gently rubbing my face with a sliced lemon, which works as a kind of exfoliant and brightener. Then I finish up by mixing some steel-cut oats with water in my palm and swirling everything around until a milky liquid forms. Pat the mixture on your face and leave for a few minutes, wash off with cool water, and you have happy, clear, nourished skin.” – Alex Redgrave, Executive Editor
“Vaseline! It is the only thing I use on my lips, and it the winter, I apply it overnight to any dry patches on my face. But my biggest secret? I don’t use body soap. It’s not gross, trust me. (If you don’t trust me, there are lots of other people on the internet you can trust.) I stopped using it to help with chronic eczema, and I’ve never looked back. I exfoliate a couple times a week and use shaving cream, but other than that, it’s just water for me.” – Jessica Dailey, Digital Editorial Director
“My mom introduced me to DIY yogurt face masks, and now I swear by them. It does wonders for your skin, especially if your skin’s endured any sort of harsh conditions, sun damage included. It also instantly brightens your skin. Apply a thick layer of plain yogurt and let it dry. You then essentially keep applying layers of the yogurt until your skin stops absorbing it—usually 3-4 times will do the trick. Wash off with lukewarm water, and you’ll see a difference instantly.” – Anna Kocharian, Digital Editor
“Icing my face. It makes such a dramatic change in puffiness in the morning, and literally takes just a minute. I don’t do it every single morning, just when I’m a little puffed up around the eyes—either when I’ve had trouble sleeping the night before or had too much food/salt/sugar/alcohol the night before. To do it yourself, simply wrap an ice cube in a cloth and dab around your face, and especially the eyes. For advanced users out there, upgrade the experience by making ice cubes with finely diced lemon or cucumber in them, for added benefits in brightening and calming.” – Kristin Limoges, Associate Lifestyle Editor
“I love to make a mix stuff from my kitchen on Saturday nights for a face mask. I mix olive oil, brown sugar, and milk. I scrub it all over my aging face as makeshift dermabrasion, then make a mask of full fat greek yogurt and let it harden for 20 minutes while I scrub my whole body with pink Himalayan salt.” – Molly Guy, Executive Weddings Editor
“Brew two green tea bags, let them cool, and place them on your eyes for about ten minutes. They’re great for reducing puffiness and dark circles. Also, Toothpaste on pimples. I know, it seems super weird… but it dries out all the bacteria, and it reduces inflammation, too. (10-15 minutes is good enough; be careful to not do it for too long so you don’t harm the skin around the pimple.)” – Nikhita Mahtani, Digital Editor
“I usually tame my hair, which is super long and unruly, with a flat iron most days. In my efforts to save my ends (plus money on haircuts), I started using a heat protector. I particularly love Living Proof Restore Instant Protection, which keeps my ends healthy between my bi-yearly trips to the salon.” – Lahaina Alcantara, Photo Editor, Digital
“I drink lemon water first thing every (okay, fine, almost every) morning. It alkalizes the body, making everything more balanced. Less toxins and bacteria in my mind means less opportunity for pimples.” – Rachel Besser, Market Editor
“I swear by spritzing rose water toner (every night and morning). Not only is it refreshing, but it solved a bunch of skin problems I was having a few years ago, and I’ll never go off it. Fresh Rose Floral Toner is my favorite.” – Alyssa Clough, Social Media Manager
“I have to admit–I don’t have a skincare trick, however, I’ve found over time that the best way to keep my skin looking healthy and bright is to stick to a morning/nighttime routine. Before bed, I start with a makeup remover/cleanser, followed by a serum, and then a moisturizer. In the morning, I use a cleanser, followed by moisturizer, sunscreen, and then my makeup primer. Be sure to wait a few minutes between applying each layer to your skin to ensure that it’s fully absorbed.” – Marisa Petrarca, Digital Editorial Intern
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