When it comes to DIY beauty treatments, and, well, everything else in life, my motto is “the easier the better.” A 5-step at-home facial? Hmmm…let’s streamline it to 3 steps. A workout that takes an hour? Can we make it 30 minutes? How many ingredients does that DIY bronzer have? Two? Awesome, I can handle that. Let’s face it: life is complicated enough. Beauty should be simple. And it doesn’t get much simpler than DIY beauty treatments that do all the work while you doze happily in bed. With a bit of pre-bedtime prep work, you can reap all the benefits in the morning, and trust me, when you see your rejuvenated hair and skin, you’ll be so glad you did. Here are 4 dreamy DIY beauty treatments that give new meaning to the the phrase “Beauty Sleep.”
Luminous Hand Makeover
Do you ever look down at your dry, cracked hands and rough nails and think, “When did I become an industrial welder?” Even if the most strenuous manual labor you do all day is type numbers into an Excel spreadsheet, your hands can look downright haggard without a little TLC. First, wet your hands and scrub them with a mild exfoliant (I love Eminence’s Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant — it’s expensive but so worth it), then soak hands in a bowl of warm water mixed with dried rose petals or lavender buds. Pat hands dry and massage your favorite moisturizer into your skin, then apply solar oil to your nails and cuticles. Put on a pair of soft gloves and get some shut-eye. Wake up with baby-soft skin and healthier looking nails.
Coconut Oil Under-Eye Wrinkle Treatment
Am I one of those people that recommends coconut oil as a miracle treatment for everything? Yes. Does it really work wonders? Yes. I discovered coconut oil’s wrinkle-fighting powers as a side effect when I started using it to remove my eye makeup. Now I use it to target the wrinkles around my eyes when I’m looking stressed and less-than-youthful. Wash your face as usual, then gently pat coconut oil under and around your eyes. Don’t rub it in too much — you want to see a sheen on the surface of your skin so it can sink in while you sleep. Wake up to a thoroughly moisturized and noticeably brighter eye area.
Calming Aloe Vera Face Mask
Pure aloe vera is another wonder substance that can work magic while you sleep. Its calming, healing qualities can soothe sunburns, help clear up acne, and calm irritated skin. Spread a thin layer of aloe vera (make sure it’s 100% pure aloe vera gel; not the bright green, artificially thickened “aloe vera” you find at the drugstore) over your whole face, taking care to avoid your eye area. Leave on overnight. Wash with a gentle cleanser in the morning.
Jojoba Oil Deep-Conditioning Treatment
There are many options for overnight hair masks and conditioning treatments, but jojoba oil is my favorite because not only does it work wonders for your hair, it won’t clog your pores, so it’s perfect for sensitive or acne-prone skin. For medium to long hair, warm half a cup of jojoba oil (use slightly less for short hair) in the microwave and then work through hair, starting at the ends and working up to a delicious scalp massage. Wrap your hair with plastic wrap and then cover with a shower cap. Wash hair in the morning.
