Old Mother Hubbard may have gone to her cupboard looking for food, but what she didn’t know that many items in her cupboard could be used in lieu of expensive beauty products. Here are some useful beauty ideas using simple ingredients like cornstarch, corn syrup, and yeast.

Corn syrup
The upcoming winter months bring along the beauty of a dormant landscape, but it also means dry winter skin. Body and face scrubs are a great way to alleviate dry, itchy skin. While most scrubs use salt for the scrubbing effect, sugar is a less drying substitute, and the added corn syrup is wonderful at providing binding for a moisturizing face scrub. Try this soothing recipe to chase away the winter blues.

Peppermint Scrub

Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of mineral oil (or hypoallergenic baby oil can be substituted)
2 tablespoons of corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract

Mix all of the ingredients together until sugar is well moistened. If your face is extra dry, add a little more mineral oil and use twice a week. If your skin breaks out, stop using. You should exfoliate your face at least once a week, twice if you can to help keep dead skin from building up and getting into your pores. Store in a mason jar for up to two weeks.

Cornstarch

Setting Powder

Most women  turn to  expensive powder – most can run up to $32 for a .32 oz. package – to help makeup to stay in place. Very effective, but for those looking for a frugal backup, try cornstarch. After applying makeup, dip a clean powder brush into a small amount of cornstarch, and brush all over your face. The cornstarch helps set foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours. It also evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. Cornstarch is universal for all skin tones.

Dry Shampoo

If you’re on the road a lot, or have fine hair, you’re probably a victim of unwanted hair grease. If you’ve got oily strands and no time for a shower, dry shampoo offers a quick clean-up. Available in powder, aerosol sprays, and foam, dry shampoo absorbs natural oil from roots to ends. Save money on dry shampoo by using cornstarch.

What you need:
1 teaspoon of cornstarch
A hairbrush

Sprinkle a small amount of cornstarch into the scalp. (You may use more or less than 1 teaspoon, depending on your needs.) Use your fingers to work the cornstarch into your scalp. Brush your hair to remove the powder, and all of the dirt and oil will come along with it.

Yeast

Yeast can be extremely effective at sloughing off wrinkles, especially when used on a weekly basis. This face mask is suitable for all skin types, and yeast is very rich in vitamin B, also helping in skin blotching and thread veins.

Yeast face mask

Ingredients:
1 egg yolk (for dry/normal skin) or 1 egg white (for oily skin)
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 teaspoon baking yeast
The contents of 1 vitamin E capsule

Place all ingredients in a bowl and beat well. Spread on face and leave on for a minimum of 20 minutes. Rinse off mixture off with soap and warm water, and seal pores off with a splash of cold water. 

There are many more uses for items that are found in the kitchen, so keep your eyes peeled – no pun intended – when you are cooking something up for dinner tonight.

Author Byline: Youa V. writes about kitchen essentials and baking techniques at Become A Better Baker, an online resource for bakers of all ages and skill levels. Visit Become A Better Baker for instructional videos and recipes. 

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• DIY Natural Beauty Products Part 1: Hair (heallovebe.com)