Colored Lip Gloss

Ever wondered what to do with that lipstick that's too dark?

1 teaspoon lipstick
1 teaspoon petroleum jelly

Melt the lipstick and petroleum jelly in a small pan or a small bowl in a microwave. Stir it and pour into a small jar.

Liquid Underarm Deodorant

1 teaspoon powdered alum (tawas)
a few drops of your favorite perfume
1 cup water

Mix all the ingredients together and put in a spray bottle.

Make-Your-Own Massage Oil

½ cup oil of your choice (olive, sunflower, coconut, mineral)
½ teaspoon essential oil (yes, a little goes a long way)

Mix together and store in a nice bottle.

Foot Smoothing Salt Scrub

2 tablespoons fine salt
2 tablespoons castor oil (available in drugstores)
1 tablespoon baby oil

Mix the ingredients and massage onto your feet, paying close attention to the heels and other rough spots. Rinse off.

Why it works: Salt is effective in removing dead skin from the feet. The castor oil (from the seeds of the castor bean) conditions the skin and helps it to retain its moisture, and is also an excellent oil for the nails.

Sugar Foot Scrub

1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons baby oil (or oil of your choice)
few drops of peppermint essential oil (optional)

Mix all the ingredients and massage the mixture on your feet and toes till they feel nice and soft. Focus on your heels and balls of feet, especially if they are very dry. Rinse off.

Variation 1: You can substitute brown sugar for plain sugar

Variation 2: You can substitute any rich lotion or moisturizer for the oil

Why it works: The natural glycolic acids present in sugar help to remove rough skin in the feet while oil moisturizes the skin.

Foot Soaks

1 bowl of warm water (or small basin)

Additives (choose one):
juice of one lemon or two calamansi

Add the desired ingredients to the warm bowl of water. Settle yourself comfortably in your favorite chair. Soak your feet in the warm water with the additives and relax for as long as you desire. Rinse off.

Why it works: The natural citric acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) found in the lemons work to soften dry and rough feet.

1 to 2 tablespoons rock salt (for sweaty or itchy feet) or up to ½ cup of rock salt (if you have an ingrown nail or infection)

Why it works: Salt is astringent as has natural antiseptic qualities. Use lotion after this foot soak as it can be drying (unless you have a fungal infection, the lotion will lessen the salt's work)

¼ cup baking soda

Why it works: Baking soda neutralizes the pH balance of your feet and is very effective against foot odor.