By Nadia Vitari

We are all foodies and meals are not just a way to satisfy a desire for food but a wholesome experience, right? True, we enjoy exploring new cuisines at restaurants or maybe we don’t have much time to cook and opt for delivery and take-away, but we all know how a home-made dinner is something so special that from time to time we wish to prepare something for our loved ones and fill the room with the warmth and comfort of a home-cooked meal!

Did you know that cooking ingredients have more use than just preparing a loving, tasty meal?

A kitchen is not just place to cook but it is also a big warehouse of beauty treatments! And what’s more – everything is natural, effective and inexpensive!

In this post, I am sharing my personal beauty secrets straight from the kitchen shelves! And if you are interested in some natural beauty care at home, these secrets will soon become yours too.

Let’s start with the most common ingredients that we use commonly almost every day: sugar, salt and ground coffee! You can make an exfoliating body scrub by mixing two tablespoons of sugar with one tablespoon of olive oil. Apply, scrub and wash it off! Use it in the shower for super soft, gentle and clean skin.

Salt comes in very handy if you want to make a beach hair spray! Combine two teaspoons of sea salt with eight ounces of warm water and a dab of any regular hair gel. Put this mixture in a clean spray bottle and shake well! Just spray some on your hair and voila!

You can use coffee for its anti-cellulite action; in fact most spa and lotion treatments contain caffeine! Why not make your own body wrap by combining 1/2 cup of freshly brewed coffee grounds with one tablespoon of olive oil. Spread on your hands, tummy, legs and use plastic wrap to make it firm. Leave it on for 10 minutes to discover an after-spa glow!

Avocados are another great beauty ingredient, especially for hair! Make a deep conditioning hair mask by adding one tablespoon of olive oil to mashed avocado. Apply and leave for 20 mins before washing it off with a mild shampoo. It works wonders and keeps your hair bouncy and nourished!

Did you know your eyes and face love the touch of cucumber? Simply keep cucumber slices on your eyes or blend them into a smooth paste and apply on face. Your skin will feel rejuvenated and eyes will get rid of all the puffiness.

Even parsley can be used for bright eyes: place a handful of parsley into a blender and let it turn into a smooth paste. Apply directly under your eyes, lie down and rinse off in 10 to 15 minutes.

You can use grinded carrots mixed with olive oil to create an instant anti-aging hand mask! Simply apply and wash of in 5 minutes.

Use your dessert ingredients to make a glowing face mask by first mashing three strawberries with a fork. Next, add two tablespoons of heavy cream: this combination, when used as a face mask, creates a glowing, soft complexion!

Aren’t these some really exciting reasons to fall in love with food all over again! In fact having a well-stocked kitchen can not only inspire you to cook but also to indulge in some DIY effective beauty treatments.

If you found this interesting, stay tuned for more from me!

About Nadia Vitari

Passionate traveler and backpacker, Nadia comes from the Lake of Como area in Italy (yes, where George Clooney lives!). She moved to Mumbai to work for an NGO. Being Italian and having lived, worked and studied in different countries, she is passionate about food and other cultures, especially anything Japanese! She also loves reading, football and rock music.

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