Don’t chuck it - USE IT! Beauty from things destined for the

Article by BR Tabby

Where do you look for beauty inspiration?  Magazines? Instagram? People on the street?  How about in your rubbish bin?

Yeap you read that right - destined for your rubbish bin could be some awesome leftovers that have other uses - be it for your skin, your hair or even your bath and shower needs! 

Pumpkin.

Mash up cooked pumpkin leftovers (full of Vitamin A!) and add a little plain yoghurt, honey and olive oil to create a nourishing face mask that's great for oily skin.  Apply it to your face and leave it on until it hardens - then rinse!

Carrots.

Puree 1/2 cup of carrots (cooked or raw) and 1/2 cup of cranberries and mix with lemon juice.  Apply to your hair and sit in a steamy bathroom for 10 minutes before rinsing off.  This hair mask is said to reveal your natural highlights!

Parsley.

Blend parsley into a paste and apply to your undereyes before rinsing off after 15 minutes.  Parsley is high in Vitamin K which increases blood flow when applied topically - meaning your dark circles will be diminished and the skin around your eyes will look plumper and younger.

Orange Peel.

If you spend a little effort making some orange peel powder, you'll be amazed at what you can do with it; from lightening dark spots to treating acne!  The Vitamin C in the peel will encourage collagen production, which means...less wrinkles!

To make the orange peel powder, you'll need to bake the peel of two oranges.  Try to use organic oranges to eliminate any pesticides or fertilizers.  Bake them in a casserole dish for about 25 minutes on a low heat until they dry out.  Whizz them in a blender and then grind the smaller bits up by hand with a pestle and mortar.  You can store the powder for three months in an airtight container.

Things to do with orange peel powder:

• Add it to your bath for a fabulous scented soak.
• Add a teaspoon of powder to a cup of coconut water to create a face wash
• If you fancy making bath bombs add some powder to your mixture.
• Mix some into an unscented body lotion or hand cream.

Salt.

Don't throw salt over your shoulder - mix it with water and hair gel and create your own sea salt spray!  Try 2 teaspoons in 250ml of warm water with just a dab of hair gel mixed in.

Coffee.

You've heard of Coffee Scrubs right?  Miracle exfoliating products that can tackle cellulite?  Well you can add coffee grinds (from coffee that's been brewed) to your usual scrub recipe or you can try mixing the grinds in some olive oil and spreading them over the areas you're concerned about.  Wrap some glad wrap over the top and relax (well try to) for 10 - 20 minutes before rinsing off in the shower.

Now we're not suggesting you go rummaging through the rubbish to find the ingredients for these tricks and tips, but before you chuck something out, ask yourself if those leftovers can be used in a Beauty Bubble and Squeak!

Do you like to use every last drop of something?  Do you love finding ways to use all parts something like an orange for example?  What tips to you have to share?  Or does it all seem like a bit too much effort?

Get chatting below!