5 Natural Beauty and Garden Tricks Worth Trying
You don’t need expensive products for everything. These five natural tricks use things you probably already have at home.
1. Oatmeal Bath for Itchy Skin
Colloidal oatmeal — finely ground oats — is one of the few home remedies dermatologists genuinely recommend. It forms a protective barrier on the skin and calms itching from dryness, rashes, and sunburn. Grind plain oats into a fine powder, stir a cup into warm (not hot) bathwater, and soak for 15 minutes.
2. Cucumber Slices for Tired Eyes
Cold cucumber slices really do help puffy eyes. Cucumbers are mostly water and naturally cool, and they contain mild antioxidants. Ten minutes with chilled slices on closed eyes reduces puffiness and feels wonderful after a long day.
3. Epsom Salt Bath for Sore Muscles
Dissolve two cups of Epsom salt in a warm bath and soak for at least 15 minutes. The magnesium sulfate absorbs through the skin and helps relax tight, aching muscles. Athletes have sworn by this for generations, and it costs pennies per bath.
4. Coffee Grounds for Bigger Rose Blooms
Used coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen — exactly what roses crave. Sprinkle them lightly around the base of your rose bushes (not piled against the stems) and work them into the top layer of soil. Roses fed this way tend to bloom bigger and brighter through the season.
5. Grow a Free Houseplant From an Avocado Pit
Don’t throw the pit away. Suspend it over a glass of water with toothpicks so the bottom sits in the water, keep it in a sunny spot, and in a few weeks roots and a sprout appear. Once the stem is a few inches tall, plant it in soil for a free, attractive houseplant.
