Many cosmetics and beauty products are quite expensive and expose us to harmful chemicals. Thankfully there are a heap of natural alternatives and recipes for DIY skincare that are really good for your health and your skin. Here are 5 all-natural DIY skincare tips to keep your skin and hair in optimal condition: Honey Facial For a quick and all-natural facial, give yourself a honey mask. Take a warm shower, or hold your face over a bowl of steaming water to open pores. Rub warm honey on face and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and splash face with cool water to close pores. Oil Cleansing Facial Use Olive, Coconut or Sweet Almond oil with Castor oil to clean your skin instead of a harsh soaps. This will cleanse your skin naturally and avoid over-drying the skin as it helps you to retain your natural skin oils. You can blend 25% Castor oil (do not use this straight) with 75% Olive, Coconut or Sweet Almond oil. Rub a small amount of oil mixture onto dry face and massage into skin for several minutes. To remove, soak a clean washcloth in steamy hot water and place on your face until it starts to cool. Gently use the washcloth to wipe your face until the oil is gone. Use Natural Hair Conditioners For an occasional nourishing and strengthening hair treatment, make a natural hair mask. This certainly isn’t one for everyday use, but it makes hair shiny and smooth and even works on really curly hair: Mix one banana and one avocado and puree until smooth, (this is also a great way to use over ripe bananas and avocados). Comb through clean, damp hair and put a shower cap on. Leave on for at least 15 minutes and rinse out well in the shower. Sugar Body Scrub Sugar is a great way to tighten and smooth skin naturally, without being too abrasive and harsh on the skin. Mix equal parts of white or brown sugar with olive or almond oil, and add an essential oil of your choice, (optional). To exfoliate skin, rub the mixture onto skin and massage in for a couple of minutes. Rinse off with warm water and voila! Natural Microdermabrasion Baking soda is a very effective, natural and gentle abrasive that removes dead skin cells and makes the skin glow. Wet your face with warm water. Pour some baking soda into hands and massage into your face for at least 3 minutes. This is likely to sting a little – it is called abrasion! – then rinse with warm water and pat dry. Enjoy economical DIY skincare in the comfort of your home!