Your beauty basket runneth over. Some of that stuff you bought because you needed it (or at least you really thought so). Some of it wooed you with great advertising. Some of it was just too gosh darn cute.
The good news is, many products are a lot more than just a one trick pony. They morph into a multi-use affair with the addition of common ingredients found around the house, or even as they are.
Conditioner
A good daily use conditioner is a necessary staple, especially for those who need to wash their hair often. It has to get the job done without being too heavy or creating build up. Paul Mitchell’s The Conditioner is an excellent buy that has stood the test of time. It was part of the original three products that launched the line back in the 80′s and it still garners praise from the industry.
Double Duty: If your hair tends to be dry, or if you are a curly, you could really stand to skip the shampoo step all together and do a conditioner-only wash. These products have enough mild surfactants to cleanse without the stripping and tangling. For a clarifying wash, add a bit of baking soda to your conditioner. This will help get rid of any product build up and freshen the scalp.
Get this – you can also use conditioner in place of shaving cream!
Mild Facial Cleansers
A gentle, emollient, water soluble (easily rinsed) cleanser is a good idea for all skin types. Even if you have oily skin, deep cleansing products aren’t necessary every time you wash your face. You want to retain moisture balance without stripping the skin. At night, when you want to remove your makeup and get rid of impurities from the day, Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser is a gel-cream that will sooth the skin and effectively remove cosmetic products and dirt.
Double Duty: A mixture of equal parts baking soda and gentle cleanser make a great exfoliating scrub. As you age, the skin does not slough away dead cells on its own as easily as younger skin. Exfoliating boosts cell turnover, gets rid of flaking skin, and leaves you with a healthy glow.
Moisture-Rich Conditioners
Especially if you are coarse or curly, your hair constantly craves moisture. Thick, rich conditioners are needed to tame your tresses and keep things manageable. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner reconstructs the hair with keratin and argan oil. ISH Rescue Ionic Conditioner is an awesome detangler and protects the hair from heat styling.
Double Duty: Turn your conditioner into a luxury hair treatment with hot oil. Take a spoonful each of olive oil and castor oil. Castor oil is an excellent humectant and it’s also great for sealing the hair cuticle. You can also use your other favorite oils like jojoba oil and coconut oil. Heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds and mix them into 1/4 cup of conditioner. Apply to the hair and let it sit for about 10 minutes. It will work best with heat, and Hair Therapy Wrap will keep your hair warm for up to 30 minutes. Your hair will be super hydrated and the oils will give your hair a lovely sheen.
