Today Joyce from Saving My Cents shares her recipes for awesome at-home spa treatments! Who says pampering yourself has to break the bank?

About Joyce:

As a SAHM to 2 little boys, two little cats and one big golden retriever saving my SENSE will never happen, but saving my CENTS has to happen. Anyone who knows me knows my favorite saying is “I’m not cheap, I’m thrifty” and I hope with my website you can be too!

Since I am a mom to two very active boys who have suddenly went from being happy watching cartoons and playing board games to now wanting to play sports, spend time with friends (and they are only 4 and 6 right now, I refuse to even think of the teenage years) I need to find ways to relax and since my pockets are not deep enough to afford a spa and even if they could I would never find the time I have a few things I try at home that I will share.

Blemish Blaster:
Handful of fresh mint leaves (even if you do not have a green thumb, herbs will grow on their own and can be used for everything, from food to health care, so I highly recommend starting an herb garden of your own)
A cup of oats (I use plain Quaker oatmeal) moistened

Take the herbs and pulverize them, you can buy the fancy bowl that has a pestle with it (like a mini club!) but I just use a rounded end of one of my kitchen utensils. Add in the moistened oats until it makes a paste and apply to your face for about 20 minutes.

Body Scrub:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
a drop or two of essential oil (optional)

Mix together and scrub on during bath/shower. I like to use a loofah sponge and concentrate on dry areas, like my elbows and knees. I also add a drop of lavender essential oil for scent, but it is just an extra and not necessary to make this recipe work.

Dry Skin Mask:
Beaten egg yolk
mashed avocado

Mix together and apply to your face for about 20 minutes.

Skin Toner:
handful of fresh basil
a cup or so of water

Boil the fresh basil leaves in the water (I never learned a specific length to boil so I usually do it for about 20 minutes or until the basil is practically dissolving). Strain the water into a jar, let it cool and then apply to your face as needed with a cotton ball.

Strawberry Exfoliator
Fill a mixing bowl with some ripe or over-ripe strawberries (I use about 10 to 12 for this recipe, if you have more or less just experiment with how much of the other ingredients to use)
Two tablespoons of olive oil
One teaspoon coarse salt

Mash strawberries then combine oil and salt and rub on dry spots for exfoliation. Rinse off with warm water.

(I know some of these may seem odd but I have tried them all and they seem to work for me. I always rinse off with some luke warm water and do not use soap)

This post originally appeared on Saving My Cents on March 6th.

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