It’s that taxing in-between time of the semester again – spring break is over, papers and projects are coming due, and finals are looming ahead. It’s clear that college students are stressed right now, and with that stress comes the need for relaxation. And what better way to unwind than by pampering yourself and indulging in some me-time?
Of course, as college students, we can’t all afford to shell out for a trip to a high-end spa. So how do you get all the benefits of a spa treatment without the hefty cost? Easy. Raid your kitchen! Here are three of my favorite do-it-yourself beauty treatments that are easy (and fairly cheap) to whip together in your dorm room or apartment.
1. The Olive Oil Hair Treatment
Olive oil isn’t just for cooking — it’s great for your hair, too! Olive oil has been proven to give hair a healthy sheen, help to repair split ends, and reduce frizz.
To give your hair a conditioning treatment, massage about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your hair and scalp.The amount you’ll use should vary depending on the length and thickness of your hair. And remember to massage it in well – the massaging feels really nice on your scalp, but is also important to the treatment, as massage stimulates helps promote a healthy scalp.
Next, take a warm, damp towel and wrap it around your head and treated hair (“turban” it). Leave it on for about 30-45 minutes. This allows the olive oil to work into your hair to have the full effect.
Finally, rinse out the olive oil with shampoo. This might take a few shampoo-ings (when I tried it, it took 2 rounds.) Give your hair further rest by allowing it to air dry, if you have the time. Then say hello to your luscious locks!
2. The Miracle Mask
This DIY mask, made of nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing!
The secret? Nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories, which can reduce swelling and redness in skin. They’re also great for soothing acne scars and preventing infection. In addition, the nutmeg and cinnamon also work to exfoliate your skin when you wash this mask off.
Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to do a small test with homemade mixes on your skin to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction to any ingredients. So remember to do a quick patch test on sensitive skin, like that on the inside of your wrist, before applying this mask to your face.
To create the mask, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg.The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation.
3. Brown Sugar Body Scrub
One of my favorite DIY beauty treatments is this brown sugar body scrub, found on The Frugal Style. It’s the perfect way to get rid of dry winter skin, as well as prep your body for any sunless tanner you may be applying.
To create the scrub, just mix together half a cup of coarse brown sugar with a tablespoon of honey, a little olive oil, and 1/4 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, then apply all over your body and rinse. The scrub not only smells delicious, but leaves your skin feeling ultra-smooth.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think of DIY beauty treatments? Do you have a particular recipe that’s your favorite? What have you tried? Does DIY save you money? Make sure to leave a comment – can’t wait to hear your DIY spa tips!
Hey Guys! Coming to college is a lot of firsts. The first time you do your own laundry, the first time you ride the subway, the first time you go to a frat party. But another first that people often over look is the first time you will have a birthday without your family. When you're at home your family will probably make a big deal out of your special day. They might buy you cake and take you out to dinner and probably do some special family tradition! But in college, you don't get those traditions, and that can make birthdays one of the moments when people are most susceptible to homesickness. 
Now if you're like me, and you have a summer birthday, being at college won't affect the amount of your birthday celebration, but for other students it may. It's important to be aware of what's going on and just to be a good floor mate and a good friend. No one should be sad and lonely on their birthday! So make sure you bring some candles and baking gear to college - you're going to need it!
If you are heading away to your first year at college, you need to think about whether you want a credit card. There are a number of credit card companies that are going to be making you some tempting offers, but keep in mind that they do not always have your best interests at heart. Credit card debt from college can follow you around for years if you don’t know what you are doing right from the beginning, so take a moment to make sure that you know whether a credit card is right for you.
So you’ve got your degree, you’re graduated and ready for the world, but somehow all you find yourself doing is sitting in your mom’s basement playing World of Warcraft. What do you do? There is no work to be had, so you start making plans for graduate school so that your parents will stop breathing down your neck and you don’t have to feel like a washed up failure. But hold your horses. Besides the obvious dangers of such a negative view of yourself there are a few other things that need to be looked at. Before you go off running back to the relative comfort of the familiar surroundings of academia, ask yourself a few important questions.
