I don’t know about all of you, but I am definitely not made of money. If I was, I would be buying every fabulous beauty product on the market!

Fortunately, it’s easier than you think to get gorgeous on the cheap: Here are five DIY beauty ingredients that I believe can take the place of most beauty products you own. They’re affordable and accessible, and they might even give you better results than the expensive stuff.

The best part? All of these are probably in your kitchen right now!

(Remember that your results may vary with DIY treatments — or any new product. So before switching up anything in your routine you should always talk with your physician and do a test patch first.)

Table of Contents

1. Olive Oil

I feel like this is obvious, but for those of you who don’t know, olive oil is fantastic for you! Olive oil contains many excellent antioxidants and nutrients that are good for you internally as well as externally.So here are some ways for you to use olive oil in your beauty routine.

• Olive oil is part of the oil cleansing method. This is a cult favorite skincare regime that uses oil as a way to cleanse the skin, so no water involved, and is said to work fabulously on all skin types. For more info on the method, Crunchy Betty has a great guide to oil cleansing. Have any of you tried it out?
• It makes a great makeup remover. You don’t need a fancy remover for that stubborn makeup — just rub some olive oil onto your eye makeup and wipe it away with a washcloth. Works like a charm!
• Use it to make an Olive Oil Hair Treatment! We posted this tutorial a while back and it’s still among our most popular beauty articles ever, thanks to the gorgeous shine it gives hair.
• Olive oil makes a great toner as well. You can mix olive oil, witch hazel, and green tea to make a natural toner. It works quite well and you can vary the ingredients depending on your skin type.
• Also speaking of skin, olive oil is great for repairing damaged skin from acne or other causes. You can rub a little bit of olive oil onto acne scarred areas at night; it helps to repair your skin’s texture over time. (And no, contrary to popular belief, pure oils like olive do not cause acne!)
• Use it to create an exfoliating scrub. This simple, three-ingredient scrub will have your skin looking luminous in mere minutes.
• It can also be used in place of shaving cream! Olive oil works just as well, if not better, than your regular cream and makes your skin feel awesome. Just wipe away the excess oil when you are done, and look at that, you just shaved and moisturized in one step!
• Olive oil is also a great moisturizer for your cuticles and can be added to your lotion for an extra kick.
• Eating olive oil daily is also a great way to be healthy in general. Eating it on salads or on bread is my favorite. Just by eating one or two tablespoons a day you are helping your body out! How easy is that?

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is definitely a powerhouse ingredient! As with all vinegars, its main active ingredient is acetic acid, so it’s extremely strong and has natural astringent properties. Here are some beauty uses for apple cider vinegar that you can try at home.