Why spend hefty amounts of money on your beauty routine when much of what you need can be found in your pantry? While eggs, sugar and nuts evoke homebaked goodies, they are also synonymous with natural cosmetic recipes. Impossible, you say? And yet, these ingredients can help you enjoy the benefits of an effective beauty routine free of harmful components at a minimal cost. The proof is in the pudding.

Olive and cashew oils

Source of magnesium and antioxidants, cashew nuts are beneficial to health if consumed appropriately and in moderation. However, they are more often consumed as a salty snack rather than incorporated into healthy dishes to increase their virtues. In the form of oil, called cashew nut oil (choose organic and with a first cold pressing), cashews are not only better for your health, but also for your skin. Still rather rare in cosmetics, cashew nut oil nevertheless can be a great ally for dry and mature skin. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, it can deeply moisturize skin, reinforce its elasticity, and help fight against skin aging. It is also ideal for nourishing dry hair.

The same and even more can be said for olive oil. The virtues of olive oil, the basis of the Mediterranean diet, are much better known and are numerous for health, although it remains a high-calorie elixir. So why not incorporate it into your beauty routine? Skin, hair, nails: its benefits are innumerable, and today it is used in the composition of many soaps, shower gels, shampoos, and other cosmetics. However, it is not necessary to buy it in a "transformed" state since virgin olive oil can provide your skin with all the benefits it needs. Several options are possible: use it as a moisturizer or anti-aging treatment (preferably in the evening), use it before a manicure to improve the appearance of your nails, or substitute it for your usual makeup remover to enjoy perfectly cleansed and nourished skin before bedtime.

Eggs and cream

No, we're not talking about a new recipe for spaghetti carbonara, but rather two ingredients that could boost your new natural beauty routine. The virtues of egg as a hair mask have long been touted, but it is also used in home recipes to moisturize or purify the skin, and even to fight acne. You can use the yolk to concoct a moisturizing mask: alone or in combination with a vegetable oil (sweet almond, olive, argan) to be left on for 10 to 15 minutes. And so as not to waste anything, use the white to purify your skin by mixing it with lemon juice and/or white clay. Egg white is also known to get rid of blackheads. To do this, simply apply it to the affected areas, put on pieces of tissue, then apply a new layer and let it dry.

Since you're already in your fridge, take advantage of the benefits of fresh cream as well. Here again, it is the fats present in its composition that your skin will benefit from. The fresh cream has a strong hydrating power, whether it is for the face or the body. It should be used as a mask, in combination or not with a vegetable oil or a few drops of lemon juice, to combat skin dryness.

Sugar, an unbeatable exfoliant

Why buy expensive scrubs when sugar, which is particularly affordable, can perform this function in the most natural way? Especially since there are a multitude of simple and quick homemade recipes. The best known is sugar mixed with an oil base to exfoliate the face and body. Be careful however, it is advisable to choose a fine sugar if your skin is sensitive; exfoliation will be gentler. There are also some natural alternatives to sugar for exfoliation including salt and coffee grounds, which are equally effective.