DIY Beauty Treatments Made With Thanksgiving Leftovers

Ahh, Thanksgiving break is here! A much-needed time of rest, relaxation and delicious food to get us prepared for final exams once we get back on campus. 

The best part is that the food-focused holiday doesn't have to end when the meal is over! There are so many awesome beauty benefits found in the ingredients of some our favorite Thanksgiving staples (turkey excluded). Once you're done stuffing your face, "treat yo self" to one of these fabulous DIY beauty treatments!

Cranberry Facial Mask

Full of skin-loving antioxidants, cranberries can prevent wrinkles, hide evidence of skin damage, make your skin look brighter and smoother and reduce redness. Use any leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving dinner to make this super easy two-ingredient mask from POPSUGAR Beauty.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup warm water

Directions:

1. Purée the cranberries in a blender, then strain. You will need the liquid from the berries for your mask, not the chunks of fruit!
2. Combine the water and your DIY cranberry juice.
3. Soak a washcloth or cotton pads in the mixture.
4. Apply the saturated cloth or cotton pads to your face, avoiding the eye area.
5. Kick back and rest for 15 minutes.
6. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.
7. Follow up with a gentle toner and moisturizer.

Apple Hair Mask 

Give your dry locks some much-needed moisture and get rid of dandruff and flakes with this luscious-smelling hair mask recipe from Beautylish. 

Ingredients:

• 1-2 large or 3-4 medium-sized apples
• 2 tbsps. apple cider vinegar 
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. corn flour 

Directions:

1. Peel, core and grate the apples.
2. Combine the grated apples with the rest of the ingredients, stirring well.
3. Spread the mixture onto your dry, unwashed hair.
4. Leave on your hair for 20 to 30 minutes.
5. For best results, cover your hair with a shower cap followed by a towel. This will allow all of the ingredients to absorb properly, giving you maximum results. 
6. Rinse off the mask with lukewarm water, and follow up with a mild shampoo, if desired.

Pumpkin Body Scrub

To exfoliate and nourish your dry skin, check out this pumpkin body scrub recipe from About Spas. Rich with vitamins and antioxidants, this recipe will leave your skin silky smooth. Look for organic versions of the following ingredients for extra benefits.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup puréed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 ttbsp. honey
• 1 drop vanilla essential oil or a pinch of powdered cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients together in clean bowl and mix together with a clean spoon.
2. Draw a lukewarm bath and soak in it for 10-15 minutes, then pat your skin dry and drain the bath. You must apply the scurb to dry skin for it to work properly.
3. Place a towel into your empty bathtub and sit on it. 
4. Begin applying the scrub onto your body, one body part at a time. For example, start with your left lower leg and rub the scrub up and down.
5. Once you're done exfoliating as much of your body as you desire, stand up gently and shake the sugar crystals out of the tub. 
6. Stand up and shower off the remaining amount of body scrub left on your skin.
7. After washing off the scrub completely, dry your skin with a warm towel and apply your favorite body cream.

Pumpkin Facial Scrub

Your complexion can benefit from the ingredients in pumpkin just as much as the rest of your body can. Since pumpkin is rich in zinc, it can help purify oily skin and acne. The enzymes found in pumpkin also help to naturally exfoliate the skin without the use of harsh particles. Check out this recipe from Naturally Curly designed for the precious skin on your face. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsps. raw pumpkin (finely grated)
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. tomato juice (or 1/2 tsp. tomato puree)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring well.
2. Apply the mask in a thick layer over your cleansed face, avoiding the eye area.
3. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

Brown Sugar Hand Scrub

After whipping up the best fall desserts to have with your Thanksgiving meal, use the extra brown sugar to make this luxurious hand scrub. Our hands take such a toll during the winter months, so keep them soft and moisturized with this hand scrub recipe from Naturally Curly. 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup coarse brown sugar
• Baby oil, to moisturize and to help create a paste 

Directions:

1. Mix the two ingredients together completely.
2. Using a hand-washing motion, apply the mixture to your hands. 
3. Continue the washing motion for a minute or two, and then rinse off with warm water.
4. Pat hands dry and follow up with your favorite hand cream. 

Which of these DIY Thanksgiving-inspired beauty treatments will you try? Tell us in the comments!