Not everyone has the cash for the luxurious skin care products that grace the shelves of your beautician. Yet, every woman – and man if so inclined – has the right to have healthy, beautiful skin. Healthy glowing skin makes a person feel good and less conscious of their looks and this is a great method to improve your self esteem. But how does one go about achieving that when on a budget? All one needs to do is look in the kitchen.

Many products we use every day for cooking can be used to make homemade facial products that provide the same skin care as commercial brands. Baking soda is a natural exfoliate and acid neutralizer. Ingredients in yogurt provide vitamin A retinol. Red peppers contain carotene. These items can be combined and either rubbed into the skin or used as a mask.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids also know as AHAs have been shown to help prevent and reduce the appearance of aging, wrinkles and sun damage. The problem with AHAs is that it may cause other damage if used for a prolonged period of time. So use it wisely and note any allergic reactions you may have to it. A pureed mixture of fruit (such as bananas, grapes, and cherries) containing AHAs combined with sugar and milk makes a great exfoliating mask. Simply spread it on your skin, leave it for a half-hour and rinse off with warm water and a clean washcloth. Your skin will be left fresh and glowing as all the extraneous dirt will be removed from it.

Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) cut through the grease, wax and oil residue on your skin. These can be found in orange juice, lemon juice, berries, and willow bark extract. Once again, make a paste mixture and apply to your skin for 30 minutes.

Both of these lotions can also be added to your bathwater to exfoliate and soften your entire body.

Vitamin C helps reduce wrinkles and lines, aids in the build up of collagen, and even helps boost your bodies natural SPF to sun damage. Found naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables, Vitamin C can also be purchased in a powder form at the store. The juice from fruits and vegetables high in this vitamin can be applied to the face as a mask. Remember when using a mask to unwind while it is on, some breathing exercise may be beneficial.

Vitamin E is a natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Mixed with mineral oil, it is great to relieve itches from bug bites, allergic reactions, and rashes. Almonds, tomatoes and sun flowers seeds are full of Vitamin E and can be mixed with a base oil to use as a moisturizing mask you wash off after thirty minutes. If you have access to Vitamin E oil, you can use it alone as an overnight moisturizer.

There are other naturally occurring vitamins, such as A and B3 (which help treat acne), available naturally in the many foods we eat or have handy in our homes. Don’t be afraid to try a home remedy instead of buying the expensive products on the market. You may find that some of these solutions works better for you. And you’ll have some extra change in you wallet plus it will enhance personal growth and develop your self esteem.