Women can make their own beauty products at home

A good facial can be got from putting 1/2 mashed avocado, 1 egg white and 1 teaspoon lemon juice into a blender. A hand and foot exfoliator consisting of 8-10 ripe strawberries, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt mixed into a paste is surprisingly effective. And a simple, if messy deodorant can be concocted from 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and a few drops of essential oil.

• Is it really worth shelling out $10, $20 or more for things like exfoliators and masques?
• you still might think about creating such products at home.
• Ingredients are usually right at hand, with preparations costing pennies per application.
• It's a natural way to be nice to Mother Earth, too.
• But can DIY glamorizers stand polished toe to toe with the store-bought stuff?
• We had one tester per treatment find out.
• After cleansing your face, smooth mixture over oily areas.
• Relax for 20 minutes, then remove mixture with tepid water and a face cloth.
• MY USUAL STUFF: "I rarely get facials -- salon or home-bought -- because I'm cheap.
• So I was eager to try an all-natural and inexpensive treatment for my oily skin."
• "Twenty minutes looking like Shrek was worth it.
• Cool and soothing, this absorbed the oil from my shiny forehead.
• But I couldn't relax, knowing I had just spread raw egg on my face.
• ---TREATMENT: Hand, foot exfoliator: 8-10 ripe strawberries, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
• Mix together all ingredients, massage into hands and feet, rinse, then pat dry.
• Why would I want to use strawberries as a beauty product rather than eat them?
• MY USUAL STUFF: "Various store-bought antiperspirants/deodorants `designed for women.'"
• "Recipe was easy, application was a piece of cake.
• It left a lot of white powder on my side and inner arm, but wiped off much easier than regular deodorant.