I'm all about looking beautiful without having to spend the big bucks. When I'm not at my nearest drugstore trying to score beauty bargains, I'm in my kitchen whipping up an all-natural remedy. Back in September, I gave you the scoop on seven secret beauty ingredients from around Latino America. So this time I thought I'd bring you a few more. I did a little web surfing and asked some of our writers and editors to share some of their favorite Latin recipes. Check out a few of the best beauty secrets that we, our mamás, and abuelitas couldn't live without!
Readmore ¿Qué más? 7 Secret beauty ingredients from our Latina countries!
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Smooth, shiny hair
One of our former editors told me this secret Venezuelan beauty trick: she likes to mix olive oil, honey, and vinegar to keep her long straight hair smooth and shiny. Add the mixture to your hair and leave on for about 15 minutes. Rinse and follow with shampoo.
Nail fungus killer
Struggling with nail fungus? I hear ya! Try this old Cuban beauty remedy recommended by our food & health staff writer Irina Gonzalez. Simply soak nails in vinegar for about five minutes and then soak them again in a baking soda and water solution for around the same amount of time. Do this on a daily basis for about a month and you’ll definitely see a difference!
Healing skin
Mexican women like to get nopal cactus body treatments to help hydrate, detoxify skin, and help heal sunburns. The needles are removed from the leaves and then soaked in warm water. Once the leaves are soft, they are split in half and rubbed (gooey side down) on the skin, allowing the nopal juice to be absorbed.
Healthy nails
Dominicanas like to use garlic to keep their nails healthy and strong. Take one garlic clove, mince, and then add it to a bottle of clear nail polish. Apply it to your nails and then wash hands with lemon to remove odor. Leave the treatment on for at least a week to see results.
Glowing skin
Women in Chile swear by red grape masks to keep their skin healthy and radiant. Grapes contain moisturizing antioxidant powers that help repair and regenerate skin. Take a handful of red grapes and mash them in a small bowl. Then add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Blend, then apply to to your face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes.
Reduce cellulite
Brazilian chicas are known for their amazing bods! What’s their secret? They use sand as a skin exfoliant to help minimize the appearance of cellulite.
Moisturize & nourish skin
In Colombia women mash up strawberries, yogurt and honey to create a hydrating facial mask. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes for a smooth, glowy complexion.
Even skin tone
Here’s another Cuban beauty remedy worth trying. Women in Cuba mash up papaya and place it on their faces to help even skin tone and fight dark spots caused by the sun. Take half a papaya scooped out, 2 tablespoons of oats, a dash of coconut oil, and juice from one quarter of a lemon. Then, grind the oats in a blender and mix them with the papaya, coconut oil, and lemon juice. Apply the mask to your face and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
Make hair grow
A good friend of mine got her curly hair to grow using an old Puerto Rican hair remedy her abuela did on her for years: She massaged her scalp before every hair wash with the bone marrow straight from the chicken leg bones. We know it may be kinda gross, but it worked on her! Within a few months, my friend's short, thin ringlets were long and luscious!
Whiten elbows
Our collaborator–and mastermind behind one of our favorite blogs, MamaBeaute–Soe Kabbabe swears that this recipe for whitening elbows passed down from her grandmother really works: Take a sprig of parsley, two lemons and one heaping tablespoon of oatmeal flakes. Check out the rest of the recipe and how to use it here.
