Spring is officially here. My favorite rooms to clean? The kitchen and the bathroom—where the beauty goes down. For me, the two should be within arms reach of one another as I regularly bop between them for items to rev up my beauty routine. Below I spotlight 7 things you likely have on hand right now in your kitchen—to give your skin a boost without breaking the bank.

Lemons and egg whites—Ok, this first one is a two-for-one. Lemons and egg whites are the perfect match if you want to tighten and tone skin in less than 5 minutes. Egg whites are a natural skin firmer and lemons have antibacterial properties. To make a quick mask, simply whisk together 1 egg white and the juice of half a lemon. When the mixture is fizzy, apply all over your face (avoiding the eye area) and leave on for 5-10 minutes. You may feel a little tingling—that’s just the lemons working their magic. Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry. It always leaves mine looking and feeling super soft and shiny—in a good way.

Cinnamon—A must-have in my daily cup of coffee for an antioxidant boost—and cinnamon is known to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This kitchen spice staple is also a wonder in my beauty routine. Mixed with coconut oil and sugar (I prefer coconut sugar), it makes a great addition to a DIY body scrub. Not only does it smell amazing, cinnamon can help improve skin’s circulation too. You can also try making your own bronzer using a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder and arrowroot powder or cornstarch. A great go-to if you run out of store-bought ones!

Coconut oil—From my head to my toes, I love using coconut oil for just about anything that feels dry or damaged. From applying it to my hair for a 20-minute mask to soothing rough feet overnight to applying it on silky smooth legs after shaving, I definitely reach for this stuff every day.

Sugar—Coconut sugar in particular polishes skin while adding moisture. It’s a great compliment to coconut oil for a quick lip scrub. It also mixes well with coffee grounds and coconut oil to make a richer body scrub. I like adding essential oils like sweet orange to get my bathroom smelling like a tropical island. That’s one of my favorite things about beauty—it’s an escape to somewhere warm on a dreary day.

Greek yogurt—I try to avoid dairy in my diet, but when it comes to skin—I’m all in! Greek yogurt is such a nourishing ingredient that revives dull skin because it contains lactic acid, which gently exfoliates and smoothes skin. It also feels incredibly refreshing when applied to skin after a hot day in the sun because it’ll be nice and chilly from the fridge. I like mixing mine with a little lemon juice and 1/2t turmeric powder for an especially anti-inflammatory mask to prep my skin for summer.

Oatmeal—Oatmeal usually gets credit in the tub but I’ve found it to also be a lovely cleansing grain to include in a DIY mask, especially when combined with softening ingredients like raw honey or yogurt. Oatmeal can also help soothe acne-prone skin.

Baking soda—Last but not least, my pesky pimple remedy. Have a date night tonight or a wedding to attend tomorrow? Grab the baking soda, mix 1t with a little warm water until a toothpaste-like paste forms, then simply apply to the irritated spot for 5-15 minutes and rinse away. Baking soda is very drying so don’t leave it on too long—just a few minutes should do the trick to absorb excess oil and reduce inflammation so you’re looking fresh for your big night or day out.

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Brooke Domaas

Brooke is a Marketing consultant by day and creative at heart—she’s probably whipping up a new recipe or DIY beauty remedy right now. She’s passionate about finding healthier alternatives to the makeup & products many women put on their skin every day and bringing a balanced approach to everyday living.