There’s a certain kind of joy in using what we already have. Long before skincare came in glass jars and gold lids, women were turning kitchen scraps into beauty magic, and to this day, we’re still at it.
We press cucumber slices over our eyes when we’ve had too little sleep, dab cold tea bags to calm puffiness, sprinkle oats into the bath for chickenpox and eczema, and swipe honey over our lips when they feel dry. It’s second nature really. We might pretend we’ve moved on to serums and actives, but deep down, we know that the simplest things often work the best.
This week, I wanted to continue our journey into wartime-inspired beauty, but with a modern twist. These are the practical bits, the “how-to” recipes that let you join in from your own kitchen. They’re thrifty, gentle and kind, and they celebrate that same waste not, want not spirit my grandmothers, Olive and Joyce, lived by. So, grab your mixing spoon, raid the fridge, and let's get to it.
Waste Not, Want Not: Beetroot Lip Tint Balm
A homemade lip tint that looks as pretty as it sounds.
You’ll need:
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Any old lip balm in a tin or pot (even one you thought was finished)
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Half a teaspoon beetroot powder or a few drops of beetroot juice
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A quarter teaspoon coconut oil or shea butter
Gently melt the balm and oil together over a bowl of hot water. Stir in the beetroot powder until the colour is even. Pour it back into your tin and let it set. The result is a soft, natural tint that leaves your lips glowing and your conscience clear.
Vegan tip: If your original balm isn’t vegan, start fresh with a base of shea butter and coconut oil instead.
Beer and Vinegar Shampoo Rinse
It might sound like something from your uncle’s homebrew kit, but this old recipe gives hair the kind of shine that makes you look suspiciously well-rested.
You’ll need:
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Half a cup flat beer
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One tablespoon apple cider vinegar
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Half a cup water
Mix it all together and pour over freshly washed hair. Leave for a minute or two, then rinse with cool water. Beer adds protein and body, while vinegar smooths and clarifies. Don’t worry, the scent disappears long before anyone suspects you’ve been rinsing your hair in lager.
Vegan by nature: No adjustments needed, just a clean conscience and shiny hair.
Porridge Oat Face Mask
This one’s an Olive & Joyce classic, its soothing, softening and almost edible.
You’ll need:
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Two tablespoons cooked oats (leftover porridge works perfectly)
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One teaspoon maple syrup or agave nectar
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A few drops of oat milk or water to loosen
Mix into a paste and apply to clean skin. Leave for ten minutes, rinse gently and enjoy how calm and nourished your skin feels. The oats soften and restore, while the syrup adds a touch of hydration.
Vegan-friendly: Entirely plant-based and guilt-free.
Banana and Avocado Nourish Mask
This one’s pure comfort food for the face, full of natural oils and vitamins to bring your skin back to life.
You’ll need:
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Half a ripe banana
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A quarter ripe avocado
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One teaspoon olive oil
Mash together until smooth and spread evenly over the skin. Leave for ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse with warm water. Your skin will feel soft, hydrated and slightly smug.
Vegan-friendly: Absolutely, and delicious enough to make you wonder if you should eat it instead.
Coffee Grounds Scrub
If you’re a morning coffee drinker, never throw away your grounds again. They make the most brilliant natural exfoliator.
You’ll need:
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Two tablespoons used coffee grounds
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One tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
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One teaspoon dark brown sugar (optional for extra scrub)
Mix everything into a paste and massage gently into damp skin in circular motions. Rinse thoroughly. It wakes up your skin as well as your senses and leaves you smelling faintly of a fancy café.
Vegan-friendly: Entirely, as long as your coffee and oil are plant-based.
Oat and Chamomile Bath Soak
For those evenings when you need soothing from the inside out.
You’ll need:
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Half a cup oats
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Two chamomile tea bags or a handful of dried chamomile flowers
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A small square of muslin or an old clean sock
Add the oats and chamomile to the muslin, tie it securely and drop it into warm running water. As it soaks, the oats release a creamy liquid that softens skin, while the chamomile calms both skin and mind. It’s like bathing in a cup of comfort.
Vegan-friendly: Entirely. Even the sock.
Beauty in Simplicity
These little recipes are reminders that skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, or expensive, or delivered by post. Sometimes the best things for your skin are the ones already sitting in your kitchen, quietly waiting to be rediscovered.
At Olive & Joyce, we still believe in that kind of beauty, thoughtful, honest and made with what nature gives us. It’s what my grandmothers knew instinctively, and what I try to pass on now, one comforting ritual at a time.
So, before you throw away the banana that’s gone brown or the oats left in the pan, look again. You might be one step away from your next favourite face mask.