By C1 Staff
When it comes to prison, less is more, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look your best. Check out this list of beauty tips from inmates, all of which use some basic household items.
Here’s a list of inventive ways to add to your own beauty regimen, if you want to avoid the store-bought brands or simply need to simplify. Know of a method that we don’t list here? Add it in the comments.
Eyes
(AP Photo/Warrior Poets)
Eyebrow threading
Since tweezers are obviously out, the other option for controlling your caterpillars is threading. The act removes whole lines of hair instead of individual hairs. It’s also gentler on the skin and provides a more precise control when it comes to shaping your brows. You’ll need some string (rubber bands or dental floss will also do in a pinch) and a mirror so you can see what you’re doing.
(Photo Evan-Amos/Wikipedia)
Eyeliner/Eye shadow
There’s really only one way to go when it comes to adding some color around your eyes – colored pencils. By either getting them wet or melting them, you can easily get a damp edge for adding color around your eyes.
Coffee grounds also work well for eye shadow, which you can lock in with petroleum jelly. You can also add it to face cream to create a personalized foundation, or use it as a contouring alternative.
Lips and mouth
(Beetroot Photo Evan-Amos/Wikipedia; Cherries Photo Benjamint444/Wikipedia)
Lipstick/stains
Highly pigmented foods like cherries and beets can add a nice red color to your lips. Use petroleum jelly for long-lasting wear. You can also get a nice lip-gloss from Kool-Aid if you mix it with Vaseline.
(Carrots Photo Bri-frie/Wikipedia; Strawberry Photo Prathyush Thomas/Wikipedia)
Teeth whiteners
Carrots and strawberries have natural properties that lead to whiter teeth. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, key for healthy tooth enamel, and chewing them raw acts as a natural tooth cleaner. Strawberries contain a natural astringent that will remove stains on teeth and also contain vitamin C, which clear plaque.
Skin
(Shea Butter Photo sheabutterusers.com; Chili Peppers Photo Vikramjit Kakati/Wikipedia)
Ointment
Icy Hot is hard to come by inside the walls, but if you mix chewed-up chili peppers with shea butter you can get a nice holistic alternative for aches and pains. It also works well as an anti-aging moisturizer.
(Photo Pivari/Wikipedia)
Acne control
Garlic is a natural remedy to get rid of zits. Just cut a raw clove open and rub it directly on the problem area.
(Photo Evan-Amos/Wikipedia)
Scar fader
Need to cover up that scar? Cutting a lemon open and rubbing it in circular motions on a healed scar for a few minutes every day will help to fade it. Follow that up with some cocoa butter to really speed the process.
Lemon also works well for a hair lightener if you’re looking for some highlights.
(Photo blush.com)
Face mask
Instead of eating bananas for breakfast, you can mash them up and slather them on your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes, rinse, and enjoy softer skin; raw eggs will also work, if you can get your hands on them. Sugar works well as an exfoliant for dry skin.
Tools
Even if you have the makeup, you still need a way to apply it. Kitchen sponges work just as well as a makeup sponge, and a little baby oil on a razor creates a longer-lasting blade. And those maxi-pads can double as a sleep mask, while you can use tampons as rollers for your hair.