Beauty from the Pantry

If I could magically recover all the money I’ve wasted on skin care products in my life, I’d be a wealthy woman. Who knew that one of the best moisturizers is likely sitting on the shelf in my pantry? That’s just one of the great tips you’re about to read—all submitted by Everyday Cheapskate readers.

OLIVE OIL RELIEF. No matter what moisturizer you use or the skin type you have, the basic goal is the same: To effectively hold moisture close to the skin, without clogging your pores. All you really need is a small bottle of good extra-virgin olive oil, preferably organic. The best olive oil is still cheaper than most mid-range retail products. Wash your face and neck as normal, blot dry leaving your face with a sheen of moisture, and then put a drop or two of olive oil into your palm. Rub your palms together, and pat over your clean skin. Olive oil is naturally humectant, meaning that it draws moisture from the air, and it is quite breathable on the skin. M.T., Tennessee

Some rights reserved by Smabs Sputzer

DISHWASHER BAGS. When you need to wash small items in the dishwasher, place them in a zippered mesh laundry bag designed to wash lingerie. Tiny items like lids, washable appliance parts and small utensils won’t get “lost” or find their way into the bottom of the dishwasher when they’re safely tucked inside these bags. After the bag is filled and zipped, lay it on the top shelf and run through a regular cycle with the other dishes. Kay, Indiana

VEGGIE OIL CUTS GREASE. If you have that sticky, greasy film on your range hood—or anywhere else—that only seems to get worse when you try to clean it with conventional products, try this: Take a paper towel and wet it with vegetable oil. Wipe the area with the oil-soaked paper towel and the sticky, greasy film will come right off. After you remove the stuck-on grease you can clean the surface with a regular kitchen cleaner and the area will come out sparkling clean. Sherri, Indiana

CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT, PLUS MORE. Our bank pays the same interest on Christmas club accounts as on a savings account. The Christmas club pays out in October and that is the month we have taxes due. We use our Christmas club account to also save for our tax bill. This makes tax time and Christmas shopping a whole lot easier. Joan, EC Blog

APPLE CORN-ON-THE-COB HOLDERS. My children enjoy peeled apples but have trouble handling them without making a sticky mess. After I peel the apple I insert corn-on-the-cob holders on each end of the apple. They eat them up, and with no mess. Jennifer, Michigan

MICRO-BAKED POTATOES. I “bake” my potatoes in the microwave oven until almost fork-tender, and then move them to the toaster oven set at 400 F for the last 7 to 10 minutes. I get crisp-skinned baked potatoes in one quarter of the time it takes to bake them in the oven. Judiee, email

Question: Are any of your favorite beauty or skin care treatments currently stored in your pantry? Share your secrets here.