Need a beauty fix? Look no further than your fridge!

Imagine being able to eat the products you put on your face. With home-made remedies you can do just that – kill two birds with one stone! Aromatherapist, Tomoka Ngugen, proves it can be done.

Considering throwing away those chemical-based skincare products and going down the natural route? Tired of trying loads of new products that just don’t seem to work for you? Try adding some new ingredients to your skin routine this summer and see what works for you…

4 new ways to shake up your skincare regime:

1. They are berry good for your skin, as they are for your health!

Berries contain vitamins and antioxidants that help keep your immune system boosted, as well as rejuvenating and reducing wrinkles in the skin. They also help decrease moderate/mild acne! If you love raspberries, blueberries, any type of berry… why not include them in a blended face mask!

2. Be cool as a cucumber

Did you know that cucumbers contain amino and organic acids that cool and refresh the skin and tighten pores? You have seen those typical spa pictures with cucumbers on people’s eyes. Why? Cucumbers are mainly water-based which helps soothe skin irritation and reduce swelling and circles underneath the eyes.

3. Holy-guacamole

Avocado is great for soothing and softening the skin. Try experimenting with a honey and avocado face mask. Crush the avocado into a paste, add honey and mix. Apply to the skin for 15-20 minutes and rinse off. Then have a look in the mirror at your glowing skin!

Your hair might be exposed to a lot of heat this summer, or maybe you dyed it a crazy colour for the season. Try using raw oils such as coconut or avocado to help restore the moisture.

Certified aromatherapist and owner of Jojomoka homemade skincare, Tomoka Ngugen, started making homemade products nine years ago in her kitchen because she wanted to “avoid the danger of chemicals”. Ngugen created a website, blog and book that promotes home-made products, good health, the road to great skin and saving money too!

Ngugen states that apart from saving hundreds and thousands of pounds and reducing food wastage, her top three benefits to highlight are:

· You will eliminate hundreds of untested chemicals going into your body, which will protect your health long-term.

· You will learn a holistic approach to beauty, by making products for yourself and learning how your skin reacts to natural ingredients.

· You will be heavily helping the environment.

4. Some sunscreens can be damaging to the skin. Ngugen suggests applying oils such as coconut, sesame or jojoba, to your skin to help cut out up to 30% of the UV rays. She says the key is to prevent the sun penetrating into the skin, so make sure you try to keep that umbrella up or try to stay in the shade!

Need a cooler for this summer? Ngugen recommends creating a ‘cooling spritzer’ which contains aloe vera juice and refreshing essential oils to cool the body & mind. Ngugen includes every recipe in her book, 'Beauty Confidential' and her website.

Not every home-made product or ingredient necessarily agrees with your skin. “Be mindful of certain allergic reactions. Natural doesn’t mean safe to everyone; some essential oils can cause reactions to the young and fragile,” says Ngugen. Perhaps hold off from throwing away all your chemical-based products before you’re absolutely sure this is the right path for you.