8 Natural Beauty Products Every Woman Must Have!

The make-up and cosmetics industry is a billion dollar or more industry. And with thousands of new and/or improved beauty products flooding the cosmetic aisles every day, the dollars spent on such products would probably surpass the every-increasing national debt, proving all the more that beauty is BIG business!

But there are some inexpensive and well known natural beauty products that you probably have right in your own kitchen or bath, or can buy for just pennies at your local dollar store. But don't let the cheap price fool you. The beauty benefits of these products have been touted and praised by Queens, movie stars and the mega rich for centuries! Not to mention, they are eco-friendly and have very few known side effects! Replace all those expensive creams, lotions and shampoos with these tried and true all-natural products and you, too, can be a NATURAL beauty!

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of nature's oldest and most used beauty products. The ancient Egyptians even used a raw form of baking soda as a type of soap. And while baking soda has long been used as a cleansing agent for laundry, dishes and even toilets, its cosmetic uses are also plenteous. For example, make a paste of baking soda and water and use as a gentle facial scrub to help loosen blackheads and exfoliate dead skin. Apply to rough patches on elbows, heels and knees for softer skin and silky-smooth feet. And if you wear dentures or partials, soak them for just a few minutes in a mixture of equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to loosen food particles, remove stains and deodorize. Likewise, gargle with baking soda and warm water, and you'll have whiter teeth, fresher breath AND healthier gums!

2. Olive Oil

Cleopatra was said to have used olive oil as a part of her daily beauty regimen. And why not? Olive trees grew abundantly in the Mediterranean, and the oil was widely known to have skin moisturizing and age-defying properties! You might even say Cleopatra was the original "Cover Girl!" Olive oil has properties that actually attack free radicals that cause premature aging, and can actually slow down the aging process! Move over Oil of Olay, and pass me the Olive Oil! For smoother, younger looking skin, rub a dime size amount of extra light virgin olive oil all over your face, then lay a warm washcloth over it for about two minutes. The warm heat will help draw out impurities in the skin, and seal in the age-reversing properties of the olive oil! Oh, and if you don't care too much for the scent, just add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil so you won't smell like a Caesar salad at work! Its also been reported that Julia Roberts slathers olive oil on her hands, nails and cuticles to keep them soft and sexy!

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Okay, pop quiz: what's the main ingredient in many popular teeth whitening products? Answer: hydrogen peroxide! That's right - a $3.00 bottle of hydrogen peroxide can do the same thing as a $30.00 box of whitening strips! Using 3% hydrogen peroxide, mix equal parts with part and swish around your mouth for 2-3 minutes. I've been doing this myself for the past two weeks and can already tell my teeth or getting brighter, and my gums pinker! That's because hydrogen peroxide also strengthens teeth and kills nasty germs and bacteria that live in your teeth and gums! Oh, and if you have a painful canker sore, just swish some hydrogen peroxide and warm water around the affected area several times a day, and it will be gone within a couple of days!

4. Witch Hazel

As a teenager growing up, I was plagued with terrible acne. Blackheads, whiteheads, and ugly pus-filled postules seemed to take over my complexion, and my life! I tried every acne medication I could find, as well as some unconventional treatments from well-meaning family and friends. And even though it did seem to improve as I got older, I still suffered from break outs at the most inconvenient times - like at my wedding! But not too long ago, I discovered the powerful anti-acne properties of witch hazel! With a few swipes of a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel, my face feels clean, refreshed, tighten and toned! And since I've been using it on a regular basis, my now adult acne has even improved! Witch hazel is a natural astringent, yet is gentle and soothing,even on sensitive skin! As an added bonus, witch hazel is also useful to take the itch out of mosquito bites!

5. Cornmeal

Running late and need to wash your hair but don't have the time? Don't panic - just mix a quarter cup of cornmeal with a few shakes of talcum powder and you've got a great instant dry shampoo! Sprinkle lightly on your roots, wait a minute or two, then brush out vigorously for clean, shiny, bouncy hair! I learned this little trick from a friend of mine who had to stay in the hospital for a few days and couldn't wash her hair. A relative gave her a "cornmeal dry shampoo" and the results were nothing short of miraculous! Apparently, cornmeal and talcum powder have amazing oil-attracting properties that help to clean excess oil from the scalp and hair cuticles! I've also been told you can use cocoa or cinnamon powder as dry shampoo if you're a brunette or redhead!

6. Vaseline (petroleum jelly)

I've never seen a baby nursery without at least one jar of old fashioned Vaseline. That's because it's useful for everything from diaper rash to heat rash. So, if Vaseline can make a baby's butt soft and smooth, imagine what it can do for you! Pure petroleum jelly is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance free, making it almost the PERFECT beauty treatment! And its so inexpensive! Use PJ as a lip gloss, to moisturize dry, cracked heels and elbows, and is even recommended by some doctors as a great treatment for eczema! PJ is also a great skin moisturizer, as it helps seal in natural oils and moisture that help keep skin soft and supple! Or use a dab on eyebrows to help tame stray hairs, or as a hair pomade to tame fly aways and give hair a silky, shiny luster! Petroleum jelly is also a favorite among celebrities and beauty pageant contestants as a moisturizing lip gloss and hair serum!

7. Tea Tree Oil

Even though tea tree oil may be a little on the pricey side, the cosmetic benefits are well worth it! Not to mention, a little bit of TTO goes a long way! Tea tree oil is hailed as a potent antiseptic and disinfectant, and can relieve anything from sore gums to sore muscles. It has powerful infection-fighting properties and is useful in treating bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections! (Disclaimer: NEVER take tea tree oil orally or insert directly into the vagina - ALWAYS consult a homeopathic doctor or specialist for the proper way to use tea tree oil for these conditions!) Externally, tea tree oil is a great antiseptic for the skin and has powerful acne-clearing properties! Just pour a little tea tree oil on a Q-tip and dab on pimples or acne. WARNING: the smell of tea tree oil is VERY pungent and can cause your eyes to water if too much is applied close to them! Finally, mix a few drops of TTO with your favorite shampoo to keep your dandruff under control and maintain a healthy scalp!

8. Apple Cider/White Vinegar

Volumes of books have been written on the many household uses of Apple Cider and White vinegar. But vinegar offers some substantial cosmetic advantages, as well. The most well known beauty use for vinegar is as a hair rinse to remove hard water particles from the hair. Just mix a 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar with a cup of distilled water, and use as a final rinse after shampooing your hair. The natural acidic quality of vinegar helps remove dirt, tightens and tones the scalp and gives hair a healthy glow and a voluminous bounce! If you forget to use the rinse after shampooing, just spray a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water to damp hair and come through. The vinegar will help seal the hair cuticle, tame frizz and increase shine! Diluted with water and taken orally, die-hard vinegar fans swear it helps acid reflux, control diabetes and accelerates weight loss. But the jury is still out on ALL those claims, so your results may vary! Vinegar can also be used as a facial toner,but make sure to dilute with water, as the acid can be irritating to sensitive facial skin!

Being a natural beauty doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. It just takes a little imagination and a few simple natural products that you probably already have at home! If you have a natural beauty tip of your own you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about it in your comments below!