With the cost of nearly everything on the rise people are on the lookout for simple ways to cut costs. In an effort to cut back on their spending, people are paying a lot more attention to where and how they spend their money. They are asking themselves, “do I really need this?” and if the expense is a necessary one, “can I find it cheaper somewhere else?” Luxuries are often the first to take a hit in anyone’s’ budget crunch. However, luxurious skin care products for your face do not have to be expensive to be effective. There are wrinkle reducers, skin tighteners, scrubs, cleansers and moisturizers right in your refrigerator and in your kitchen cupboards. Written on your grocery list they might look something like this: apples, bananas, papaya, strawberries, oatmeal, honey, cucumbers. These can all be used to beautify your skin, your own in house face lift surgeon if you will.

Homemade facial products are not only much less expensive than store bought products; they are also just as effective. In fact, they are probably more effective because they do not contain harsh chemicals such as alcohol that can dry the skin. Neither do they contain preservatives which can irritate skin and cause redness.

Let’s take a look at one popular facial product. This face lift in a bottle touts itself as an advanced wrinkle corrector and it regularly sells for over $30 per jar. This product contains over 50 (yes, Fifty) ingredients. While there are some natural products in this concoction, there are also alcohols as well as some known carcinogens.

Now let’s see if an equivalent or even better face lift can be found in the fridge. Combine a few (one handful) of strawberries, a few grapes, one half of a pear, one half of an apple and one ounce of orange juice in a blender. After applying a thin layer of honey to your face, apply the fruit mixture and leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. For another homemade face lift, mash one medium banana (peeled) and blend with 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream. Stir in the contents of one vitamin E capsule. Smooth the mixture onto your face and neck, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes. Wipe off with a damp cloth and notice how smooth and soft your face feels. Notice too that healthy glow, that not even the best face lift surgeon can produce.

A bit of research will provide numerous homemade recipes for beautifying your skin, using products that are natural, safe, effective and above all, far less expensive than store bought skin products and you’ll even escape the high face lift cost from surgeons.