There is nothing worse than a beauty blunder when you’re pressed for time! We’ve all been there. The alarm doesn’t go off, you’re called in to work unexpectedly, you blank and forget a meeting, or you’re just having an off day when all-goes-wrong…no matter what the situation is, this has happened to all of us! But, never fear! Here are some quick, natural and safe solutions to your worst beauty mistakes (no chemical quick fixes required).

1. Greasy Hair

You’ve hit the snooze button too many times and now you’re late? No time to shower but your hair is a greasy mess! What to do? The amazing baking soda to the rescue! Simply mix some sodium bicarbonate with a little cornstarch or arrowroot powder and sprinkle on your greasy scalp. Let sit for a few seconds to absorb the excess oil, then brush it out and style as usual.

2. Green Hair

Oh no! Your day at the pool has left your light tresses with a gross green tinge! Shampoo doesn’t work, so how do you remove the chlorine stain? Soak that hair in tomato juice! The acid in the tomatoes will remove the chlorine and leave hair soft and manageable. Apply the juice to hair and let sit for up to 15 minutes. Rinse and shampoo as normal. Alternatively, the same method can be used with lemon juice, though do be careful, as the citric acid can remove the green from your hair, but can also bleach hair further.

3. Flaky, Dry Skin

Is your skin looking a little snake-like? Try dabbing on natural oils like coconut or olive oil. They will absorb into skin effortlessly, without leaving a greasy reside. Also, tone down the temp on your shower. Long hot showers feel great, but they waste water and dehydrate skin. Shower with cooler temps and notice the softer, more radiant skin that results!

4. Popped Pimples

Why is it so hard to leave a pimple alone? If you’ve succumbed to the temptation to squeeze and are left with a glaring swollen blemish, you don’t have to resort to bandaids to venture out in public. Wrap an ice cube in a paper towel. Press it against the pimple for 15 seconds to reduce the swelling. Repeat three times to tame that angry bump. You can also take advantage of the astringent properties of tea to minimize swelling and the appearance of the blemish. If you’ve got an aloe plant handy, dab a little on your zit to prevent further infection.

5. Puffy Eyes

A good cry can actually be really good for you, but too much can lead to puffy, dark circles. Reduce swelling by applying black tea bags to eyes. The caffeine in the tea will constrict and stimulate blood vessels, reducing puffiness.

6. Broken/Dried Out Makeup

Did you drop your compact and now your powder is in a million pieces? Don’t fret. Simply place all the pieces back into the dish, pour in a few drops of alcohol and break up the chunks until it’s a smooth liquid. Let it sit until the alcohol has evaporated and voila! New pressed powder! This trick can also be used to revitalize dried out mascara: simply squeeze a few drops into the tube and swish around with the brush until combined.

7. Dull Skin

If your skin is looking pale, dull and lifeless, give it a quick pick me up with this delicious Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub. For brown patches, or to brighten skin and make it glow, take advantage of the lightening power of lemon with this DIY Zesty Sweet Lemon Sugar Body Scrub. Or double your bang for the buck and wake up your skin by recycling your used coffee grounds into an exfoliating and stimulating scrub.

8. Quick Tooth Care

Coffee or red wine got your teeth looking a little off-color? Or did you forget to pick up toothpaste after squeezing the last of the tube yesterday? Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to suffer from halitosis and yellow teeth all day. Dip some baking soda on your toothbrush and scrub! Your teeth will never look cleaner or shinier! Follow up with a quick whitening 15 second slosh with a little hydrogen peroxide, and you’ll look like you just got a cleaning from the dentist! Note, this treatment is a great addition to your routine, but daily use can be tough on the enamel from your teeth. Stick to a once-a-month application for best results.

Image source:  Flawless 4 Beauty / Creative Commons