Kitchen Beauty Tips for Gorgeous Skin

Adopted fro WEBMD

According to Irons, food works to beautify skin better on the outside than the inside! Some new uses for:

• Lemon juice. Added to water, this makes a great facial toner.

• Orange slices. Just rub a slice of orange on your face, Irons says. It revives dull skin -- the acid, the vitamin C!

• Vegetable shortening. This is great for eczema, Irons says. "Hospitals call it Cream C, for Crisco," she says. Heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds, then slather it on.

• Egg whites. For an instant facelift, dab egg whites over your face, sit stock still until it dries, then apply makeup. Sort of a poor woman's Botox!

• Avocado. Mash one up, mix in a little lemon juice, and apply to face and neck and let it dry. "A great neck firmer," Irons says.

• Rice flour. This is an "old-timey" secret, Irons whispers. Put some in a compact -- it's "the best face powder money can buy."

• Pumpkin. Yup, out of the can, hold the sugar and cinnamon. It's a great conditioner for the face or whole body.

• Parsley flakes. Put a few spoons in an ice cube tray section, add water, and freeze. Rub it on a pimple and it takes down swelling in a few minutes.

• Coffee grounds. Actually, these are for the whole body, especially problem "rear" and thigh areas. Rub the grounds into your cellulite with a veggie brush. "Better than any loofah," says Irons. Then wrap with plastic wrap and sit for 15 minutes. Make sure you use full-octane coffee -- no decaf.

• Eggs, honey, lemon juice. This is a mask for rough skin, not dry. Combine one egg, one tablespoon of honey, and a half teaspoon of lemon juice, apply with your fingers and leave it on 20-30 minutes, then rinse and apply freshener.

• Beets. Had to include this one from Warhol superstar Ultra Violet (remember her?). She used to cut the top off a beet and carry it in her purse as a lip stain. Bet that drew some stares in restaurants!

Overall, dermatologist Kimball is lukewarm on do-it-yourself cosmetics. "None of these will hurt you," she says. "But cosmetic companies have put a lot of work and technology into developing their products."Hey -- is that a shot at those beets?