The base consists of flour and milk: Iman didn’t specify any particular type, so we’ll assume you can choose your own adventure here. All-purpose flour with oat milk, coconut flour with almond milk—the combinations are endless. Just make sure to choose a super-fine flour that’s not too abrasive on your delicate skin. 

Now, for what Iman calls “the magic”—turmeric and honey. Both ingredients have been used for thousands of years in skin care: Turmeric (and its active ingredient, curcumin) has antioxidant properties that can help combat oxidative stress; plus, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help brighten tone and relieve dark spots. Honey also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that calm the skin and support a healthy complexion. It’s also a humectant—meaning, it can actually draw water molecules into the top layer of your skin from the surrounding environment. 

Essentially, these four, simple ingredients make one creamy, hydrating, and brightening face mask. Grab the details below: 

To start, you can always just rub pureed banana under your eyes—banana’s beauty benefits alone are enough to soothe and brighten. Take it from board-certified family medicine physician, Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., who loves this all-natural remedy for swollen under-eyes.  

Or, you can opt for Mlotek’s banana peel route: “Take the white fibers inside the banana peel and scrape them out,” she says. (A spoon is probably the most helpful tool to keep the delicate fibers intact.) “Take the fibers and mix them with aloe; if you don’t have aloe, use your favorite moisturizer. Mix it all together and gently tap it under your eyes.” Leave the goop on for about five to 10 minutes before rinsing well with lukewarm water. 

No matter which recipe you choose, make sure to use organic-only bananas for the venture, if possible, as you don’t want to smear potentially-irritating pesticides on your skin.

Now, I’d be the first to declare that summer is not over (nope, no way), but as the season starts to draw to a close, it’s the perfect opportunity to take stock of your strands: After all that UV exposure and pool time, you may be dealing with sizzled, straw-like tresses. To breathe some life back into your mane, might I suggest a nourishing hair mask? 

Hair masks, whether you opt for market or DIY versions, help deliver moisture and nutrients back into the strands—think of a five-star meal paired with an ice-cold beverage for your parched hair. So if you’ve neglected your hair’s needs for the better half of the summer (you’ve got things to do and people to see!), a hydrating mask can send some much-needed TLC to the strands. 

Convinced yet? What if we told you that you could make your own concoction with just four simple ingredients? Ahead, NYC-based hairstylist Jenna Pitocco shares her go-to recipe for soft, luscious hair. 

There’s a reason avocado remains one of the most hailed superfoods. First, the fruit is brimming with vitamins (specifically vitamins A, C, E, K, B, and folate), which can help stave off free radicals and protect the strands from photodamage. Avocados also boast tons of fatty acids, which literally feed the hair with nutrients, condition the cuticle, and enhance moisture and shine. 

Specifically, “Avocados are extremely rich in oleic acid and monounsaturated fats,” says Muhga Eltigani, founder of NaturAll Club about avocado and avocado oil. “In fact, avocado oil is one of few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize your hair rather than sitting on top and coating your hair. These fats also strengthen the hair shaft and help prevent breakage.” 

And while you could opt for a cold-pressed avocado oil, slathering on the whole fruit has some noteworthy advantages: Oils tend to lose water-soluble vitamins B and C during the extraction process, whereas the fresh fruit retains all those good-for-you players. Avocado oil certainly still trumps in the hair care department, don’t get us wrong, but don’t knock the whole avo itself. 

Choose your own adventure here: Either apply argan oil as a quick pre-shampoo treatment (á la Newman) or as an overnight mask for extra moisture. 

If you’d like to take Newman’s route, separate your hair into sections and pump a quarter-size dollop of argan oil (like this 100 percent Pure Argan Oil from Josie Maran) into your palm. Warm it up in your hands and saturate the section from root to tip, repeating until all your strands are slick. 

Newman then gently detangles his locks while the oil settles in—the oil provides some slip and can make it easier for you to work through any snarls. Just be very, very careful not to pull on your precious strands—and if you have curls, you might want to wait to detangle in-shower when your hair is sopping wet. Let the argan oil do its magic for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. 

As for the overnight argan oil treatment, the steps are virtually the same—you’re just, you know, letting it soak overnight. “For an overnight mask, argan oil should be applied starting from the scalp all the way to the ends of the hair,” says hairstylist Lucia Casazza about argan oil’s beauty benefits. After your strands are coated, wrap them in a microfiber towel or cap (so you don’t make a mess of your pillow), and rinse everything out come the a.m. 

What are we to do about this situation? Well, this is where clarifying shampoos and treatments come into play. “I love that these new shampoos are healthier for your hair, but the problem that many stylists are seeing now is that they are so gentle that people aren’t properly cleaning their hair or scalps,” says certified trichologist Shab Reslan. “If you want to stick with your low-lather shampoo, you absolutely should, but you might need to do a weekly clarifying shampoo or treatment.”

However, not all options are created equal—nor work the same for everyone. There are traditional clarifying shampoos, which rely on strong sulfates to clean the hair. There are clean versions, which use botanicals and gentler cleansing agents to get the job done. You can make DIY versions, like this baking soda one (however, many people have sensitivities to baking soda and thus stay away from it).

Or you can use this DIY Aztec Clay & ACV mask. 

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is a fan-favorite, do-it-all, 100% natural calcium bentonite clay. (To say that this product has amassed devoted users the size of a small nation would arguably be understatement.) Bentonite clay contains natural minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron; the ingredient is extremely porous and absorbs gunk quite effectively, holding onto it before you wash it down the drain. “Calcium bentonite is gentle and provides the body with lots of minerals,” says holistic skin care expert Samantha Story, MS, LAc. 

What makes this option additionally so great for hair is the apple cider vinegar. ACV has long been used as a hair ingredient, notably for apple cider vinegar rinses, as the acidic nature can help balance your scalp’s microbiome, naturally seals down the cuticle, adds shine, and gives the strands a dose of vitamins and nutrients.  

It’s worth repeating here: Argan oil is not going to fix or repair your ends. However, it will temporarily and superficially help improve the appearance of them. How and why? Thanks to its ability to gently coat the strand, lock in moisture, and improve shine. 

First up, the nutrient profile of lipids help it form a protective barrier around strands. “It’s great for many conditions, especially dry, damaged hair because its trove of fatty acids lock moisture into the hair follicle,” says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine physician and mbg Collective member says about argan oil for hair. “I use it on the ends of my hair to protect from heat styling damage.” But unlike heavier oils, this is light and fast-absorbing enough that it won’t weigh hair down—making the ends appear lifeless. 

Additionally, the oil helps strands reflect light—further masking any splits and frays. According to hairstylist Lucia Casazza, using argan oil can help transform the appearance when used on the ends: “I simply apply it as a leave-in treatment before and after a blowout for a clean, polished look with silky, smooth ends.” 

It’s so easy to use as well: Work a small (dime size) amount of the oil into your palms, warming it up. With your hands and fingers, gently apply it mid-shaft to tip on damp hair or prior to using a hot tool. For touch ups, you can apply a pea-size amount to just the ends as needed.