DIY Hacks

How to Create Stylish Eye Makeup With Five Products

Create a polished eye makeup look using five carefully layered products.

How to Create the Perfect Chrome Makeup in Five Steps

Create a luminous chrome makeup look using five colour-shifting beauty essentials.

Begin by sweeping a multichrome eyeshadow stick across the eyelids and blending the edges. Press duochrome shimmer onto the centre of each lid and inner corner for extra dimension. Add metallic eyeliner along the upper lash line, then apply holographic highlighter to the cheekbones, brow bones and inner corners.

5-Ingredient Chorizo and Butter Bean Baked Potatoes

These loaded baked potatoes combine crispy skins with a warm, smoky and creamy filling.

Cook diced chorizo until it releases its flavourful oils, then stir in drained butter beans and sliced spring onions. Spoon the mixture into fluffy baked potatoes, cover with grated cheddar and allow the cheese to melt.

Foolproof 5-Ingredient Spaghetti Carbonara

This simple Spaghetti Carbonara turns five everyday ingredients into a rich and comforting pasta dinner.

Cook the spaghetti until al dente, fry the pancetta until crisp and whisk the eggs with grated Parmesan and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together away from the heat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water until the sauce becomes smooth and silky.

Simple 5-Ingredient White Bean and Bacon Soup

This comforting White Bean and Bacon Soup turns five everyday ingredients into a hearty weeknight meal.

Crispy bacon, cannellini beans, onion, garlic and chicken stock simmer together to create a rich and satisfying soup. Mash some of the beans or blend part of the soup for a thicker, creamier texture without needing to add cream.

Crispy 5-Ingredient Sweetcorn Fritters

Description

These golden Sweetcorn Fritters are made with only five simple ingredients: sweetcorn, self-rising flour, eggs, spring onions and milk.

Mix everything into a thick batter, spoon small portions into a hot frying pan and cook each fritter until crisp and golden on both sides. Serve them warm with a fresh salad, plain yoghurt or sweet chilli sauce.

5-Ingredient Kale and Peanut Pesto Spaghetti

A vibrant homemade pesto does not need expensive ingredients or a complicated method.

This quick vegetarian spaghetti combines kale, roasted peanuts, garlic and olive oil to create a rich, nutty green pesto. Toss it with freshly cooked spaghetti and loosen the sauce with a splash of reserved pasta water.

5-Ingredient Curry for an Easy Weeknight Dinner

This comforting 5-Ingredient Curry proves that a satisfying dinner does not need a long shopping list.

Cannellini beans, curry paste, chopped tomatoes, frozen spinach and coconut milk simmer together to create a rich and creamy vegetarian curry. Serve it with cooked rice, warm chapatis or plain yoghurt.

Key Lime Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter

This homemade body butter has a light, whipped texture with a fresh citrus scent. For topical use, choose steam-distilled lime and lemon essential oils.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup solid coconut oil • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel • 20 drops steam-distilled lime essential oil • 20 drops steam-distilled lemon essential oil

Place all five ingredients in a clean mixing bowl. Do not melt the coconut oil, because it must remain solid enough to whip.

Using an electric hand mixer with a wire-whisk attachment, beat the mixture on high for 3–7 minutes. Check it after three minutes and continue whipping until it becomes light and airy.

Spoon the body butter into a clean glass jar and close it tightly. Refrigerate it because the recipe contains water-based aloe gel and no tested preservative system.

High Gloss Avocado Hair Mask

This easy homemade hair mask combines creamy avocado, olive oil and lemon juice for a simple at-home hair-care treatment.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado • 60 millilitres olive oil • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Mash the avocado in a small bowl until as smooth as possible. Add the olive oil and mix thoroughly, then stir in the lemon juice.

Apply the freshly prepared mask evenly through your hair. Leave it on for approximately 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water and wash your hair as needed.

Whipped Lavender Face Mask

This simple DIY face mask has a light, whipped texture and uses only three ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1 pasteurised egg white • 1 tablespoon sour cream • 4 drops lavender essential oil

Whip the egg white in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream and lavender essential oil until evenly combined.

Patch-test the mixture before applying it to your face. Spread a thin layer over clean skin while avoiding the eyes, lips and any irritated or broken areas.

Leave the mask on for approximately 15–20 minutes. Place a warm washcloth over your face to soften the dried mixture, then wipe it away gently and rinse your face thoroughly.

DIY Summer Hand Scrub With Lavender and Citrus

This simple homemade hand scrub combines coarse sea salt with olive oil, lemon juice and two bright essential oils. It is an easy addition to a summer hand-care or self-care routine.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup olive oil • ¼ cup lemon juice • ½ cup sea salt • 5 drops lavender essential oil • 2 drops sweet orange essential oil

Add all five ingredients to a clean glass jar and mix thoroughly. Close the jar with a lid and stir or shake gently before each use because natural separation may occur.

Massage a small amount gently over damp hands, paying attention to rough areas. Rinse thoroughly with water and pat your hands dry. Use once or twice per week.

Homemade Rosemary Garlic Infused Olive Oil

This aromatic infused olive oil combines rosemary, garlic, crushed red pepper and black pepper for a savoury finishing oil. Use it for dipping crusty bread, drizzling over pasta, dressing salads or adding flavour to roasted vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • ½ teaspoon cracked black peppercorns

Add the ingredients to a small saucepan and warm gently over low heat. Do not fry or brown the garlic.

Remove the saucepan from the heat, allow the oil to cool and transfer it to a clean container. Refrigerate immediately.

For food safety, keep homemade oil containing fresh garlic or fresh herbs refrigerated and discard any remaining oil after four days. Do not store this fresh-garlic version at room temperature.

Homemade Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

This edible cookie dough is soft, creamy and filled with mini chocolate chips. It contains no raw eggs, and the flour is heat-treated before mixing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour • ½ cup light brown sugar • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Spread the flour evenly over a baking sheet and heat-treat it before using. Allow the flour to cool completely.

Beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture becomes light and creamy. Mix in the vanilla extract.

Add the cooled flour and mix until a soft cookie dough forms. Fold in the mini chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.

Enjoy the cookie dough immediately or refrigerate it for 20–30 minutes for a firmer texture. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice With Five Simple Spices

This homemade pumpkin spice blend is warm, fragrant and ready in approximately five minutes. It makes about ½ cup and can be used in drinks, breakfasts and autumn baking recipes.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon • 2 teaspoons ground ginger • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg • ½ teaspoon ground cloves • ½ teaspoon ground allspice

Add all five spices to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed and no small lumps remain.

Taste the blend and adjust it to suit your preferences. Add a little more cinnamon for a sweeter, gentler flavour or slightly more cloves for deeper warmth.