Do-It-Yourself (also known as DIY) projects have become a massive trend in personal care products, and it’s started to cover our Facebook walls, Instragram feeds and Pinterest boards. But anyone who’s tried a few of these DIY project knows that sometimes something that looks effortlessly simple online can be a massive disaster in reality. Most of these projects involve collecting a whole slew of ingredients and mixing them together like you are your own personal mad scientist. But what happens when the DIY projects doesn’t go as planned and you’re left with all the extra products and nothing to do with them?

Some people are DIY divas and have managed to conquer confusing directions, almost impossible to find ingredients and have dozens of mason jars at their disposal. But for the rest of us (myself included), here’s a couple tried and true DIY beauty tricks that are college budget friendly, super effective, and only use one ingredient!

1. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera is extremely common for treating sunburns. Almost everyone has a plastic bottle with electric green goop hidden somewhere in their bathroom cabinet, just waiting for summertime. But it's used even more often than that. Any one who has dabbled into more natural products, or has simply read the ingredients lists on the back of a bottle, has seen aloe barbadensis or aloe barbadenis leaf juice. It’s normally one of the first on the list. Aloe is found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, moisturizers, sunscreens, cleansers, body washes and more; there’s good reason for it. Aloe Vera promotes wound healing (which is why its so good for sunburns), helps fight aging and acne, works as moisturizer, diminishes the appearance of stretch marks, and is full of vitamins and minerals. It can also help with a range of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Incorporating it into your skincare routine couldn’t be easier or more versatile. A bottle of Aloe Vera (the good stuff), ranges from $4-$8 dollars. One bottle can be used as a moisturizer, makeup primer, spot treatment, and all over body lotion. It’s also a great addition for face masks if you’re feeling extra adventurous. And you only need a teeny tiny amount to cover a large surface area, so the product lasts forever.

Pro tip: If you’re planning on using Aloe for needs other than a sunburn, look for a product that has minimal to no other ingredients (so steer clear of the electric green goop as it can contain things like alcohols and dyes). Alba Botanica has a great one, and there are plenty others out there. If you really want the pure stuff, then an Aloe Vera plant is also super easy to maintain and you’ll never run out!

2. Sugar

I am a big, huge, fan of a good body scrub. I’m also quite possibly addicted to the feeling afterwards of having super smooth, polished skin. But store bought scrubs are expensive. The average body scrub or exfoliating facial scrub/cleanser runs between $10-$20 on the lower end and the more "high end’" varieties can run you much higher. And a lot of the time, these products are using exfoliating beads, which have ended up being both bad for the environment and for skin.

But sugar -- yep, plain food grade cane sugar -- works just as well if not better than those expensive scrubs. While your body and digestion has a love/hate relationship with sugar and glucose, your skin adores it. Sugar by itself is an incredible exfoliant and is perfect for those with sensitive skin. Because sugar is water soluble, it provides just the right amount of exfoliation and then dissolves without over-scrubbing the skin or clogging the shower drain.

Pro Tip: If you really want a nice exfoliant, look for a courser-grained sugar, as it won’t dissolve right away. And if you’re feeling really daring, or just looking for an extra dose of luxury, mixing in a carrier oil (coconut, jojoba, olive, etc.) will give your skin added softness and moisture.

3. Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is known pretty widely as a great, all natural toner, but it can also be used in several other inventive ways. As a skincare product, Witch hazel helps to fade blemishes and brighten around the eye area. It also acts as a natural astringent, removing excess oil and dirt while simultaneously shrinking pores. As an overall body care item, it also helps ease bleeding and disinfect wounds; treats pain and itching caused by bites, stings or sunburn; and even helps with conditions like swimmer’s ear.

Pro Tip: If you're looking for other added benefits, Thayer's makes several different varieties of Witch Hazel that include beneficial ingredients such as Aloe, Rose and Lemon.

4. Jojoba Oil

To those who have sensitive eyes like I do, and hate the burning caused by makeup remover wipes, I have found your holy grail! Jojoba Oil takes off even the most stubborn waterproof liquid eyeliners and lip stains quickly and comfortably. Once again, a little bit goes along way. Simply massage a small amount around your face, paying close attention to your eyelids and any other areas where you apply heavy makeup. After, you can use a cotton pad, tissue or cloth to remove the excess oil and makeup from your skin, leaving you both barefaced and moisturized.

The added bonus with Jojoba Oil specifically is that it closely matches the sebum that our skin naturally produces and will not clog pores, as some other carrier oils are known to do depending on skin type.

Jojoba oil can also be used as a full body lotion, and is also the best carrier oil for utilizing any sort of essential oils, whether being applied topically or used as aromatherapy.

Pro tip: To remove mascara, jojoba oil can be applied directly to the eyelashes. Not only is this more gentle for the delicate skin around your eyes, but it can also help grow your eyelashes longer and healthier.

5. Rosewater (Or Rosewater & Glycerin)

Finally, we come to rosewater. Rosewater is made from distilling crushed rose petals in high volume. And while this may seem overly simplistic, rosewater actually has some surprisingly visible effects. Rosewater has been used to calm irritated skin, reduce redness, fight acne and even remove makeup. This makes it an excellent ingredient to use as a cleanser, toner, and even a lotion or moisturizer. Rosewater, or rosewater & glycerin as it is sometimes sold in stores or online, also works well as an addition to clay masks.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a gentle and quick facial cleansing routine, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a bottle of rosewater & glycerin. Apply with a cotton pad and rinse with water.

With the cheap cost and easy application processes, there is no more room for excuses. Better yourself and make your life easier with these simple ingredients!