The generaciones de mujeres in our lives have passed down valuable beauty secrets that worked for them, their moms, and their abuelas–and now we’re here to share them with you! Our moms, tías, and abuelas whipped up natural, homemade remedies and shared their best beauty advice with us. These beauty secrets and hacks are deeply rooted in cultural pride and natural ingredients–making them wholesome, affordable, and super effective.
We’ve tried these hacks ourselves, and trust us– they have our official seal of approval. Read on to find a natural remedy passed down through generations that you might want to try for yourself!
Aguacate for Lush Hair
This superfood isn’t just good for your body–it also works wonders for your hair, too. If your mom or abuela ever mashed up a few avocados and worked them into your hair, you already know how soft and shiny it leaves your strands.
Packed with healthy fats and vitamins, aguacate deeply moisturizes, adds shine, and strengthens hair. If you want to upgrade this DIY classic–mash a few avocados and add a drizzle of honey and olive oil, and apply it all over your hair. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse and air-dry your hair. You’ll see, and feel, the difference instantly.
Lemon Juice for Natural Highlights
One of our favorite beauty memories? Abuelita braiding our hair, sleeked back with lemon juice, and sending us outside to play under the sun. This wasn’t just used to tame flyaways–it was also a natural way to lighten and enhance highlights in our hair.
The citric acid in lemon juice works as a natural bleaching agent and has natural lightening abilities. Next time you plan to spend a sunny afternoon outside, squeeze a couple of lemons into a spray bottle, spritz your hair, and let the sun work its magic.
Aloe Vera as a Remedy for All
Sunburn, bruise, dry skin, or puffy under eyes–you name it, sábila was the answer our abuela had as the one natural cure-all remedy. Abuela always had cuttings of fresh stalks from her garden in case of any emergency.
Aloe vera has natural anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties that soothe irritation and speed up the healing process all while providing extra moisture.
Vicks VapoRub
This might sound like a joke, but we promise–this remedy is no myth! While it’s best known to be a remedy for anyone struggling with a cold, Vicks has also been used to help soothe dry feet, calm blemishes, and give a quick refresh to tired skin.
While not necessarily a beauty hack, it’s a natural remedy with ingredients like eucalyptus and menthol that help to temporarily reduce inflammation. It’s a nostalgic go-to and an absolute must-have in our medicine cabinet!
Red Lipstick
Red lipstick is a staple Latina beauty secret we know has been passed down in every household. A red lip instantly adds confidence, power, and main character energy. There isn’t anything you can’t accomplish when you have a little extra boost of confidence.
Take some of the red lipstick and lightly dab it onto your cheeks using your index and middle fingers for a natural flush, you won’t be disappointed!
Vaseline
Vaseline–this multi-tasking icon has been a long time staple and the best kept beauty secret in every generation of our family. This tiny jar of wonder instantly adds a subtle glow when applied to the cheekbones, extra hydration for wrists and elbows, working as a natural eyebrow gel, or dabbing a small amount to wrists and neck before spritzing your perfume for a lasting effect.
Mix these all-natural, culture-focused remedies into your modern beauty routine and find your new favorite ritual. These timeless beauty secrets are now yours to embrace and share with amigas, family, and pass them down to the future generaciones–because our traditions are just as beautiful as we are!
