They’re the sort of secrets our grandmothers would have known all about - such as how to use baking powder as a tooth whitener and why lemons can be used as skin softeners. They're the old-fashioned quick fixes that are making a comeback in this new era of ‘make do and mend’!

So the next time you find yourself hovering near the avocados in the supermarket, don’t just think about making a nice guacamole with them - you can actually treat your skin to a nourishing face mask instead.

You can make avocado face masks with eggs or yoghurt but the easiest one to make involves just two ingredients - vitamin E rich avocado (which is also full of essential fatty acids) and honey.

Mash the flesh of a ripe avocado and stir in a tablespoon of runny honey until you get a smooth paste with a firm consistency. Apply it to your skin and rinse off after 15 minutes (or wipe it off with a facecloth to avoid any getting in your eyes) - the result should be clearer, fresher looking skin.

As for baking powder - this is what people used to do before expensive teeth whiteners came onto the market. Pour a small amount of baking powder into a dish and dip in your wet toothbrush. Brush your teeth gently for a few minutes then rinse. It should help to get rid of food, wine and coffee stains.

If you suffer from hard, dark skin on your elbows and knees then cut a lemon in half and rub the flesh into your skin. The lemon acts as a mild bleaching agent while the fruit acids break down hard flaky skin patches. Try it every couple of days (although it might be best to do it when you’re in the shower as it can make a mess!)

Beer has long been used as a natural conditioner to add shine to brunette hair - but it’s best if it’s a brown bitter or ale. Simply rinse your hair with beer after shampooing, but add a final rise with warm water so you don’t end up smelling like a brewery! Add some apple cider vinegar for extra shine.

You can also make your own body scrub by mixing either small granule salt or sugar in with a basic oil, such as baby oil, olive oil, almond oil or extra virgin coconut oil in a one part oil to two parts sugar or salt combination. To make it smell nice and spa-like, add a few drops of essential oil into the mix.

So the next time you run out of beautifying products, you don’t have to hit the beauty hall for your next fix, just look in your kitchen instead!