By  Diane Irons

The most important beauty routines begin before the clothing and cosmetics go on. I'm talking about spa-like treatments that leave you looking great and feeling even better.

You no longer have to pay top dollar for expensive lotions or oils. With a few basic ingredients, you can create an at-home spa that'll cost you pennies to operate yet leave you looking and feeling like a million bucks!

Picture yourself soaking in a warm bath scented with vanilla. Imagine a secret concoction that can relieve menstrual pains. Think of a formula that will help you flush out the toxins. Well, follow my lead and you'll have all of the above. Isn't it nice to know we can create a spa in the comfort of our own homes?

1. Soften skin by mixing together 3 cups uncooked oatmeal, 2 cups wheat bran and 1/4 cup aloe vera gel. Spoon into a knee-high nylon and add to your bath. After soaking, use the bag to cleanse and exfoliate skin.

2. Add 1/4 cup pure vanilla extract to a warm bath. Vanilla has the ability to lift spirits and revive the body.

3. Mix 2 teaspoons ginger with 2 teaspoons dried mustard. Add it to your bath. The ingredients help menstrual bloating and discomfort.

4. Let facial treatment masks set while you bathe. The steam speeds the penetration of nutrients into the skin. Plus the mask will accomplish its good in half the time.

5. Add rosemary oil to a coarse washcloth and scrub cellulite-prone areas. It's a natural diuretic that works with steam and heat to release the body of excess water and toxins. It's a big spa secret treatment!

Now check out some featured questions:

Dear Diane,
I have heard that honey can be used to condition hair. Is this true and if so, why?
Tammy

Dear Tammy:
Honey is a natural humectant. In English, it's a substance that absorbs and promotes the retention of moisture from the air. Lucky for you, I have a recipe that's been used by models for years. Add 2 tablespoons mayonnaise to 1/2 teaspoon honey. Massage into hair and leave on 10 to 15 minutes. Sit in the sun or under a dryer to intensify the treatment. Rinse with seltzer water. Then, shampoo and condition. Sometimes, I warm the mixture in the microwave for a few seconds to allow it to spread more easily. Good luck!

Dear Diane,
I have extremely chapped lips. I have heard that using lip balm can make the condition worse or solve the problem but you have to keep using it to keep your lips moist. I'd like to know if there is a way to get rid of my chapped lips without having to constantly rely on chapstick or other balms.
Noelle

Dear Noelle,
Here's a great trick: gently massage a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and the contents of a vitamin E capsule into lips. Use a toothbrush or a coarse washcloth. Finish by sealing your lips with the contents of a vitamin A liquid capsule. Be sure to pat outside the lips too.

Diane is author of 911 Beauty Secrets, World's Best Kept Beauty Secrets and Diane Irons' 14-Day Beauty Boot Camp: The Crash Course. She's appeared on national radio and television, including the shows of Sally Jesse Raphael, Maury Povich, Montel Williams, Lifetime Television, CNN and CNBC. To find out more about beauty expert Diane Irons -- or to order her best-selling books -- please visit her Web site www.dianeirons.com