Since it's too hot to go out, stay home and stay cool by taking a crack at these easy at-home spa-inspired recipes.

Year of the Sweater KAL: recipe to smooth your hands.

Solarkat's Eco Blog: recipes for an oatmeal, almond, honey scrub, an avocado mask and a honey mask.

dannigrl212: recipes for conditioners including papaya and lemon for shine and strawberry smoothie to add moisture.

Herbs 411 - The Herbal Hotline: recipes using thyme, including a thyme and fig mask for overheated skin.

Tracey: recipes using apple cider vinegar, including a hair rinse, age spot lightener and dandruff fighter.

And The Worsted Witch gives us another reason or two to do-it-ourselves:

Besides saving you money, homemade skin- and hair-care formulas also dispense with petroleum-based plastic packaging, which does add up, even for the most diligent of tree-huggers. You also know exactly what you’re spreading across your skin without having to worry about synthetic additives or shelf-life-prolonging preservatives.

BlogHer Contributing Editor mipmup also blogs at mipmup.