The last time you were wandering down the cereal aisle at the supermarket, you probably didn’t see the containers of oatmeal and think, “Gee, I could be using that as a beauty product too.” But maybe you should have.

For starters, be sure you buy regular, steel-cut oatmeal, not the instant varieties. Plain, steel-cut oatmeal has undergone less processing and doesn’t have additives. For these ideas, you just want the basics. And the best news? Oatmeal is relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare it to what you spend on beauty products. You can usually buy oatmeal on the cheap, even the “good” stuff (organic). You can find a 24-ounce container of steel-cut oats for $3 or less. Now that’s just pennies compared to your other pampering products! Here are some ideas for ways to use that humble container of oatmeal in your cupboard.

As a facial mask or scrub: There’s no end to the variety of easy recipes you can find online for oatmeal scrubs, but you don’t have to do anything complicated. In fact, as a mask or scrub, all you need to really do is run a couple of spoonfuls of oats through your blender or food processor for a matter of seconds and then add a little amount of water. Once you have a creamy paste, either scrub your face with it and rinse, or pat it on and leave it for ten minutes before soaking. Your skin will feel fresh, smooth, and clean and for just a few cents. Some recipes recommend adding honey, lemon juice, or other ingredients for various results. Play around and discover what you like best.

To soothe dry skin: Oatmeal baths have been enjoyed for decades because of the soothing properties of oats. In fact, before the varicella vaccination, oatmeal baths were often a remedy for the itchy irritation caused by chickenpox. Oatmeal baths are easy to indulge in: just fill your bathtub with warm water and add a few handfuls of oats. Then get in and soak for ten or twenty minutes, rinsing yourself before toweling off.

As an acne treatment: Yes, believe or not, some people swear that oatmeal is a great treatment for acne. Simply cook a little bit of oatmeal and then, once it has cooled to lukewarm, spread it on any affected areas. Leave on until dry and then rinse. You can repeat the procedure every day if needed. And it still won’t cost too much!

It’s easy to pamper yourself on pennies when you find ingredients you already have on hand that double as beauty aids. Imagine how much you’ll save and how great you’ll feel by incorporating oats into your beauty routine!