Before there was a product for every imaginable beauty woe (lash conditioner, cuticle softener, lip buffer) women took a simpler approach to hair and skin care. Dry skin might merit a slathering of olive oil, while puffy eyes called for cucumber slices. Now it seems grandma was ahead of her time: Many of today’s top spa treatments take their cues from old-fashioned home remedies, and there’s science to back up the ingredients’ effectiveness. To find the best remedies, we consulted with three natural beauty savants: Philip B., creator of Philip B. Botanical Products: Donna Perillo, owner of Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa and Boutique, and Barbara Close, founder and president of Naturopathica Holistic Health and author of Well Being: Rejuvenating Recipes for Body and Soul. These healthy hair and skin savers are among their favorites – and you can get everything you need on your next grocery run.

Walnuts:

Use it to: Exfoliate hand and feet

Why it works: Rich in oil, walnuts make for a extra gentle sloughing.

How to: Perillo likes to blend ¼ cup shelled walnuts, ½ cup olive oil (for extra emollients), and a tablespoon of honey (to seal moisture into you skin) in a food processor set on a slow speed, creating a fine particle scrub. Standing in the shower (if you’re scrubbing your feet) or over a sink (if it’s for you hands), work the mixture thoroughly over your skin for a couple of minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Milk:

Use it to: Soothe and soften dry, sensitive skin.

Why it works: The lactic acid in milk serves as a gentle skin exfoliant, while its natural fat content acts as a body moisturizer.

How to: Add 1 gallon of whole milk to tubful of warm water and soak. It’s a great alternative to sugar and salt scrubs, says Perillo, which may be too abrasive for people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin. If you prefer a fragranced bath, add 10 to 20 drops of an essential oil such lavender.