Embracing Homemade Skincare: Simple DIY Recipes for Natural Beauty

Embracing Homemade Skincare: A Journey to Natural Beauty

Until a few years ago, I was entirely captivated by the promises and hype of the cosmetic industry. Like many others, I believed that commercial products were the sole remedy to prevent me from aging into a wrinkled visage. Homemade skincare seemed like a relic of the past, reserved for homesteaders living far from modern conveniences. After all, who has the time to create their own beauty products?

However, a couple of pivotal events shifted my perspective on skincare in our household. The first was discovering that our youngest child has particularly sensitive skin, leading me to avoid dyes and fragrances for his sake. In fact, he even broke out in hives the last time we had a real Christmas tree in our home, so I’ve learned to be cautious.

Shortly thereafter, I faced my own skin crisis. My face inexplicably turned into an itchy, irritated, and swollen mess. It was as if my skin had suddenly decided to rebel. After enduring a week of discomfort and making an emergency trip to the health food store for something to calm the irritation, I finally reached my breaking point.

Having already transitioned to homemade natural or organic cleaning products, it seemed logical to apply the same philosophy to the skincare items my family and I were using.

Initially, I invested in more expensive options from the health food store to replace many of our skincare products. But just as I had done with my cleaning supplies, I began to wonder if I could create more affordable homemade alternatives. To my surprise, it was easier than I had anticipated. Though there was some trial and error, I eventually discovered a few products that are not only easy to make and cost-effective but also outperform their store-bought counterparts!

Today, I want to share some simple DIY skincare recipes that will help you embark on your journey toward creating your own organic or natural products.

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Reasons to Consider Making Your Own Skincare Products

Store-bought organic or natural skincare products can be quite pricey and often hard to find.
Less waste is generated since containers can be reused.
Ingredients can be utilized across multiple recipes.
You gain complete control over what goes into each product.
Making these recipes saves time, as they are quick to prepare and eliminate shopping trips for products.
Commercial skincare items might contain impurities or ingredients that haven’t undergone safety testing.
Many DIY skincare components have been trusted for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Fewer products are needed overall.

Does this mean you should hastily discard your expensive store-bought skincare products? Not at all, unless you’re experiencing irritation or discomfort from them. I recommend a gradual transition to homemade alternatives. Simply replace what you run out of with your DIY version!

If you’re uncertain about the ingredients and their safety, you can investigate them in the ingredients database at EWG.org.

Creating your own skincare items may seem daunting, but I assure you that the basic recipes I’ll share will win you over.

To make this process as seamless as possible, you can find each of the following recipes as downloadable printables in my FREE Resource Library. Just sign up here.

EASY HONEY FACE WASH

A solid cleansing routine is the foundation of any beauty and skincare regimen. This honey face wash is gentle and suitable for all skin types. It can effectively remove makeup (though not recommended for eye makeup) or cleanse away the impurities that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Additionally, it can be used to clean makeup brushes.

For any skincare recipe, I prioritize gentle yet effective cleansers that are easy to find and cost-effective. Liquid Castile soap fits that description perfectly. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even make your own, but I’ve been happily using Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap for years.

What is Liquid Castile Soap?

Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap free from any animal-derived ingredients. This gentle, natural, biodegradable soap comes in both solid and liquid forms and gets its name from the Castile region of Spain. Used for centuries, it serves a variety of purposes, from wound cleaning to washing pets. You can explore its many uses in this informative article.

Castile soap is truly invaluable. It comes in various scents, such as peppermint, lemon, and lavender, among others. Personally, I prefer unscented versions and add my own essential oils, but the choice is yours!

Be aware that Castile soap should not be mixed with hard water, as it can leave a filmy residue. Additionally, combine it with vinegar at your own risk; they counteract each other, breaking the soap down into its base ingredients.

The second key ingredient in my easy honey face wash is, you guessed it: honey.

Skincare Benefits of Honey

Honey is a true superstar in the skincare world. It’s the only food known to last indefinitely; even honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs is still edible after 3,000 years! However, I’ll stick to fresher options, thank you very much.

So, what makes honey an ideal ingredient for skincare products? Its primary role is to nourish—both bees and human skin. Its antibacterial properties make it perfect for acne-prone skin. Loaded with antioxidants, honey also serves as an effective anti-aging agent. It’s exceptionally soothing, well-tolerated, and moisturizing.

Moreover, honey is readily available at any grocery store, eliminating the need for special trips. It’s a versatile staple that should be a part of every household. When purchasing honey, always opt for the raw, unfiltered variety to maximize its benefits.

Now that you’re familiar with the two main ingredients, let’s dive into the recipe!

Combine the following ingredients in a soap pump bottle:

1/2 cup liquid Castile soap
1/2 cup raw unfiltered honey
4 tablespoons distilled or filtered boiled water
2-3 tablespoons oil (jojoba, avocado, grapeseed, or sweet almond)
Optional: 8 drops of essential oils like geranium, frankincense, or carrot seed – check out my essential oil buying guide.

Omit essential oils if you’re using scented Castile soap. Mix well and use one pump to cleanse your face, avoiding the eye area.

Special notes:

It’s easiest to add all ingredients to the storage container directly.
This mixture can be stored for 6 months or more, but I suspect it won’t last that long because you’ll love it!
Be sure to gently shake the dispenser before each use. Since there are no special chemicals to keep the ingredients in suspension, they will separate slightly, which is completely normal!
For a gentle dermabrasion treatment, combine 2-3 squirts of honey face wash with 2 tablespoons of baking soda, mix into a paste, and gently apply it to your face in a circular motion. Rinse off with lukewarm water. This works particularly well right before showering.
To remove eye makeup, apply a few drops of jojoba oil and wipe off gently—it works like a charm.

MOISTURIZING BODY OIL

If you’re worried that oil will leave your skin feeling greasy, fear not! This moisturizing body oil recipe absorbs quickly, leaving your skin smooth and silky all day long. For this recipe, I’ve combined several different oils known for their skin-soothing and nourishing properties. Feel free to use the recipe as is or adapt it to suit your preferences.

Simply combine:

1/2 cup organic olive or avocado oil
1/4 cup grapeseed or sweet almond oil
1 tablespoon jojoba or Vitamin E oil
10 drops of essential oils—like lemon, lavender, peppermint, or tangerine—or create your own unique blend.

CALMING BATH

This calming bath recipe has been a favorite of our son for years. It’s incredibly easy to make and, like the other two recipes, relies on just a few simple, staple ingredients. With only three components, you can whip up a batch whenever you need a little soothing relaxation. The recipe features three superstar ingredients: Epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is an inorganic salt composed of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen, originally discovered near Epsom in Surrey, England. Like many of my favorite ingredients, it has been utilized for centuries to alleviate aches and pains, among other ailments, including ingrown toenails. Take a look here to understand why having Epsom salt in your household is a wise choice.

It’s believed that Epsom salt possesses detoxifying properties and should be paired with baking soda to prevent the reabsorption of released toxins.

Here’s the super simple recipe:

1 cup Epsom salt
1/2 cup baking soda
15 drops of essential oil(s), such as lavender and cedarwood for relaxation or lemon and eucalyptus for colds.

Special Tips:

If using essential oils, steer clear of “hot” oils that may cause a burning sensation, especially when combined with warm water.
This calming bath recipe is most effective in water as warm as can be tolerated.

What do you think? Pretty straightforward, right? If you enjoy these simple starter recipes, be sure to explore my other posts featuring DIY beauty recipes!

My lip and hand balm recipe also works exceptionally well as a soothing eye cream! After using these recipes for a few years now, I can genuinely say that I no longer miss store-bought products at all. If anything, they often feel overly perfumed for my taste and leave me itchy and uncomfortable. Plus, never running out of your favorite face wash or moisturizer simplifies life immensely!

I hope I’ve inspired you to give these recipes a try. I would love to hear your thoughts! Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to engage in discussions, ask questions, and share tips with other women just like you.

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