While glancing at my Target shopping list the other day, I was astounded at how many personal care products I buy. Even though I DIY a few things (like face masks, toner, and when I'm feeling adventurous, deodorant), I'm still filling my cart with face wash, makeup remover, dry shampoo and tons of other junk.
It makes for an expensive outing every time I head to the store, and I'm also not crazy about all the packaging I'm throwing away or the harmful ingredients that lurk in makeup and skincare products.
Jump to:
- Tools + Ingredients for Homemade Beauty Products
- Storing Homemade Beauty Products
- Homemade Face Care Recipes
- —Cleansers
- —Toners
- —Face scrubs
- —Face masks
- —Serums + Moisturizers
- —Lip care
- —Eye care
- —Makeup
- —Facial treatments
- DIY Beauty Recipes for Body Care
- —Body Lotion
- —Massage
- —Hand + Nail Care
- —Body Scrubs
- —Fragrance
- —Foot Care
- —Personal Care
- —Hair Removal
- Natural Beauty Recipes for Bath + Shower
- —Soap recipes
- —Bath bombs
- —Bath salts + soaks
- —Shower
- Natural Haircare Recipes
- —Shampoo
- —Conditioner
- —Hair Styling
- —Hair Treatments
Tools + Ingredients for Homemade Beauty Products
DIY beauty products can usually be made with basic ingredients you already have around the house like baking soda, coconut oil and honey. Here are our must-have ingredients that we always turn to when making a new beauty recipe. From oats to honey, a lot of these are probably easier to find that you thought.
It might seem scary at first to use homemade products (I still worry that DIY deodorant could fail me at any time), but your body has a way of readjusting itself to more natural treatments and after a brief transitional period, you'll often find them just as effective, if not more so. Saving money is always good, too!
The only 'investment' you need is in a few essential tools. Again, these don't have to be anything fancy - you probably already own a blender and measuring spoons, right? And while buying matching mason jars to store your concoctions will look prettier, you can always reuse regular jars from your pantry to the same results.
Storing Homemade Beauty Products
When you're just starting out, reusing containers is the easiest, cheapest way to go. But once you start making everything at home, you'll probably want to upgrade.
This is probably the number one FAQ we get at Hello Glow: where did you get that bottle? A lot of the time, the answer is Rail19, but we're sharing all our favorite ways to store homemade beauty products here.
Since homemade beauty products don't have added preservatives, mold and bacteria have been known to ravage them. It’s not always possible to use your potions within a matter of days, so it's a good idea to make smaller batches and keep them cold, away from sunlight (for e.g. in the fridge). We're sharing more tips for making your DIY recipes last longer here.
Homemade Face Care Recipes
—Cleansers
Lots of ingredients in face washes can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing it to overcompensate and thus, break out. A homemade honey face wash is great for any skin type: it fights acne while locking in much-needed moisture.
Acne products: Turmeric is a proven acne-fighter, and a Greek yogurt mask can get your skin's natural bacteria in balance. Tomatoes, tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are all effective acne remedies, too.
—Toners
Oily and acne-prone skin in particular can benefit from adding an extra step: toner. But conventional toners are often formulated with alcohol and astringent, which will dry out and even irritate skin. What you want is a toner that aids skin to regain its optimal pH, and that's easy to do when you have complete control over the ingredients. Homemade toner can be customized to suit your skin, whether that's dry, aging or acne-prone.
—Face scrubs
Our love of homemade beauty products started with scrubs: the easiest thing to mix together with kitchen ingredients. Depending on your skin type and skin issues, you might chose baking soda for gentle exfoliation, ground almonds for mature skin, rice flour for oily skin or oatmeal for keratosis pilaris. While exfoliation is necessary to remove dead skin cells and grime from the face, it's important not to abuse facial scrubs, nor rub them in too much, as this can unfortunately damage the skin.
—Face masks
Homemade face masks are not just combating food waste (here's looking at you, half a can of pumpkin puree!), they're perfectly nourishing and repairing exactly where your skin needs it. Whether you pick turmeric for glowing skin, green tea to fight acne or puffiness, coffee against sagging skin or (our favorite) coconut oil, you're sure to find the perfect face mask right there in your kitchen cupboard.
—Serums + Moisturizers
Applied after you cleanse, but before moisturizer, serum is your source of highly concentrated, target nutrients that the skin needs. While often recommended by dermatologists, serum is usually one of the more expensive skincare products. Save money and address your particular skin issues by making your own face serum. Target scared skin, support collagen production, you can even try a solid version if you don't like wasting a drop of your serum.
Controlling the ingredients that go into our skincare might be our number one reason for DIYing cosmetics. When it comes to face moisturizers, the list doesn't have to be long at all: you can use something as simple as coconut oil!
Moisturizer: Soothing green tea calms skin in this DIY coconut oil-based whipped moisturizer while shea butter is the main source of moisture in this face cream for aging skin.
Oil: Mixing a carrier oil with an essential oil is the simplest formula for a custom face oil. Make sure you don't do these face oil mistakes and you're golden.
—Lip care
Lip balm: A lot of store-bought lip balms only work when you use them continuously, and will dry out your lips instead of moisturizing them. It's super easy to make your own lip balm with just a few ingredients and these no-fail DIYs. Add SPF for increased protection.
Lip gloss: For a bit of color, try this cranberry and beetroot powder gloss, which doubles as a cheek stain. Creamy and pretty, this lip gloss also doubles as a cheek stain, the perfect choice for every multitasking gal.
Lip scrub: This sensitive area needs exfoliation, too, especially if you don't like dry, chapped lips! The best part is you can taste the ingredients, so make sure you use something nice, like chocolate or honey.
—Eye care
Eye cream: Eye skin is the thinnest skin in the body, which is why it also exhibits the first obvious signs of aging. Fight wrinkles with an eye oil or opt for a vitamin-rich eye cream.
Eye masks: While wearing sunglasses and undereye sunscreen is super important to protect this sensitive area, eye masks also play their part. Erase dark circles with parsley, invigorate tired eyes with pomegranate and rosehip, or wake up your eyes with coffee.
—Makeup
Switching to natural makeup is one of the best things you can do to detox your skincare. Although this is a step up from whipping up a face mask in the kitchen, making your own makeup is actually achievable with the right tools.
Foundation / Bronzer: You can make your own foundation in your preferred texture, in addition to highlighter, contouring powder and blush for that perfect natural look.
Eye makeup: Your eyes are super sensitive, so protect them with a natural mascara, eyeliner, and mineral eyeshadow.
Lip makeup: Customize your ideal lip color with a DIY lip liner and hydrating lip oil.
—Facial treatments
Who needs the spa when you can get the benefits of a fancy facial at home? The ingredients you use will save you a ton of money, and you don't need to spend any time in traffic either. Use that time to do a facial steam instead!
Facial: There are plenty of reasons to make facials a staple in your skincare! But that doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune on oxygen facials, when you can just as well do them at home.
Gua Sha / Jade rolling: Facial rolling reduces puffiness, lifts and firms the skin, which is why you should consider introducing gua sha or jade rolling into your daily routine.
Face yoga: Not the yoga you're usually thinking about, but the type that will make your face appear less puffy and more sculpted.
DIY Beauty Recipes for Body Care
—Body Lotion
Shaving cream: Avoid the pesky ingrown hairs and razor bumps that come with a quick, soapy shave and use this creamy, nourishing homemade shaving cream instead.
Body butters: They ensure your skin is never dry, nor is it smeared in potentially toxic ingredients. Coconut and shea butter are an especially powerful pair when it comes to making your own body butter.
Body lotion: For a lighter moisturizer for your body, lotions are the targeted solution you want. Use it for scars, to calm itchy skin, to add some sparkle, some color, or easily moisturize on the go with a solid version.
Soothing balms: Herbal salves are the natural, healthier version of all your drugstore favorites (yes, even Neosporin), soothing anything from a headache to cracked heels.
—Massage
A massage is never a bad idea, whether you're starting with your scalp or your feet (head to toe, you know?) Using massage oil can tap into aromatherapy benefits, while magnesium massage bars can improve sleep quality.
—Hand + Nail Care
Hand sanitizer: Tea tree oil is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, so give this homemade hand sanitizer a try. It kills germs naturally and you'll save money making your own.
Hand scrub + mask: Hands tend to show age with ease, since they're so exposed to the sun, wind and cold air. Protect them with SPF, but also add a hand scrub and mask into your regular hand care.
Hand balm + cream: A hand balm or cream should be a part of your daily routine, especially in winter, when the skin takes a beating from the elements.
Cuticle oil: A carrier oil mixed with essential oils will provide all the care your cuticles and nails may need. Here are the best ones to try.
—Body Scrubs
Homemade scrubs only require a few things to make, they can be used immediately and, most conveniently, they're usually made with ingredients from the pantry! So if you've got some sugar and olive oil in the house, you're closer to a DIY scrub than you would've thought.
—Fragrance
Perfume: Essential oils smell just as great, if not better, than store-bought perfume. Here's how to make your own customized concoction, how to make it last, and how to make a solid version.
Cologne: Infuse vodka with flower petals, citrus peels, herbs or spices to create your own custom botanical cologne.
Body spray: Floral water is a light and subtle option to always keep your favorite scent with you. We love jasmine and lavender for this purpose.
—Foot Care
Foot soaks: Walking in sandals or trekking in heavy boots will take a toll on your feet. Soak them with epsom salt and treat them to some essential oils so they keep giving you the support you need.
Foot scrubs: Always be ready to take your shoes off with a sugar scrub, which you can probably make right away with a trip to the kitchen.
Foot creams + treatments: Keeping your feet in good shape can be as easy as mashing up a banana. You will find more foot mask recipes here and learn how to heal cracked heels overnight with this power combo.
—Personal Care
Toothpaste: Ingredients such as baking soda or activated charcoal work great for naturally cleaning and whitening teeth.
Deodorant: Antiperspirants contain aluminum, while toothpastes are loaded with synthetic (and sometimes harmful) ingredients that upset your mouth's natural balance and can even cause breakouts around your mouth. Coconut oil to the rescue yet again—this time in the form of homemade deodorant and toothpaste.
Note: DIY deodorant won't stop you from sweating like an antiperspirant, but it will keep you from being smelly.
—Hair Removal
Hair removal can be painful, time consuming and expensive. To make things easier for ourselves, we dabbed into sugar waxing (also for the face!), as well as into DIY shaving cream and ingrown hair scrub.
Natural Beauty Recipes for Bath + Shower
—Soap recipes
Triclosan is the active ingredient in most commercial antibacterial products, and it's been linked with weakened immune systems, bacterial resistance, hormone disruptions and allergies (even the FDA isn't crazy about it). But you can get the same benefits with this homemade foaming hand soap, which includes naturally antibacterial essential oils and moisturizing coconut oil. Once you get the basic supplies, soap making will become your second nature.
Melt & pour: the easiest way to make your own soap is using a melt-and-pour base. It's great how customizable these are, whether with clay or flower petals.
Cold process: this version takes more time but will give you the superior soap. Again, the possibilities are endless.
Liquid hand soap: Antimicrobial or lavender-infused (or both!), liquid hand soap is an easy and inexpensive way to clean your hands.
—Bath bombs
The perfect bath experience always includes bath bombs in our book. With the right ingredients and molds, you can make your bath bombs as colorful, relaxing or fun as you want.
—Bath salts + soaks
Bath infusions: Some of the things you can add to the bath to increase its healing and beauty benefits include baking soda, apple cider vinegar, ginger, oatmeal, mustard or - wait for it - ice.
Bath melts: With aromatherapy benefits to boot and more moisture than store-bought bath melts provide, homemade versions are easy to customize to match the season and even give away as gifts.
Bath oil: a great option when you need to relax but want to moisturize your skin at the same time.
Bath salts: One of the cheapest and easiest things you can make at home. Customize them with different aromatherapy blends.
Herbal bath: If there's something you shouldn't be spending money on, it's herbal bath soaks. It doesn't get any easier than adding some flowers or herbs to your bath, and you can mix things up by customizing a tub tea blend.
Milk bath: Pour yourself a milk bath after sitting in the sun too much, or give yourself a spa experience at home with a rose milk bath.
Bubble bath: Bubbles make everything more fun, but the ingredients in most commercial bubble bath not so much. Ensure nothing bad goes on your skin by making honey vanilla bubble bath or these giftable bubble bars.
—Shower
Shower bombs + melts: Just because you don't have (time for) a tub, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the relaxing experience of bath bombs! You can also use salt, herbs, or aromatherapy tablets in the shower.
Body wash: I get irrationally angry when I think about the cost of body wash—especially the really nice, moisturizing ones. If you agree, make your own with honey and coconut oil.
Natural Haircare Recipes
—Shampoo
Homemade shampoo is gentler on the scalp and hair, nourishing without stripping hair of its natural, beneficial oils. Opt for a pH-balanced formulation, add the best essential oils to support hair health, and help your hair grow thicker with rice water.
Solid shampoo: Perfect for traveling or if you're plastic-conscious, solid shampoo can be as easy as melt-and-pour. You might also like to customize your shampoo bar to suit your hair's needs, or add volume as needed.
Dry shampoo: You'll really regret ever spending money on dry shampoo when you realize how easy it is to make your own.
—Conditioner
Leave-in conditioner: A coconut milk-based conditioner spray will keep hair moisturized, and remove that pesky chlorine green hue from the pool.
Hair rinse: Adding this extra step in your hair washing routine can target damaged, dull or weak hair and improve its strand quality.
—Hair Styling
Salt spray: Get beautiful beachy waves without the hefty price tag—for glorified salt water!—with this make-at-home version. You can also opt for a sugar spray option if you prefer, pump up the volume, detangle, help your hair grow faster or even lighten it with homemade hair sprays.
Hair gel: When you want your hair to sit just so, opt for a homemade hair gel with aloe or flaxseed and no nasty chemicals inside.
—Hair Treatments
Hair masks: Whatever the hair woe, you can probably remedy it with a homemade mask! Try mayo to strengthen and moisturize, banana for a collagen boost, clay to detox your locks, jojoba oil for stronger hair or yogurt for split ends.
Scalp treatments: Often forgotten under all that shampoo and styling product, the health of the scalp is clearly visible in the health of the hair. Detox it with a scalp scrub, nourish with a hot oil treatment or balm, and give yourself a massage to promote hair growth and relaxation.
Are you already making homemade beauty products? Did this article convince you to get started? Let us know in the comment!
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