Did you know that your next holy grail beauty product could come straight from your own kitchen? There are tons of natural ingredients that you can use to make your own beauty and skincare products from scratch. You may want to do this if you’re having trouble visiting a dermacare clinic during these precarious times, or if you want to cut down on all the harsh chemicals you’re putting on your skin.
Image by Alexandr Ivanov
The most basic elements you’ll need include a type of oil, a type of butter, a type of wax, and essential oils. With just these main items, you can make tons of different beauty products. Whether you’re trying to save money or switching to an eco-friendly beauty routine, here are some essential ingredients to have on-hand so you can make DIY beauty and skincare products.
Sugar: Sugar comes in many varieties, but the most commonly used types for homemade beauty products are brown sugar, coconut sugar, pearl sugar, and pure cane sugar. This natural ingredient works as a gentle exfoliant on your skin and is usually added to lip scrubs, body scrubs, and hair masks.
Oatmeal: Colloidal oatmeal, rolled oats, steel-cut oats, and quinoa contain fiber and cellulose which can soothe dry and itchy skin. This makes it ideal for those suffering from eczema. You can incorporate them into bath bombs, bath soaps, and moisturizers.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is a plant that produces a gel-like substance with soothing and healing properties. It’s commonly prescribed to treat skin conditions such as eczema, sunburn, and acne. It’s also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, so you can apply it on wounds, burns, and infections. This is a great ingredient to include in a toner, face wash, insect bite or sunburn salve, and face cream.
Beeswax: Beeswax is already a common ingredient in many over-the-counter beauty products, particularly lip balm, hand creams, and moisturizers. It’s capable of attracting water which it locks in by forming a strong protective barrier on your skin thanks to its thick texture. You can use it to make salves, lip balm, lotion bars, and deodorant.
Shea Butter: Shea butter is an ultra-moisturizing ingredient that contains plenty of vitamins and fatty acids. It also smells incredible, so you can use it as the main fragrance of your products. This type of butter can effectively moisturize and soften the skin. You can add it to your creams, shampoos, lotions, and conditioners.
Essential Oils: Essential oils contain plenty of physical and mental health benefits, and are used primarily to add natural fragrance to organic beauty products. There’s a variety of them to choose from, but the most popular types of essential oils include lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil.
Honey: Raw honey can soothe and moisturize dry skin. It also has antibacterial properties, so it can treat moderate to severe acne problems, as well. This natural humectant can attract water and lock it in, while simultaneously pumping out tons of antioxidants into the skin and hair. It’s an excellent ingredient to add to just about any homemade skincare product, from shampoo to face cream.
These are just some of the best natural ingredients that you can incorporate into your homemade beauty and skincare products. You might find that some of them are already in your kitchen cupboard.
