Homemade Natural Beauty Products

The simplicity of most DIY skincare and beauty recipes is astounding. While it takes some getting used to and a little bit of troubleshooting at first, practice really does make perfect. There is so much joy in the process of learning and making something by hand! Once you become familiar with most of these ingredients, you’ll want to keep making more, as many of these recipes provide a good base for future DIYs. 

These three DIY natural skincare and beauty recipes will simplify your shelves and give you a glimpse of what’s possible once you get started. Plus, they eliminate the need for new products (although, there’s certainly room for our favorite conscious cosmetic brands!) which is an empowering thing to aspire to. 

Oh, and that glow you’ve got? It’s not just the coconut oil—it’s from crafting your own safe, non-toxic, and natural beauty products that bring out your inner radiance.

Before You Begin

  • Always melt ingredients on low heat to prevent the heat from eliminating all of the ingredients’ active healing properties

  • Cover your prep area with rags to protect the surface

  • We recommend using wooden sticks or popsicle sticks to stir; you can use utensils—just use boiling water to rinse off beeswax or oil residue 

  • When using essential oils, always test on the top of your hand first with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil

1. Moisturizing Sugar Face & Body Scrub

This is a go-to beauty recipe that’s nourishing and revitalizing for most skin types. It uses coconut oil to protect the natural chemical balance of your skin and lavender essential oil to relieve irritation and redness. It leaves you with a luminous glow. The sweet granules of raw sugar replace plastic microbeads as an exfoliant. It’s a win-win!

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup of organic cane sugar 

  • 2-3 tbsp of organic coconut oil (melted) 

  • 4 drops of lavender essential oil

  • 4 oz glass jar with an airtight lid 

Instructions

  1. Stir the sugar and two tablespoons of coconut oil together in a bowl and mix well.

  2. Use your fingertip to scoop out a bit of the mixture and test it on your hand. If the scrub feels too dry and you’d like it to be more moisturizing, add another half of a tablespoon until it reaches your desired consistency. *Over time, the sugar can absorb the oil, so if you notice it’s gotten dry, add another tablespoon of melted coconut oil and mix well.

  3. Stir in the lavender essential oil. Use a rubber spatula to transfer all the contents into the mason jar and seal tightly with a lid.

To Use

Use your first two fingers to scoop out a small amount of the scrub and apply to your face and neck by massaging slowly in a circular, upwards motion. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Finish off with a spritz of rosewater to lock in moisture and give your skin a beautiful glow. 

2. Berry Beautiful Lip & Cheek Balm

Combine your choice of natural pigments with the hydrating powers of coconut or olive oil for a natural beauty balm that gives you a luminous pop of color. In this recipe, you’ll use the tiniest amount of beeswax to help bind and seal the mixture, and a drop of Vitamin E for a natural preservative. This is a fun and easy introduction to DIY beauty recipes that will help you get comfortable with this method—not to mention, craft a product to pamper yourself!  

Ingredients

  • ¼ tsp natural pigment

  • 1 tsp grated beeswax

  • 3 tsp coconut or olive oIl

  • Vitamin E (just a drop!) for a preservative 

  • Tin container or glass jar with lid

Instructions

  1. Melt the beeswax, coconut or olive oil, and Vitamin E in a double boiler on low heat. Stir slowly with the wooden stick and carefully add the pigment, stirring again until combined. 

  2. Pour contents into a tin or glass canister and allow it to set. Putting it in the fridge will help it cool quicker and the ingredients to come together. Let it sit for an hour until it solidifies.

To Use

Generously or minimally apply to lips and cheeks as you like! This is perfect for freshening up mid-day while traveling or for a little extra color whenever you need it. 

3. All-Natural Simple Solid Perfume

An indulgence for both your body and mind, all-natural solid perfumes let you craft your own scent without the harmful chemicals. Coconut or jojoba oil hydrates and nourishes the skin while the beeswax acts as a sealant. Getting to make and select your natural fragrance is the icing on the cake.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ tbsp grated beeswax 

  • 4 ½ tbsp coconut or jojoba oil 

  • Your choice of essential oils

Instructions

  1. If you’re combining scents, make the essential oil blend first so they settle and combine. Store in an amber glass bottle in a cool, dark area for a day or two. If you are testing the mixture, always use a carrier oil like coconut, sweet almond, jojoba, or grapeseed oil when applying it to the skin. Never put oils directly on your skin! They are too potent and could cause irritation if you are allergic.

  2. Melt the beeswax and coconut or jojoba oil together in a double boiler until combined. Use a wooden stick to slowly stir in the essential oils. Pour the mixture into a small tin or glass container and allow it to set. 

To Use

Simply swipe your finger across the surface and apply to neck, wrists, or chest! 

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Based in the beautiful city of Portland, Maine, Katherine Oakes Englishman is a writer and yoga teacher with a passion for empowering others to live a more conscious and connected life. She is a contributing writer for The Good Trade, Wayward Collective and pens articles on outdoor travel as the East Coast correspondent at Bearfoot Theory; Katherine is also the former web editor of Pure Green Magazine. Offline, you can find her on a yoga mat or in pursuit of adventure in the wilds of Maine and the neighboring White Mountains.