Making your own skincare may seem daunting, but it isn’t as hard as you might think. In fact, with just 5-ingredients, you can replace your entire skincare routine with homemade products using natural skin care ingredients.
When I look at a DIY recipe or even a food recipe, for that matter, if I see a long list of ingredients, I generally tend to shy away from it.
I don’t want to go out and buy a bunch of ingredients that I am only going to use a little bit of, and the rest of it’s going to sit on the shelf; forever.
I personally like to keep things simple and quick at a low cost.
When I started my blog, I knew I wanted to keep things simple, but obviously, I still wanted awesome products that worked!
Several years and hundreds of recipes later, I have found out that there are 5 common ingredients in nearly all skin care products.
It may seem like a stretch, but it is true!
With shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and essential oils, you can easily make lotions, body butters, face serums, creams, moisturizers, and so much more!
5-Ingredients to Make Your Own Skincare
Shea Butter
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First up on the list: shea butter. Shea butter has some amazing properties for the skin, has a beautiful aroma, and it is inexpensive.
In any recipe, shea butter can be replaced with cocoa butter or mango butter. I love all three kinds of butter and like to experiment with different combinations.
Shea butter comes from the nut of a karité tree. The trees grow in the west and eastern parts of Africa.
Shea butter is often used in skin care products, hair care products, and is used occasionally in some food recipes.
It has a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins, along with anti-inflammatory properties.
Shea butter alone can make the perfect face moisturizer as it is very gentle and safe for sensitive skin.
Benefits of Shea Butter
- Soften skin
- Lighten skin
- Tighten skin
- Aids in tissue regeneration
- Reduces fine lines
- Natural UV protection (about 6 SPF)
- Eliminates wrinkles
- Boosts production of collagen
- Very moisturizing
- Fade dark spots
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a known superfood and has taken over the skin care and hair care shelves.
It can be found in almost all cosmetics, creams, lotions, shampoos, you name it, and coconut oil is probably in it!
Coconut oil can become a liquid or a solid, depending on the temperature of where it is stored. It stays a solid at temperatures below 76°F and a liquid above 76°F.
This makes coconut oil a very crucial ingredient for the texture of your homemade product.
Fractionated coconut oil goes through a distilling process, allowing for the separation; and ultimately the removal of several long fatty acids.
As a result, it remains a liquid regardless of the temperature; therefore, it can not be substituted equally in recipes as it will change the texture.
Coconut oil is extracted from the coconut milk found inside of a coconut.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
- It contains healthy fatty acids
- Burns fat
- Boosts heart health
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-viral
- Anti-fungal
- Improve the appearance of skin and hair
- Reduces signs of aging
- Moisturizing
- Protects skin
- Soothes dry, itchy skin
Beeswax
Just like shea butter and coconut oil, beeswax has amazing properties for the skin. Beeswax hydrates the skin and helps with many skin ailments.
In addition, beeswax can make your skincare products waterproof.
If you can find beeswax from a local beekeeper, your beeswax will have even more great benefits.
Beeswax has been used in skincare for hundreds of years and is often found in modern skin care products too.
Beeswax can be replaced with soy wax in recipes to make a vegan option.
Though soy wax doesn’t have all of the same wonderful benefits, it will still allow for the same texture and waterproof properties.
Benefits of Beeswax
- Creates a protective layer on the skin
- Hydrate the skin
- Natural exfoliator
- Removes dead skin
- Fade fine lines and wrinkles
- Soothes dry, damaged skin
- It helps soothes burn skin
- Anti-Inflammatory
- High in vitamin A
- Clears skin blemishes
- Helps with eczema and psoriasis
- Kills infection and bacteria
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is an antioxidant that is commonly made out of vegetable oils. It is known for the benefits it has for the skin and can be used to preserve your products longer.
Vitamin E oil can come in a capsule or in drops. If you have a capsule, you can open it up and pour the oil into the skin care product you are using.
I prefer to use a dropper to make it easier to get the desired amount of drops.
Benefits of Vitamin E Oil
- Heal Wounds
- Reduce Scars
- May help with preventing skin cancer
- Reduce itching
- Help with eczema
- Reduce signs of aging
- Soothe sunburns
- Nourish and moisturize skin
Essential Oils
Last on my list is essential oils. Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the bark of trees, leaves of plants, petals of flowers, or the peel of a fruit.
They are well known for their benefits for the skin and will give your homemade skincare a beautiful scent.
Certain essential oils are better for the skin than others and some need to be used with caution.
For example, oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano, and ginger are known as hot oils and can burn the skin if not diluted properly.
Other essential oils such as lavender, frankincense, and chamomile are very gentle and safe for neat application. If in doubt, dilute all essential oils before applying them to the skin.
Best Essential Oils for the Skin
- Lavender
- Frankincense
- Tea tree
- Roman Chamomile
- Sandalwood
- Cedarwood
- Rose
- Jasmine
- Magnolia
Benefits of Essential Oils for the Skin
- Reduce signs of aging
- Reduce skin imperfections and scars
- Promote collagen production
- Tighten skin
- Lighten age spots and sun spots
- Moisturize and hydrate
- Promotes clear, healthy skin
- Cleansing and purifying
Natural Ingredients for Skincare
When it comes to sourcing your skincare, it is best to look for pure ingredients that do not contain any synthetic adders or fillers.
You also want to look for organic ingredients and, if possible, source locally.
Check labels and be sure that your ingredients are free from artificial fragrances, synthetic colors, and dyes. Look for words like unrefined, organic, raw, and fair trade.
Natural Products for Skincare
Once you collect shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil and essential oils, you will be able to make all of your skin care from scratch.
It doesn’t have to be hard or expensive to make natural skin care products.
The other great thing is that the recipes don’t have to be exact and they are very forgiving. So the best way to get started is by trial and error.
Don’t get overwhelmed and think you have to do everything overnight; take one product at a time, and slowly you will be able to replace all of your skin care in your home with more natural and healthier homemade options.
Anupam Bhatt says
Hi dear please send me the easy recipe of face and body moisturizing. I will appreciate this.
Regards and thanks.
Anupam Bhatt
Laura says
Yes, I do! Search face moisturizer in my search bar at the top of my menu.
Ingrid Moore says
Thanks for all the information
gladys siegel says
what can I use to get a vitamin c serum- what kind of essential oil- what is I dont like the smell of Lavander and Im more into citrus esscence. thank you so much
Beth Kelly says
Hello- What are your recommendations for child eczema treatment on hands and cheeks
Laura says
I have a recipe for that on my blog, search it in the search bar at the top of the blog and you will find it.
Kristen Beckner says
Your website is the best! I have literally tried to s of different recipes and ways to whip, mix and blend and nothing comes out as perfect as yours do. It’s simple and fun! Thank you for sharing.
Naomi says
Wow… this is a lot of vital info for my products. I appreciate
Toke says
Hey do you have a tutorial on a body wash? 🙂
Laura says
Yes, I do! You can search for anything you are looking for with the search bar at the top of the blog.
Aggie says
Great read. Thanks for sharing! Love 🇰🇪
Lois Blackwell says
I made this one up. When I went for my skin check the doctor asked me what face cream do I use. I told her that I make my own she was very impressed with the condition of my skin.
So a great thank you Laura.
Laura says
I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Nimra Riaz says
hey dear please tell us about anti aging skin care routine
Laura says
I have a blog post all about anti-aging skin care and several recipes. Search “anti-aging” in the search bar at the top of the blog and it will pop up!
Judy says
Love all of your sharing
cecelia warden says
So excited to read your blog! Going to follow your advice and thank you for sharing!!!
Robert Burum says
Thank you for sharing with the ingredients. Do you also have information on the recipe how much and how to prepare?
Thank you very much
Lisa Henry says
I came upon information from you by chance and I’m delighted as I’ve wanted to learn more about essential oils, skin and body care products. Thank you.
I’ve registered for the masterclass and look forward to it in a few hours.
Kortnie scull says
Thank you for so many informing articles!! This has been EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for! I haven’t tried recipes yet, BUT I’m so excited to try. I’m happy to be able to give my family healthier options ❤️
Barbara says
Oh Girl! So glad I found you and this list of the best skin products!! This will make my learning curve less curvy(: