A good skin care routine is essential to keep your complexion soft, smooth and glowing, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on high-end products. Did you know you can make your own skin saviours at home using natural ingredients and cutting out the need for expensive store-bought formulas altogether? If you’re curious about trying it for yourself, we’ve picked out five simple recipes to get you started, all of which contain natural ingredients and offer several benefits for your skin.
If your hair needs a little extra nourishment, we’ve got you covered on that front, too — take a look at our guide to creating homemade hair masks.
Benefits of Homemade Natural Skin Care Products
DIY skin care products aren’t only fun to make — they also come with several additional benefits:
You Know What You’re Putting on Your Skin
You can easily tailor each product to your skin’s specific needs by making homemade skin care recipes. When you know what’s in every cleanser, toner and moisturiser, you no longer have to spend time studying the labels of store-bought products to figure out whether the ingredients will work for you.
Creating your own formulas also makes it easier to figure out which ingredients your skin best responds to and which you should give a miss, as you can easily keep track of any changes to your skin care routine.
They Can Be Better for the Environment
When making your own skin care products, you can choose to use sustainably sourced ingredients. At Aromantic, we have an extensive range of ethically sourced ingredients for you to choose from, including our organic palm oil, which is obtained from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
By choosing to make your own products, you can also avoid using packaging or opt for
eco-friendly alternatives that can be reused or recycled. This is one way to make your skin care regime more sustainable and have fun creating your own beauty products in the process.
Homemade Products Can Save You Money
If you’re a skin care enthusiast, you’re probably no stranger to expensive products, but by making the switch to DIY beauty, you could save yourself a lot of money. You may be surprised by how inexpensive homemade skin care can be — why not experiment and see for yourself?
Natural Ingredients Have Many Health Benefits
If you prefer to use plant-derived beauty products, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of natural ingredients out there offering a host of benefits for your skin. Natural skin care products may contain familiar ingredients such as argan oil, witch hazel and jojoba oil, as well as plenty of vitamins and compounds like vitamin C, vitamin D and alpha-hydroxy acid, which can help soothe your skin and keep it healthy.
The Best Natural Ingredients for Your Skin
If you’re not sure where to start on your natural skin care journey, we’ve picked out some key ingredients to look out for if you want a host of skin-boosting benefits:
Vitamin C
You probably already know that vitamin C can boost your immune system, but did you know that it’s also great for your skin? Vitamin C protects your skin against free radicals such as air pollution and ultraviolet (UV) radiation and involves the formation of collagen, which keeps your skin looking smooth, plump and fresh. Making skin care products with vitamin C may help combat common signs of ageing skin, brighten up your complexion and support a healthy glow.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a soothing ingredient that’s been a home remedy for skin woes for centuries. It’s said to control oil while also boosting hydration, providing a double dose of goodness for your skin.
Beta Carotene
Beta Carotene is found in a variety of red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and is often hailed as a miracle nutrient. It’s associated with several benefits for your skin, with antioxidant effects that may boost your skin’s health, maintain its appearance and protect against infra-red radiation. Your body converts beta carotene into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for healing wounds and encouraging cell turnover.
Argan Oil
Argan oil is a nourishing natural oil that hydrates the skin and boosts elasticity. Packed with omega fatty acids, linoleic acids and vitamin E, this moisturising oil can soften the skin and act as a protective barrier. It's incredibly versatile as a carrier oil for essential oil-based products, especially when used in moisturisers, serums and body lotions.
Oat Oil
Oat oil has soothing and moisturising properties, making it an excellent ingredient for skin care products. As well as anecdotal evidence of its benefits, a 2015 study showed that topical oat oil application increased ceramide levels by 70%. Cosmetics featuring oat oil typically aim to protect the skin, prevent water loss or restore balance to the microbiome to soothe your skin and keep it healthy.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a natural plant that’s been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. Its status as a skin-boosting ingredient is well established, and the flower is often associated with soothing properties. This makes it a commonly used ingredient in skin care products for sensitive skin.
Try These 5 Homemade Skin Care Recipes
1. Simple Body Lotion
This easy-to-make body lotion is an essential staple for any skin care routine. This rich lotion will help to remove old skin cells and reveal brighter, softer skin and is made with nourishing natural ingredients such as camellia seed oil, cocoa butter and witch hazel.
2. Rinse off Facial Wash and Scrub
Replace your store-bought face wash with a natural, homemade alternative. This facial wash and scrub is a fantastic choice — it’s formulated with a natural surfactant base and can be customised with essential oils of your choice. This mild product is designed to cleanse and gently scrub the face before rinsing away with warm water.
3. Daily Moisturiser
This daily moisturiser recipe is a must-try for anyone new to making their own skin care products. It’s sure to leave your skin feeling soft and soothed and features rice bran oil, thistle oil, pomegranate glycerol extract and other gentle ingredients. Use this easy-to-follow recipe to create a rich moisturiser suitable for sensitive skin.
4. Bamboo Buffer Lip Scrub
If you struggle with dry lips, why not make your own natural lip scrub? This recipe is perfect for year-round use, helping your lips stay well-moisturised. It contains watermelon seed oil, soya wax, bamboo exfoliant and a citrus essential oil of your choice.
5. Face Mask for Sensitive Skin
This gentle face mask recipe is ideal for a pamper session or when your skin needs a deep cleanse. It’s made with spring water, rice starch, soothing chamomile hydrolat, fine white clay and more natural goodies, and is simple to make at home and designed to rinse off easily.
If you’ve tried out these skin care must-haves and want to create even more amazing cosmetic products at home, take a look at our full range of natural recipes online.