Here’s a challenge for you: Flip over your bottle of shampoo and read the ingredients. How many of those words can you hardly pronounce? Parabens, sulphates, phthalates– none of that needs to be on your skin. If you would never put an ingredient into your mouth, why would you soak your skin (an organ that readily absorbs all it comes into contact with) in it? DIY self-care is cutting out the unnecessary toxic junk and making clean, healthy products that actually work for you, at a fraction of the cost.
Why Bother with DIY Self-Care?
Skincare and personal care products come with a hidden cost: harsh chemicals, unnecessary additives, and wasteful packaging. Studies demonstrate that many commercial beauty products are linked to hormone disruption, skin irritation, and other long-term health concerns because of the presence of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Ditch the harsh chemicals by making your own self-care, replacing these harmful ingredients with safe, skin-friendly alternatives that you won’t have to counter with natural detoxification strategies (which we could all use a lot of these days!).
If you have experienced the disappointment of buying skin care products from Tiktok’s wellness “gurus” whose “miracle products” irritate your skin just as much as commercial products, you understand that self-care products are not one-size-fits-all. Different types of skin react uniquely to various ingredients so store-bought products work well for some and not for others. When you DIY, you can tailor each product to your exact needs and avoid ingredients you know don’t work for you.
Now you might be thinking to yourself, buying a bunch of ingredients is way more expensive than just getting store-bought alternative products. High-quality bulk raw ingredients are affordable and versatile and can be used for much longer than your standard bottle of product. Liquid castile soap, for example, should be diluted and then can be used for shampoo, body wash, and even household cleaners. With the beauty industry responsible for over 120 billion units of packaging each year, DIY products significantly reduce your contributions to plastic waste.
Stocking Up Your Toolkit
Before diving into recipes, getting and maintaining a supply of basic, versatile ingredients and tools is crucial. A few staples can go a long way, so investing in high-quality, unrefined ingredients ensures your DIY products work great and feel great. Keeping simple ingredients on hand allows you to always whip something up on the spot. Oils and butters are the backbone of self-care for skin, delivering moisture, nourishment and protection:
- Coconut oil is deeply hydrating, while offering antibacterial and antifungal properties.
- Shea butter is the holy grail for smooth skin, softening roughness, calming irritation, and resolving stretch marks without greasiness.
- Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that hydrate and repair the skin, making it ideal for soothing irritation.
Herbs and botanicals offer fragrance and natural healing properties:
- Aloe vera is known for its cooling and hydrating effect as well as soothing burns, irritation, and inflammation.
- Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory that calms redness, irritation, and breakouts.
- Lavender is anti-bacterial and provides a calming, spa-like scent.
Minerals and clays offer detoxifying benefits that cleanse without stripping the skin:
- Bentonite clay is a super-absorbent volcanic clay that pulls toxins, dirt, and excess oils.
- Sea salt is rich in minerals, exfoliates, and helps to draw out impurities.
- Baking soda is a mild abrasive with deodorizing and cleaning properties.
Essential oils are the finishing touch, providing natural fragrance while offering selective therapeutic benefits. Mix and match with different scents and properties to figure out your favorites. Remember that you don’t need a high-tech lab to turn these raw ingredients into self-care favorites– the tools you have in your kitchen will do the job with ease.
Step-by-Step Recipes
Now for the fun part: turning your kitchen into a DIY self-care lab. These recipes are ridiculously easy, use ingredients you can actually pronounce, and won’t leave your skin feeling like sandpaper. A few pro tips before diving in: Make sure you use clean, dry hands or a spoon when handling your products to avoid bacterial contamination and store everything in glass containers because plastic can mess with essential oils and leach into your skin-care creations.
For Your Skin
Why spend a fortune on fancy body care when you can DIY your way to glowing skin? Think spa day at home minus the overpriced products:
- Soap: Melt 1 pound of soap base in a double broiler and stir occasionally till fully melted. Mix in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for extra hydration and 10 drops of lavender essential oil for a calming scent. Pour the mixture into silicone molds to harden for 24 hours. For some exfoliating power, you can toss in 1 tablespoon of oatmeal or coffee grounds.
- Body Scrub: Combine half a cup of brown sugar for gentle exfoliation, 2 tablespoons of olive oil for deep moisture, and 10 drops of peppermint essential oils to cool and invigorate. Scrub onto damp skin in circular motions and rinse off for smoother skin.
- Body Lotion: Melt half a cup of shea butter on low heat and mix in 2 tablespoons of almond oil for nourishment and 10 drops of vanilla essential oil. Let the mixture cool, then whip it with a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Shaving Cream: Melt a quarter cup of shea butter with a quarter cup of coconut oil, then mix in 5 drops of peppermint extract to cool. Let solidify, then whip until fluffy.
For Your Hair
Have a good hair day everyday with these DIY recipes that will have your locks looking like you just walked out of a slo-mo hair flip scene:
- Shampoo: Mix half a cup of liquid castile soap, half a cup of aloe vera gel to soothe and hydrate, and 10 drops of rosemary oil to stimulate hair growth in a glass jar. Get creative and add a few capsules of Choq’s pure Irish Moss for deep hydration and improved scalp health. Remember to shake well to emulsify before every use.
- Conditioner: Combine 2 tablespoons of coconut milk for lightweight hydration, 1 tablespoon of argan oil to prevent frizz and breakage, and 5 drops of lavender essential oil in a glass bottle. Shake well before each use and apply to damp hair for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
For Your Scent
Smelling good is nonnegotiable because life’s too short for bad breath and BO. These homemade recipes will keep you fresh all day:
- Deodorant: Melt 3 tablespoons of coconut oil in a bowl. Then mix in 3 tablespoons of arrowroot powder to absorb moisture and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil for its antibacterial and odor fighting properties. Store this mixture in a glass jar and apply with fingers as needed.
- Perfume: Mix 2 tablespoons of a lightweight carrier oil like jojoba with your favorite essential oil blend– anything goes, like rose and vanilla if you like something warm and sensual or citrus and mint for something bright and uplifting. Store in a small roller bottle and apply to your pulse points (wrists, elbows, base of throat, behind the ears).
- Toothpaste: Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda to clean and whiten, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil for its antibacterial properties, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to freshen your breath. Scoop a little onto your toothbrush to use.
Let’s Get Cooking
Take control of what goes on your skin and avoid sketchy ingredients with DIY products that smell amazing and actually work. No more overpriced lotions that or shampoos that turn your scalp to a desert. Now, you’ve got the recipes, the knowledge, and the tools to make what you want and what really works. Ready to upgrade your routine? Time to start mixing.