I decided to start making some natural, DIY beauty products at home. I was getting really discouraged when I looked at the ingredients on many items we were using daily such as lip balm, body lotions, hand soaps and sanitisers. Many of the store bought products contained ingredients I couldn’t even pronounce properly! For example;
“Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Cetyl Alchohol, Clyceryl Stearate, dimethicone, Disodium EDTA Distearlydimonium Chloride, DMDM Hydantoin, Ethylene Brassylate.”
Wow! I did not want any one in my family to put that on their body. A part of what you put on your body will absorb into your skin. I wanted to try to keep that as natural as possible. I started to look at more natural alternatives only to get frustrated by the cost of natural or organic store bought products, they were easily 2-3 times the cost of their conventional counterparts.
I did some research how to create at home products we use regularly and was surprised to find out how easy and cost effective it was to make my own natural care products. Once you get your basic supplies and learn techniques it is quite simple to make products that you know are safe to use on your whole family, even the kids can help make them! Here are a few of my favourite things 😉;
Home-made Foaming Hand Soap
This soap is effective, easy to make and fun to use, and it is not going to be harmful to your family as the ingredients are natural. Easy to make and fun to use all natural foaming hand soap!
Home-made Foaming Hand Soap
Equipment
- 1 foaming soap dispenser
- Deionised (distilled) water
- Unscented liquid Castille Soap
Instructions
- Fill your soap dispenser ¾ of the way with the deionised water
- Use the liquid soap to fill up the last quarter
- Give it a gentle shake to mix and it is ready to use
Notes
Home-made Whipped Body Butter
This butter is luxurious, moisturising, and leaves a nice light scent, it’s like having a mini spa treatment every time you apply it! It is simple to make , really works. It does take a little longer then traditional lotion to soak in but it is worth it! I usually apply it after I have towel dried from my shower. It will have soaked in by the time I am ready to get dressed. This body butter also makes a great gift for your friends and family.
Home-made Whipped Body Butter
Ingredients
- 1 cup cocoa butter (I often mixed with shea butter, such as 60/40 split)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond oil (you can also use olive or jojoba oil)
Instructions
- Using a double boiler gently melt cocoa butter (or butter mixture) and coconut oil until completely liquid
- Stir in almond oil or oil of choice
- Remove from heat and add any essential oils you like, I use 1-15 drops of lavender, or just leave it without oils as it has a slight coconut scent I like
- Next allow the mixture cool, I put mine in the refrigerator. Leave to cool until the mixture begins to firm up, it wills start to change colour to white, you want it semi-solid but not to firm to stir, this can take several hours depending on your refrigerator temp
- Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, whip the semi-solid mixture until white peaks form
- Scoop into glass jars and allow to chill for one hour in the fridge to set
Notes
Home-made Sanitiser
Making this hand sanitiser is easy and it is not full of harsh chemicals like so many store brought brands. It takes just minutes to make and is portable for packing in kids lunch boxes or in your handbag. I put my finished product in and small container that can be squeezed such as an empty store bought sanitiser container.
Home-made Hand Sanitiser
Ingredients
- 1 cup aloe vera gel
- 1 tbsp witch hazel
- 30 drops tea tree oil (1/4 cup)
- 10 drops lavender oil (or essential oil of choice)
- 3-4 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
Instructions
- In a small glass dish, add the essential oils and stir
- Add the witch hazel and vitamin E oil and stir again
- Add the aloe vera gel and mix very well
- Using a funnel, pour the mixture into your container of choice
- Shake well before using
Home-made Lip Balm
This is by far the product I make the most of, it is moisturising, takes just minutes to make and can used for more then just dry lips! I will rub this balm on dry elbows, dry skin patches and noses that get sore from catching the occasional cold. You can feel good about applying this product as it doesn’t contain any unnatural substances such as petrochemicals so readily found in store bought balms.
Home-made Lip Balm
Ingredients
- 4 tsp beeswax or soy wax
- 14 tsp organic almond oil
Instructions
- Bring a pot with an inch or two of water to a boil. Bring a pot with an inch or two of water to a boil. Place a heat proof bowl on top of the boiling water.
- Place a heat proof bowl on top of the boiling water. In the bowl add the beeswax and almond oil Keep over the heat until the wax is melted.
- Once it is melted pour into the container of choice, we use old chap stick containers or any small container we have as
Notes
These are just a few of my go to recipes for home care products. Give on or two a try and see how you like them. As you get more familiar with creating your own products you can get creative and customise them as you like! As always have fun!
