There are plenty of reasons to make your own skincare products at home: You can ensure the quality of the ingredients; save money; reduce packaging waste; and get creative with your own blends. Homemade skin care products also make great personalized gifts. Before you get started, you should familiarize yourself with the basic ingredients that are found in many skincare products.
Olive Oil
Olive oil can be used in many home skincare products to soften and hydrate the skin. Men can shave with it, it can be used as a lip balm, and it can soothe irritating skin conditions like eczema. It is best to use high-quality, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and you should store it in a cool, dry area.
Essential Oils
Plant and flower essences found in essential oils have healing qualities and are used in some of the most expensive products on the market. You can purchase them at a natural cosmetic supply store. There are hundreds of varieties of essential oils to choose from and each offers a different property or function. For example, adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to a lotion promotes restfulness, and a few drops of tea tree oil can be antiseptic and help clear acne.
Honey
Honey is an all-purpose natural moisturizer with antioxidant qualities that helps soothe and nourish the skin, leaving it looking rejuvenated and younger-looking. Add it to cleansers, lotions and body scrubs to seal in moisture and leave skin soft and supple. You can use it in baby products.
Sugar
Use sugar to make a homemade body scrub that will slough off dead skin and leave your skin soft and smooth. Sugar cane contains glycolic acid, which is a natural alpha hydroxy acid that helps exfoliate the skin. You can use any type of sugar, from cane to brown, just make sure it is pure. Organic is your best choice for skincare products.
Tomato
Tomato has acidic qualities which make it a useful cleanser and toner for the skin. It helps to shrink enlarged pores and you can use it to treat sunburn. The pulp of the tomato can be mixed with other ingredients, like lime and avocado, for a toning and moisturizing facial. Because tomato is highly perishable, use it immediately or refrigerate it for no more than a week.
Lemon
Lemon has natural skin-lightening and brightening properties. It can be used in moisturizers to improve skin tone and brighten the complexion. It can also be mixed with vitamin E and dabbed onto age spots to naturally lighten them.
