Natural Skincare Product Recipes
These recipes come recommended by one of our staff; she put together this list and has tried all of them. Please note that some of these body care recipes include ingredients, such as sugar, that we do not recommend you eat! Also, some recipes suggest essential oils for fragrance; if you use an essential oil, you might want to try the final product in a small area, on the inside of your arm for example, to check for allergies before using on your face or all over your body.
Everyday Face Wash
Instead of using regular face wash, you can use a scrub consisting only of baking soda and coconut oil. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and a bit of coconut oil and wash in circular motions on face. Rinse very well. Your face may seem oily afterward but within a few minutes the oil is absorbed and your skin will be glowing.
Eye Makeup Remover
What you need:
- 1 cup spring or filtered water
- 1/4 teaspoon Dr. Bronner’s unscented baby-mild liquid castile soap
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Combine water, castile soap, and olive oil in a glass jar and shake. Apply solution to cotton ball or pad and take off makeup as you normally would.
Coffee and Sugar Scrub
Coffee and caffeine are showing up all over in beauty products due to their tightening effect on the skin. Applied topically, caffeine can act as a vasoconstrictor, shrinking blood vessels to decrease redness and minimize the appearance of spider veins.
What you need:
- 1 c sugar (white, brown, cane)
- 5 tbsp coffee grounds
- 1/4 c oil – such as Almond Oil, Walnut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- (Optional) A few drops of an essential oil, or 1 tsp peppermint extract or vanilla extract
Mix sugar and coffee. Add small amounts of oil to the sugar/coffee mix until everything is coated. Add any essential oil or extract you like. Mix well and apply. If you find it a little runny, add more sugar and/or coffee. If you have sensitive skin, do not add coffee grounds and use brown sugar as it is less abrasive. If you would like a coarser scrub, try 1/2 c of sugar and 1/2 c of coffee grounds.
Salt Body Scrub
Sea salt and Epsom salt contain minerals that can help to enhance the skin. They both help reduce swelling and exfoliate dry skin. When mixed with olive, almond or rosehip oils just before applying, it will help moisturize as well.
What you need:
- Epsom or sea salt
- Essential oil (whatever scent you prefer)
- Small piece of fabric
Pour enough salt to fill a jar or two. Add a few drops of essential oil to fabric. Stir the fabric into the salt for a few minutes to scent the salt, making sure to get the salt well coated. Make sure the fabric isn’t dripping wet as you don’t want it to dissolve your salt. Remove the fabric, and place in a storage container. Use as a scrub in the shower, mixing in your hand with a little oil if desired.
Citrus Salt Body Scrub
Similar to regular salt scrubs, Citrus Salt Scrubs are excellent for extremely dry, flaky skin. The lemon juice contains high amounts of natural vitamin C, which helps exfoliate the skin and control acne.
What you need:
- 1 cup sea salt
- 1/4 cup olive, almond or coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice (or zest)
- 1/2 tsp orange zest (optional)
Mix the oil and sea salt together. Add a bit of oil at a time. Add orange zest. Drizzle lemon juice over the salt/oil mix. Be careful not to mix in too much lemon juice as the mixture can easily get watery. Mix well and store in an airtight container. Clean body as normal in shower. Just before getting out, apply salt scrub in a firm circular motion all over body concentrating on areas that can get flaky such as knees and elbows.
Blackhead Minimizer
What you need:
- 1/2 of a lemon
- 3-4 drops of honey
Put the honey on the cut surface of the lemon, then rub the lemon on your face; emphasize the blackhead-prone areas like nose, chin etc. Leave the lemon and honey mixture on your face for 5 minutes, then wash with cold water. You will see the results immediately. Additionally, lemon juice can fade other marks/spots on the face and honey can moisturize.
Body Butter
What you need:
- 1 cup shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond, olive, or jojoba oil
Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler. Remove from heat. Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing.
Let cool for 30 minutes, waiting until the oils start to partially solidify. Then whip until a butter-like consistency is achieved. This should only take a few minutes. Place in a clean glass jar. A little goes a long way.
Here’s another recipe contributed by a patient:
Deodorant
What you need:
- 6 tablespoons organic coconut oil
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) baking soda
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) organic cornstarch or arrowroot
- 5-10 drops of an essential oil such as tea tree or lavender (optional)
Mix baking soda and cornstarch (or arrowroot) together, then mash in the coconut oil along with the essential oil if desired, using a fork or pastry cutter. Store in a glass jar. Additional ingredients may be added such as beeswax (to make it firmer), bentonite clay (for extra absorbency), or cocoa or shea butter.
