Cosmetics and beauty products often expose us to a lot of chemicals, many of which haven’t been tested for safety. Luckily, there are natural alternatives that not only work well but are often better than their chemical counterparts. Over the years, I’ve created numerous natural beauty and personal care recipes, from shampoo and conditioner to mascara and foundation.
You might think you need a lot of special ingredients, but you can make many great recipes with items from your kitchen and a few bulk purchases. Natural ingredients might cost more initially, but they save money over time because they’re versatile and last a long time. I usually order these products once or twice a year, and they keep our skin smooth and healthy all year round.
Here are seven natural beauty staples I always have on hand. They’re perfect for anyone starting with DIY beauty products, and you can make many recipes with just these ingredients.
I buy Gold Label Coconut Oil in five-gallon buckets from Tropical Traditions. It’s my favorite because of its taste and quality. Buying in bulk saves money, and since we use it for cooking, in recipes, and as a skin lotion, it never goes to waste. We only use unrefined, organic coconut oil for cooking, but a cheaper expeller-pressed oil can be used for skin recipes to save money. For those sensitive to coconut, grass-fed organic beef tallow is a great alternative for the skin, though you might need to add essential oils to mask its mild scent.
Another essential ingredient is organic unrefined shea butter, which has a mild nutty smell and is very nourishing for the skin. It’s known to help with eczema and has natural antibacterial properties. It’s great for preventing stretch marks, healing wounds, and as an anti-aging treatment. Shea butter naturally has an SPF of about 5, making it a good daily sunscreen. I use it in lotions, deodorants, face creams, and more.
Cocoa butter is another great addition to natural beauty recipes. It has a delicate chocolate scent and works well with mint or citrus in lotions and creams. It can be used interchangeably with shea butter, but I prefer using a mix of shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in my favorite recipes.
Beeswax is a natural thickening agent with a gentle honey scent. I use it in lotions, lip balms, and other recipes. A little goes a long way, and a pound lasts us at least six months.
For recipes that need to be thinner, like lotions and salves, I use a liquid carrier oil. Olive oil, almond oil, and apricot kernel oil are my go-tos. Apricot kernel oil has the most gentle scent, while olive oil is the least expensive.
Arrowroot is another staple I keep on hand. It’s great for thickening sauces and is used in many natural recipes like deodorant and dry shampoo. It works like cornstarch but isn’t GMO.
Essential oils aren’t necessary, but they add wonderful natural scents to DIY beauty recipes and can lift your mood. I buy them in larger quantities, and they last for years. Our favorites include mint, lavender, lemon, orange, and sandalwood.
Here are some of my favorite basic beauty recipes: natural deodorant, shaving soap, sugar scrub, lotion bars, deodorant bars, sunscreen bars, bug-off lotion bars, herbal hair color, baby care recipes, beach waves hair spray, dry shampoo, skin care recipes, makeup recipes, feminine hygiene solutions, and natural substitutes for conventional beauty products.
Do you make your beauty products? What recipes would you like to try? Share below!
