Homemade Skincare Products

A former staff member tried and recommended all of these recipes. Some include ingredients, such as sugar, that I do not recommend you eat! Also, some recipes suggest essential oils for fragrance; if you use an essential oil, 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 your 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 use to take off makeup.

Coffee and Sugar Scrub

Applied to the skin, caffeine can shrink blood vessels, which can 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 grounds, then gradually add oil and 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 grounds. If you have sensitive skin, omit the 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.

Citrus Salt Body Scrub

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.