Give a gorgeous, homemade, natural skincare gift this year to delight your friends and family. It will really show your loved ones how much you care and is much more fun than battling through crowded shops!

We have curated some of our most fabulous recipes in this Holiday Recipe Guide. All of the recipes feature gorgeous festive ingredients like sweet orange, frankincense and myrrh, and are quick, easy and beautiful to create, requiring only a few ingredients. 

Perfect to gift… or to keep for yourself! 

Remember to use only clean equipment and tools, and always follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making any skincare products.

Natural skincare recipe

Oil phase:

5g Xyliance emulsifier (learn more about Xyliance and alternative options here)

7g shea butter

4g sunflower oil

4g avocado oil (we use the green unrefined version in this recipe because we find it much more nourishing for our skin. You could replace this with refined if you wish)

Water phase:

75.1g purified deionized water

2.5g glycerin

0.3g xanthan gum

Cooling phase:

1g preservative (or according to manufacturer’s instructions. Some options are here)

0.1g Vitamin E

0.4g orange essential oil

0.3g benzoin essential oil

0.3g lavender essential oil 

To vary the scent you can replace the benzoin with frankincense, cedarwood, or ylang ylang essential oil. You can also substitute the carrier oils for others if you wish.

Instructions

1. First weigh your water phase ingredients. It’s easier to disperse the xanthan gum in the glycerin first so sprinkle the xanthan gum onto the water and combine with a stick blender or mix thoroughly with a spoon or whisk.
2. Pour the glycerin and xanthan gum mixture into the water. Mix thoroughly.
3. Combine the oil phase ingredients in a beaker.
4. Prepare two water baths/bains-marie.
5. Heat both the water phase and oil phase containers in a water bath/bain-marie until both reach the same temperature (70°C), measuring the temperature with a thermometer. Once both phases have reached the same temperature, carefully remove them from the water bath/bain marie.
6. Pour the water phase into the oil phase. You can also pour the oil into the water, but some oil always gets left behind if you pour it that way around! Blend with a stick blender with a few minutes to emulsify. The warm emulsion will still be very fluid.
7. Cool the emulsion down by placing the beaker in a cold water bath (sink or saucepan filled with cold water) and mixing until cool.
8. Once the temperature has reached 40°C add the cooling phase and mix until uniform.

At this point you can check the pH of your product if you wish. If your preservative isn’t too pH dependent, you can likely skip this step. The easiest way to check the pH as a beginner is to spread a small amount of the emulsion on a pH strip and wait 1-2 minutes for the strip to show the pH. Then you can adjust the pH if needed. We give much more information on how to test and adjust pH in our range of courses.

Transfer to your packaging of choice and once cooled to room temperature place the lid on.

Foaming Orange Frankincense Bath Soak

This luxurious mineral bath soak is unique as it will foam when sprinkled into the bath water, creating beautiful bubbles. It’s easy to make and creates a gorgeous and impressive product.

It has a high content of minerals thanks to the salt in it and the milk powder adds a luxurious, moisturizing touch. The bath soak helps exfoliate, moisturize, soften, cleanse, detoxify, calm and soothe skin, plus it creates some lovely bubbles and provides a beautiful fragrance! What’s not to love?!

Natural skincare recipe

72g sea salt

22g sodium lauroyl sarcosinate

4g milk powder

1g orange essential oil

0.6g frankincense essential oil

0.4g sandalwood essential oil

Instructions

IMPORTANT: We recommend wearing a mask when making this product as powdered surfactants have very small, airborne particles.

1. Weigh phase A (the salt) and set aside.
2. Weigh phase B (the sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and milk powder). Add to a mixing bowl and mix gently to combine. 
3. Weigh phase C (the essential oils), add to phase B and mix thoroughly.
4. Mix all the ingredients together until evenly combined.
5. Pour into a suitable air-tight container.

Add around 1oz or 30g to running bath water for a luxurious, soothing bath soak.

Remember to check essential oil safety data before use and do a patch test. Don’t allow any water to get into the product and store in a glass jar or tin – the bath soak will then have a shelf-life of around six months.

Orange and Myrrh Lip Balm

Lips balms are so easy to make. Here we show you how to make your own lip balm using cocoa butter and beeswax for their soothing and protective properties, orange essential oil for its wonderful smell and myrrh essential oil to help heal chapped lips. It’s simple to make and wonderful to use!

Natural skincare recipe

(Makes 6 x 15ml jars)

15g beeswax

10.5g cocoa butter

20g sweet almond oil

20g avocado oil

20g apricot kernel oil

14g castor oil

0.4g sweet orange essential oil (approx 10 drops)

0.1g myrrh essential oil (approx 2-3 drops, optional)*

*please avoid using myrrh essential oil during pregnancy

Instructions  

1. Put all ingredients, except the essential oil, in a water bath/bain marie and allow the butter and wax to gently melt.
2. Remove from the heat, add your drops of essential oils and pour into jars.
3. Mix thoroughly, for example with a spoon or spatula.
4. Allow to cool before putting the lid on.

That’s it! Simple and lovely! These make such wonderful and inexpensive gifts.

Natural skincare recipe

180g bicarbonate of soda

60g citric acid

20g cocoa butter

1g essential oil (approx 30 drops, optional)

Instructions

1. Melt the cocoa butter gently over a water bath/bain marie. Allow to cool slightly.
2. Mix all the dry ingredients together. You may wish to put them through a sieve to make sure there are no lumps. Add your essential oil and mix in well. Add colors too, if you wish.
3. Slowly drizzle the melted butter in, a little at a time, and mix well. You want the mixture to stick together when you squeeze it. 
4. Pack firmly into a mold – silicone molds, ice cube trays or cake cases work well. You can add a few flower petals to the bottom of the mold so that when you turn them out the petals are on the top of the bath truffle. Alternatively, if you are using cake cases you can place a rose bud or other petals on the top.
5. Put in the fridge and allow them to harden (about 1.5 hours).

To use, run a warm bath and pop one in just before you get in. Relax and enjoy!

Shea, Starflower and Sea Buckthorn Face Cream

This moisturizing and rejuvenating face cream with shea, starflower and sea buckthorn is a deeply hydrating and rejuvenating cream, lending wrinkle-smoothing, cell-regenerating, firming and protective qualities to skin. It is a medium-weight face cream, ideal for those with dehydrated, damaged, under-nourished and aging skin. It is a particularly helpful moisturizer for winter months, in dry or cold climates where protecting the skin with rich emollients and occlusives may be necessary.

Natural skincare recipe

Oil phase: 

6g emulsifier, eg Olivem 1000 (INCI: Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate)

9g rice bran oil

5g borage oil

5g shea butter

1g cetyl alcohol

Water phase:

2g glycerin

2g hydrolyzed oat protein

15g aloe vera juice (liquid)

33.7g purified water (deionized)

15g neroli hydrosol

0.2g xanthan gum

Cooling phase:

2g panthenol

0.1g vitamin E

1g preservative*

2g sea buckthorn CO2 extract

0.5g palmarosa essential oil

0.5g geranium essential oil

*As this product contains water, a broad-spectrum preservative is necessary (Vitamin E, rosemary extract and grapefruit seed extract are NOT preservatives). We like using Preservative Eco (INCI: Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerine, Sorbic Acid) from Aromantic (UK) as it is an Ecocert-certified preservative. This is also sold as Geogard ECT, available from Voyageur Soap and Candle Company (USA) and Plantaserv M, available from New Directions (Australia). If you are using an alternative preservative you must check the usage rates with your supplier and adjust the recipe accordingly.

Instructions    

1. Measure all of the oil phase ingredients into a water bath/bain marie (according to the recipe above), and bring the temperature to 75℃. 
2. Measure all of the water phase ingredients into a water bath/bain marie (according to the recipe above). Bring the temperature to 75℃. You can mix the glycerin and xanthan gum together into a slurry first and then add this to the rest of the water phase whilst stirring, to aid dispersion. 
3. Pour the oil phase into the water phase. Use an electric stick blender to blend at high shear until the cream has emulsified. 
4. Allow to cool, blending periodically. As the cream cools it will thicken.
5. Once the cream is cooled (below 40℃), you may add the cool phase ingredients and mix well.
6. Decant into an air-tight pump dispenser or jar.

The beginning of your natural skincare journey!

These recipes are just the start of your journey to making your own natural skincare products! In our accredited online Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products we include 23 recipes for creams and lotions plus there are 100 other recipes for serums, oils, body butters, lotion bars, face masks, body scrubs, facial exfoliators, toners and gels.

By studying with us you’ll gain a good foundation of knowledge of different types of natural skincare products, when and why to use preservatives, emulsifiers and antioxidants, detailed information about a wide range of ingredients, including their uses and benefits, and you’ll receive a wealth of recipes to try out. By the end you’ll be able to make a complete range of skincare products with confidence (and customize them if you wish). 

Plus you’ll be joining our supportive student community and if you have any questions our tutors are on hand to help. 

You can read what students are saying about the course here. And you can take a look at the full Certificate course curriculum and enroll here.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Loved these recipes? Make sure to remember them by pinning this article!

Natural deodorants are a good option for anyone who wishes to avoid synthetic ingredients typically found in commercial deodorants. Natural deodorants can be just as effective, but are much more eco-friendly.

First of all, it is important to understand the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants. People use both products in order to avoid unpleasant underarm odor, but they work in very different ways. 

Antiperspirants vs deodorants: what’s the difference?

Antiperspirants

Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts that prevent sweating. If there is no sweat, no malodor can arise. But sweating is a natural physiological process of the body, and many people believe it might not be beneficial to block it. 

To prevent body odor without blocking sweat or using aluminum, deodorants can be used.

Deodorants

Deodorants are cosmetic products that prevent unpleasant body odor. They do this by masking natural body scents or by breaking down sweat components and preventing the odor-forming bacteria from reproducing. Deodorants do not affect our natural sweat physiology and are thus considered to be less invasive than antiperspirants.

Natural deodorants – an eco-friendly alternative 

In natural deodorants, several different ingredient types can be used to create an effective product. 

Typically, natural deodorants will contain:

• An ingredient to absorb moisture (eg cornstarch, various clays or diatomaceous earth).
• Alkaline ingredients to create unfriendly environments for odor-causing bacteria (eg baking soda, magnesium hydroxide).
• Antimicrobial ingredients to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria (eg capryl glycerate, alcohol)

Often, natural deodorants will contain a combination of two or more of these active ingredients, to increase their effectiveness. 

What’s the best natural deodorant solution for men?

That depends somewhat on your goals and values.

When comparing antiperspirants and deodorants, antiperspirants are usually more effective in preventing body odor. However, they contain many synthetic ingredients, so they are not accepted by well-known certification bodies and have a certain degree of controversy regarding their safety. 

If you are looking for something that is safe, natural and free from undesirable ingredients, that is also regarded as safer and kinder to your skin, then a natural deodorant is what you’ll want to use.

How to make a Refreshing Kaolin, Shea and Lime Natural Deodorant

Here we share with you a formulation for a natural, effective deodorant. It contains sodium bicarbonate as the deodorizing active ingredient, along with moisture-absorbing kaolin clay. Shea and cocoa butter have been chosen to nourish the skin.

The beeswax will make sure the deodorant has a firm consistency, but it can be substituted for a vegan alternative, like candelilla wax. 

We have scented this deodorant with a blend of lime, pine and tea tree essential oils. These refreshing and purifying oils also have some antimicrobial effects. 

What equipment do I need to make a natural deodorant at home?

• A precision scale.
• A water bath.
• A container to mix the ingredients in.
• A deodorant stick container.

Refreshing Kaolin, Shea and Lime Natural Deodorant Formula

Refreshing Kaolin, Shea and Lime Natural Deodorant Recipe for 100g/4oz batch 

Simple natural deodorant recipe instructions

1. Weigh phase A ingredients in a container and melt them in a water bath.
2. While phase A is melting, combine phase B and sift it through a fine sieve. The purpose of this step is to make sure there are no lumps of powdered ingredient present, as they can feel uncomfortable and gritty when applied to the skin. 
3. When phase A is completely melted, remove it from the water bath and let it cool to about 60°C (140°F) while stirring occasionally.
4. Add phase B to phase A and stir thoroughly. 
5. While stirring the mixture, cool it down until it begins to thicken.
6. Add phase C ingredients, mix well.
7. Pour into a deodorant stick container.

How can I make more natural skincare products?

At the School of Natural Skincare, we’re passionate about natural and organic cosmetics and our courses are focused on empowering students all over the world to make their own products using luxurious natural and organic ingredients, either for themselves or to sell.

Our Free Natural Beauty Recipe Book is a great way to get started making your own natural skincare products using our safe, effective, tried and tested recipes! So why not click here to grab your copy and get started today.

The fast track to creating your own complete range of unique skincare products is to enroll at the School by joining one of our accredited online courses or programs. You can find more information about them here and by reaching out to our customer service team using the live chat function or by emailing hello@schoolofnaturalskincare.com.

Loved this article about natural deadorants? Make sure to remember it by pinning it!

The subject of hand care has been a hot topic of late, and due to everyone washing and sanitizing their hands more now we know many people will be experiencing dry skin.

It is really important that you keep up with washing hands and don’t avoid doing so.

What we can do to help is offer you some hand care solutions that will help you to maintain soft, nourished and healthy skin.

We wrote an article all about hand soap that doesn’t dry the skin which you might like to read.

The simple answer is to wash your hands regularly using soap and water and use a cream or lotion to help repair any damage and keep the skin on your hands soft, supple and well-nourished.

Creams and lotions are significantly better than balms and butter, and to find out why, read our article, “Why dry skin needs creams and lotions more than balms and butters: what you need to know to soften and nourish dry skin”.

Hand cream formula

Soothing Hand Lotion

This is our favourite hand lotion and we use it every day throughout the winter. 

It’s very nourishing and moisturizing while also being light and quickly absorbed. 

We used to spend a fortune on expensive hand creams because hands can get so dry – now we make our own and we love it! 

Benzoin is wonderful for chapped, dry skin, lavender is super healing and orange is a natural antiseptic and gentle disinfectant.

Oil phase

5g Xyliance emulsifier (learn more about Xyliance and alternative options here)
7g shea butter
4g sunflower oil
4g avocado oil (we use the green unrefined version in this recipe because we find it much more nourishing for our skin. You could replace this with refined if you wish)

Water phase

75.1g distilled/deionized water
2.5g glycerin
0.3g xanthan gum

Cooling phase

1g preservative (or according to manufacturer’s instructions. Some options are here)
0.1g Vitamin E
0.4g orange essential oil
0.3g benzoin essential oil
0.3g lavender essential oil 

To vary the scent you can replace the benzoin with frankincense, cedarwood, or ylang ylang essential oil. You can also substitute the carrier oils for others if you wish.

Method for making creams and lotions

Click the arrows to see step-by-step how to make the cream

If you would like to learn how to make your own creams and lotions for a fraction the price of shop-bought brands, then we have a few resources that will help.

Our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products has a module dedicated to making your creams and lotions using natural and organic ingredients. 

On this course, you’ll learn the key ingredients to include, important steps to forming a successful emulsion and discover a range of natural emulsifiers to use. 

We also provide an invaluable troubleshooting guide helping you fix any issues that might arise (such as creams separating) and a guide to adapting cream and lotion recipes, so you can have a go at adapting recipes to suit your preferences.

Includes recipes for:

• Regenerating Ylang Ylang and Frankincense Cream
• Soothing Lavender and Marshmallow Cream
• Eczema Soother
• Regenerating Sweet Dreams Night Cream
• Gentle Cleansing Lotion
• Coconut and Almond Body Lotion
• Rose and Vanilla Body Lotion
• And more!

If you’d prefer to learn how to create your own creams and lotions from scratch, like a professional, rather than following recipes, then you’ll want to join our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation. 

Here you will learn the theory, practice, art and science of natural skincare in an accredited, multimedia online course!

And when it comes to creams and lotions, we have three modules for you! 

A module dedicated to natural preservation; a module all about natural emulsification; and a module that teaches you how to formulate and make a wide range of creams and lotions for the face and body, from lighter body milks and lotions to richer creams and body butters.

And if that might be a step too far right now and you want to explore a little more first, how about our Free Online Training, How to make your own organic lotions and creams?

Join our FREE webinar: How to make your own organic lotions and creams for a fraction of the price of store bought brands!

To be blunt, there is a lot of incorrect information circulating around online and in books.
It is so difficult to know what is right and what isn't.
A lot of this bad advice relates to making creams and lotions.

That's why in this FREE training we are going to teach you:

• How to go behind the label: discover what is REALLY in the products you buy and how you can make your own at home for less.
• 4 common myths that are all over the internet (so you don’t fall for them).
• How to avoid problems like creams that separate, lotions that are too runny or too thick, or products that can cause irritation and inflammation.
• How to make safe, stable, and beautiful lotions that are 100% natural & organic!

Making our own natural skincare products is a fun and creative hobby that we can enjoy from the comfort of our own homes. 

The beautiful thing about this hobby is that once you understand the basics and know where to get accurate and reliable information – plus a few good recipes – you can make some amazing products for a fraction of the price of shop-bought brands.

Plus, when it comes to occupying, entertaining and educating our children, learning to make a few simple products is an absolute winner!

Kids tend to love making biscuits, pancakes and cakes and they also usually love arts and crafts. There’s so much fun to be had at home with children, and the memories this creates is something to be savored – for our kids and ourselves!

How about making some simple skincare products?

If you are looking for some new activities to try, here are seven simple, DIY cosmetic recipes that you can make with your children. 

If you do try these products out, please make sure to properly supervise your children and ensure you follow the recommended safety precautions. 

If you’d like more recipes to make with your kids, take a look at our Bath Treats eKit, which contains 25 wonderful recipes, or our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products, which contains over 120 recipes!

1) Simple cocoa butter lip balm

This is such a soothing and nourishing lip balm, yet very quick, easy and inexpensive to make!

2) Lip gloss

Just a few ingredients are all you need to make this fun, shimmery lip gloss.

3) Rose and Cocoa Butter Bath Truffles

These are easy to make and fun to use!      

4) Foaming Orange, Frankincense and Sandalwood Mineral Bath Soak

You could change the essential oils for something more suitable for children, for example 1% orange and 1% lavender.

5) Shower scrub bars

These are simple to make and luxurious to use!

6) Super simple whipped shea body butter

Only three ingredients are needed for this fun, whipped body butter. 

7) Detoxifying clay face mask

This is a fun project for teenagers. Let them choose the most suitable clays and essential oils for their skin type.

Fall is such a wonderful time of year. Summer’s intensity gives way to winter’s cool and quiet time of rest and renewal. The changing of the seasons often means changing the way you think about your skin’s needs and what products are in your skincare items!

And, on top of the seasonal changes, which can vary depending on where on the globe you live, you’ve probably got some holiday gatherings coming up, too. Holiday parties are wonderful for sharing a festive time with your friends and loved ones, but sometimes a contributor to stress as well.

With all of this coming up, a little pampering is definitely in order. We can nurture ourselves by embracing the ingredients of the season, staying in tune with the natural rhythms and cycles of life, and giving ourselves new and fun ingredients to try in our formulations!

It can be challenging to do this in today’s busy world. It can be even harder to make time for yourself—but it can be done, and moreover, it’s fun to do! Here are a few examples of formulations to try for the coming colder weather, and ingredients you might not have tried to work with.

Prioritize Your Fall and Winter Skincare Needs

Before you get started, it’s always a good idea to think about what kind of result you want with the product you’re making. 

For example, does your already dry skin take a beating with winter wind? 

Do you need deep hydration in your skincare routine, or do you need a once-weekly treatment just to keep your skin feeling soft, healthy, and supple? 

Nature provides so many wonderful ingredients! Here are some of our favorites for seasonal product creation: 

Cranberry seed oil

INCI: Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil

Cranberry Seed Oil is a light oil that is absorbed quickly and doesn’t leave an oily residue on the skin. It can be used for all skin types due to its fast absorption rate and light texture, making it suitable for all types of products from serums, butters, balms, creams and lotions. 

It has a nice balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and is rich in vitamins E and vitamin A. It can be useful for wide ranging skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as irritated or inflamed skin.

Pumpkin seed oil

INCI: Cucurbita Pepo (pumpkin) seed oil

Pumpkin seed oil is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, along with vitamin E and antioxidants. It is somewhat similar to sesame seed oil, but it is richer in nourishing phytosterols. 

Suitable for all skin types, ideal for dry, sensitive and mature skin. 

The unrefined version has a strong (overpowering) nutty scent and dark green-to-red colour, while the refined version comes in lighter colour and is odor-free.

Hazelnut oil

INCI: Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil

A light oil that is nourishing, softening and soothing for the skin and good for preventing dehydration. Slightly astringent so good for oily skin types, & acne. Easily and quickly absorbed by the skin and does not leave it feeling greasy. 

It is suitable for all types especially oily, acne, dry, and mature.

Cocoa Butter

INCI: Theobroma cacao (seed butter)

Emollient, soothing and softening. A very good occlusive forming a protective layer on the skin. Enhances skin elasticity. Cold pressed cocoa butter contains antioxidants which help fight free radicals thereby keeping the skin looking younger. 

Useful for dry skin and for treating stretch marks, scars, chapped skin and lips. A hard butter.

Shea Butter

INCI: Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) Oil

A wonderful moisturizer, emollient and very soothing. Suitable for all skin types. Helps to heal dry, cracked, aged and damaged skin. Useful for stretch marks. From the Karite tree which is known as women’s gold. A fairly soft butter.

Cinnamon essential oil

INCI: Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Leaf Oil 

A lovely, warm, sweet and spicy aroma that is both uplifting and energising.

Benzoin 

INCI: styrax benzoin

Benzoin has a sweet, vanilla-like aroma. It’s a great alternative to vanilla essential oil which is really expensive! 

By use Benzoin, you’ll take advantage of all the other properties beyond its scent, including its antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and calming properties. 

Benzoin is excellent for dry, chapped, inflamed and irritated skin. And it’s particularly useful for hand and foot creams. It’s a diuretic that helps with water retention issues so can be helpful for treating cellulite. 

It is Cooling and calming for the nerves, warming for the heart, promotes rest and relaxation. Alleviates stress and tension.

Do not use with young children.

Orange (sweet) essential oil

INCI: citrus sinensis

Sweet orange essential oil has a succulent, soft, sweet and fruity aroma. 

It has antiseptic, cicatrisant, cheering, sedating, and gently uplifting properties, and is good for acne prone, congested, oily and mature skin. Helps with lymphatic drainage to remove toxins. Promotes collagen formation to help skin become firmer. 

A wonderful sweet and soft fruity aroma that gently uplifts the spirits warms the body and mind and alleviates stress and tension. Can replace lavender very well because of its softening and relaxing qualities.

Not phototoxic.

Horse Chestnut oil

INCI: Helianthus annuus Seed Oil, Aesculus hippocastanum Seed Extract

Horse chestnut oil is made by macerating the nuts from the horse chestnut tree with another oil. This is most commonly done with sunflower oil which gives a combination of properties from both, sunflower oil, and the chestnut. It has astringent qualities and is therefore useful for oily skin.

Free Recipe: Holiday Spirit Body Scrub

This festive smelling body scrub made with nourishing oils and brown sugar is easy to make at home and makes a wonderful (last minute) present for your loved ones. Scents of cinnamon, orange and vanilla-like benzoin will joyful spirit to your pampering time.

Instructions to make the scrub:

1. Combine phase A ingredients and melt in a water bath over medium heat.
2. Once the solid ingredients are melted, add phase B ingredients, stir well.
3. Put the mixture into the refrigerator to cool and solidify. 
4. When it starts to solidify, whip it with an electric mixer until it becomes fluffy and lighter in colour..
5. Using a spoon or a spatula, fold in phase C ingredients.
6. Pack into a jar.

Loved reading about these ingredients? Save this image below on Pinterest so you can be sure to remember!

Many DIYers are excited about the prospect of making their own beautiful skincare products that are just as good as those sold by the natural/organic brands but for a fraction of the cost.

We want to show you that when you know how to do it properly it’s totally possible! Keep reading for our recipe for a Revitalizing Wild Rose and Shea Body Cream that is rich, luxurious and inexpensive to make.

Why are products sold by natural and organic brands so expensive?

There are many legitimate reasons, including:

• The quality of the ingredients they use.
• The cost of natural/organic certification.
• The cost of product testing.
• Their business overheads.
• Branding and marketing.
• And of course, the need to make a profit!

But if you choose to make your own products, it’s much more cost-effective!

Natural or organic body creams can retail at anywhere between $20 and $50 (or even more) and face creams are often even more expensive. But because they’re usually 60-70% water they can be very inexpensive to make, so you could easily make your own for much, much less. Certainly under $10, possibly around $5, depending on the carrier oils and packaging you choose. 

What ingredients are needed in a moisturizing cream or lotion?

Before we share our recipe let’s look at the composition of an effective moisturizing cream or lotion.

Emollients – to smooth, soften and hydrate your skin, eg carrier oils.

Occlusives – a barrier to block water escaping from the skin, eg shea butter.

Humectants – which attract water and bind it to your skin keeping it hydrated, eg glycerin.

Water – the solvent for other ingredients, plus provides hydration to the skin.

Emulsifier – to combine oil and water, eg Xyliance emulsifier (INCI Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glucosides (and) Cetearyl Alcohol).

Thickener and stabilizer – to help create a stable emulsion, eg cetyl alcohol (used in the oil phase) or xanthan gum (used in the water phase).

Preservative – kills microorganisms and waterborne bacteria and prevents the growth of fungus, mold and yeast, eg Preservative Eco.

Antioxidant – to protect against rancidity if using oils with a short shelf life, eg Vitamin E.

When you know how to read a cosmetic label you’ll find these types of ingredients in almost every commercial cream or lotion.

You’ll see each of these types of ingredient in the recipe below and in all the formulation templates and recipes we share in our courses.

You will however often find them lacking in recipes you find online or in books. This means the creams and lotions could be ineffective, unstable or at worst harmful.

We’ve written a lot about the need to be very careful following online recipes and what to look out for. You can read more here:

Debunking DIY: How to Spot an Unsafe Skincare Recipe

Checklist: how to make sure the skincare products you make are safe and stable

How creams and lotions keep skin hydrated and moisturized

Emulsions are much better at hydrating the skin than anhydrous products like balms and salves.

The reason? Emulsions are all-in-one combinations of: water (to provide moisture to the skin); humectants (to attract more moisture to the skin); emollients (to soften the upper layers of the skin); and occlusives (to prevent water from evaporating from the skin). By using balms or salves only, you are completely missing water and humectants as you are only applying emollients and occlusives. This means that if your skin is not well hydrated, long-term use of anhydrous balms can actually make it even drier.

Revitalizing Wild Rose and Shea Body Cream Recipe

This recipe was inspired by the Neal’s Yard Rose Body Cream, a rich, luxurious moisturizer with shea butter, sweet almond oil and avocado oil that retails at £35 GBP (about US $45).

Our version contains similar ingredients and has a similar consistency and skin feel, for a fraction of the cost. We’ve even left out the sweet almond oil and included more luxurious carrier oils (macadamia and rosehip) instead!

This recipe is taken from our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products. If you’d like to make your own complete skincare range, the right way, for a fraction of the cost of the top natural brands then the course will be perfect for you.

Our Revitalizing Wild Rose and Shea Body Cream is packed full of regenerating and nourishing ingredients and is wonderful for dry or mature skin. Macadamia oil is emollient, rejuvenating, soothing, protective and easily absorbed. Avocado is a rich, nourishing oil that is long lasting, easily absorbed and has a wonderful soft, silky feel on the skin. Rosehip oil is well known for its rejuvenating properties. It’s the only vegetable oil to contain tretinoin (a form of vitamin A), which helps to repair damaged skin, acne, and reduce wrinkles and scars. Frankincense and lavender are both very healing and stimulate cellular regeneration.

Oil phase

7g Xyliance emulsifier (INCI Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glucosides (and) Cetearyl Alcohol. Accepted by Ecocert)
5g macadamia oil
5g avocado oil
5g shea butter
4g rosehip oil
1g cetyl alcohol

Water phase

68.7g distilled/deionized water
2g glycerin
0.2g xanthan gum

Cooling phase

0.1g Vitamin E
0.4g geranium essential oil
0.3g lavender essential oil
0.3g frankincense essential oil
1g preservative eg Preservative Eco (INCI: Benzyl Alcohol (and) Salicylic Acid (and) Glycerin (and) Sorbic Acid) (or as manufacturer’s instructions)

To make an organic version of the cream, you can choose organic carrier oils and butters, naturally derived vitamin E and a preservative approved for use in certified organic products.

Method for making creams and lotions

Click the arrows to see step-by-step how to make the cream.

The next step

This recipe is just the start of your journey to making your own natural skincare products!

In our accredited online Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products we include 23 recipes for creams and lotions plus there are 100 other recipes for serums, oils, body butters, lotion bars, face masks, body scrub, facial exfoliators, toners and gels.

The creams and lotions you’ll learn to make include:

11. Freshening Grapefruit and Geranium Cleansing Lotion
12. Deep Cleansing Lotion
13. Coconut and Almond Body Lotion
14. Rose and Vanilla Body Lotion
15. Frankincense and Orange Body Lotion
16. Soothing Hand Lotion
17. Freshening Foot Lotion
18. Almond and Orange Milk Spray
19. Revitalizing Wild Rose and Shea Body Cream
20. Exotic Mango Body Butter
21. Eczema Soother
22. Beauty Sleep Body Cream
23. Herbal Hardworking Hand Cream

By studying with us you’ll gain a good foundation of knowledge of different types of products, when and why to use preservatives, emulsifiers and antioxidants, detailed information about a wide range of ingredients including their uses and benefits and you’ll get lots of recipes to try out. By the end you’ll be able to make a complete range of skincare products with confidence (and customize them if you wish).

Plus you’ll be joining our supportive student community and if you have any questions our tutors are on hand to help.

You can read what students are saying about the course here.

And you can take a look at the full Certificate course curriculum and enroll here.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

This luxurious mineral bath soak is unique in that it will foam when sprinkled into the bath water, creating beautiful bubbles. It’s easy to make and creates a gorgeous and impressive product.

It has a high content of minerals thanks to the salt it contains and the milk powder adds a luxurious, moisturizing touch. The bath soak helps exfoliate, moisturize, soften, cleanse, detoxify, calm and soothe skin, plus it creates some lovely bubbles and provides a beautiful fragrance! What’s not to love!

The magic ingredient that makes this product foam is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate which is a COSMOS-approved, food grade, anionic surfactant derived from the sodium salt of fatty acids and sarcosine amino acids. It provides a light, foaming and gentle cleansing action, won’t strip moisture, and leaves skin feeling soft. It’s ideal for sensitive, dry skin types. It can be purchased from Ingredients To Die For (USA) www.ingredientstodiefor.com and Aussie Soap Supplies (Australia) www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au.

When blended together, orange, frankincense and sandalwood essential oils create a warm, sweet, smokey and woody aroma that’s kind, cheering and uplifting. A lovely blend for winter warmth.

The fragrance from the essential oils and warmth from the bath water will also help relax and de-stress the body and mind. The bubbles help to give that all-important luxurious feeling with some much-needed time out away from our busy lifestyles. It is suitable for all skin types.

Directions for use:

To be used in the bath or as a foot/hand soak. Add around 1 oz or 30g to running bath water.

Potential substitute ingredients:

We’ve used sodium lauroyl sarcosinate as our foaming agent because it is very gentle. If you don’t have access to it you can replace it with sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSa) which is of 100% natural origin, made from coconut and palm oils and is Ecocert-approved. SLSa produces more bubbles and foam compared to sodium lauroyl sarcosinate.

Neither of these ingredients are the same as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). SLS and SLSa might sound like the same ingredient, but that is not the case. SLSa is a much milder surfactant due to its molecular size being much larger than that of SLS. The small molecules of SLS surfactants can penetrate the skin more effectively and thus cause dryness, redness and irritation. SLSa still offers a rich lather but does not penetrate skin and mucous membranes as deeply, and is therefore not as irritating to the skin.

The difference in the properties of the surfactants lies in their chemical structure. What sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate have in common is that they are derived from lauric fatty acid, which is typically obtained from coconut or palm oil. All of them also contain a sodium atom at one end of the molecule. What makes them different is the manufacturing process and chemicals used to create them. Sodium lauryl sulphate is made using sulfuric acid (hence the “sulfate” part of the name). Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is manufactured similarly to SLS, but instead of sulfuric acid it is made using sulfoacetic acid, which has higher molecular size and results in a milder surfactant. Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is made using sarcosine, a natural amino acid derivative, and is even milder than SLSa, but produces less foam.

We’ve used milk powder but you could use goat milk powder, soy milk powder or buttermilk powder.

Storage:

Best stored in a glass jar or tin. Keep the container sealed and don’t allow any water to get into the container.

Approximate shelf life: 6 months.

Formula

Recipe

Instructions

IMPORTANT: We recommend wearing a mask when making this products as powdered surfactants have very small, airborne particles.

1. Weigh Phase A (the salt) and set aside.
2. Weigh Phase B (the sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and milk powder). Add to a mixing bowl and mix gently to combine.
3. Weigh Phase C (the essential oils), add to Phase B and mix thoroughly.
4. Mix all the ingredients together until combined evenly.
5. Pour into a suitable air-tight container.

Liked this? Save this image below on Pinterest so you can be sure to remember!

When and why to use cocoa butter

For those of you who like to know exactly what is going into your skincare (and be able to pronounce it) this goes one step further – using edible ingredients in your products!

Cocoa butter is moisturizing, soothing and softening. It replenishes and deeply nourishes all skin types and is perfect for giving your skin some TLC!

Cocoa butter adds a thickness, richness and emolliency to products. It can be used in both anhydrous, oil-based products and in emulsions (creams and lotions).

It creates a protective, occlusive layer on the skin that prevents the skin losing moisture. It enhances elasticity and leaves the skin beautifully soft and smooth.

It’s particularly useful for dry skin and for treating stretch marks, scars, chapped skin and lips.

5 ways to use cocoa butter

1) Make gorgeous bath melts! Simply melt some cocoa butter in a bain-marie, pour into silicone ice cube molds, pop in the fridge to set and then pop one in the bath for silky soft skin! (Warning – makes the bath slippery!)

2) Try the wonderful Cocoa Butter and Mandarin Lotion Bar recipe below. This is a simple and amazingly effective moisturizer.

3) Add to your creams and lotions. Replace 5-10% of your carrier oil with cocoa butter for a thicker, richer, more protective and softening cream.

4) Use in lip balms for a silky protective layer and to keep those lips luscious.

5) Make raw chocolates! Cocoa butter is a key ingredient in chocolate. Raw chocolates are so quick and easy to make. Here is a recipe to get you started.

How to make a Mandarin and Cocoa Butter Lotion Bar

This is one of my all-time favourite products! I’ve been making it for years now plus I used it throughout both my pregnancies to help my skin stay soft and supple.

It is quick and simple to make and amazingly effective.  The combination of aromas from the mandarin essential oil and cocoa butter is just like chocolate orange and is absolutely divine.

This recipe is a firm favourite from our Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products.

54g cocoa butter

15g shea butter

15g sweet almond or sunflower oil

15g beeswax

1g mandarin essential oil

To find out how to make this product, simply click the link below to watch the video tutorial. This is a sneak peek from our NEW online Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products.

If you like this recipe and video tutorial and would like to learn how to make your own range of natural and organic skincare products, free from harmful chemicals for a fraction of the price of shop bought-brands, then check out our amazing online Certificate in Making Natural Skincare Products.

Despite our best efforts not to catch too much sun, sometimes a little after sun care is needed.

This natural after sun recipe is quick and easy to make. It contains lovely carrier oils to soothe and replenish the skin and is also rich in antioxidants which help to reduce the damage done by free radicals following exposure to the sun. (Obviously, we always recommend wearing a high factor SPF and avoiding sun exposure at peak times.)

This recipe is for an oil-based balm, which is quick and easy to make and as it is anhydrous, it doesn’t require the use of preservatives. It is suitable for the face and body, although due to the content of beeswax some people may prefer to use on the body only.

Enjoy massaging it in after a day at the beach. Leaves skin smooth and soft.

Ingredients for Natural After Sun Balm

A handful of lovely vitamin-rich vegetable oils, shea butter and beeswax are all you need to create this balm.

Sesame oil– a light oil that is rich in oleic acid which means it has a moisturizing and regenerating effect on the skin. Sesame oil is reputed to contain natural protective factor against UVA rays and its vitamin E content makes it a great antioxidant.

Macerated carrot tissue oil – high in beta-carotene and vitamin E.  Carotenoids give carrot tissue oil its dark red colour. Carotenoids are antioxidants and there is increasing evidence that carotenoids protect the skin against photo-oxidative damage. Carrot tissue oil is suitable for dry and rough skin, flaky skin, mature skin, solar and post-solar care. It has nourishing and revitalizing properties.

Wheat germ oil – the content of vitamin E in the form of α-tocopherol of wheat germ oil is one of the highest among vegetable oils. Wheat germ oil is recommended for use on mature and dry skin and due to its antioxidant properties, it is useful to prevent premature aging of the skin.

Shea butter – shea butter is moisturizing and enhances the skin’s elasticity and flexibility. It is useful to treat very dry and damaged skin. It acts as a shield against external aggressors such as cold, sun, salt water or wind.

Beeswax – useful due to its protective and occlusive properties and its ability to turn liquid oils into solid balms. Useful for dry, damaged or cracked skin.

Recipe/formula (for 100g)

50g sesame oil

10g carrot oil

10g wheat germ oil

20g shea butter

10g beeswax

How to make your After Sun Balm

1. Weigh beeswax and shea butter.
2. Create a bain marie or water bath and melt gently.
3. Weigh your liquid oils (carrot, wheatgerm and sesame) and add to the butter and wax. 
4. Mix well. Remove from heat.
5. Pour into your chosen packaging and allow to cool and solidify. 

How to use and store

Massage your skin with the balm after a day at the beach or whenever you feel the need for extra hydration. You can also apply before going to sleep and let your body absorb the oils while you sleep. Wake up with softer, smoother skin! 

Store the balm in a dry place, and do not let water come into contact with it. Apply with clean and dry hands. The shelf life is approximately six months.

Have fun!

References

Beta-carotene and other carotenoids as antioxidants, Paiva SA, Russell RM.

Antioxidant activity of carotenoids, Wilhelm Stahl, Helmut Sies.

Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation, Radava R. Korać and Kapil M. Khambholja.