Let’s Get You Started Creating DIY Natural Skincare Products! Do you want to start creating our own skincare, but are unsure of where to start? I don’t blame you! It can be overwhelming. Pronounce is here to help.
Skincare is a big deal. Your skin absorbs approximately 60% of what is put on it, so using skin and body care products that are full of chemicals you can’t pronounce is both scary and risky!
Have you taken a close and questioning look at the skincare ingredient lists in products you’ve recently purchased?
In many cases there are 15-20 ingredients you can’t pronounce. Even products claiming to be natural may have a lot of suspicious chemicals. Unfortunately, you will not have to look long before you find studies indicating that many commercially produced skincare products contain carcinogens, neurotoxins, and DNA damaging chemicals.1
I love creating healthy new skincare recipes and I always keep an arsenal of natural ingredients right on hand so I have no excuses!
Building Your DIY Skincare Toolbox
Find Natural Recipes
Probably much like you, I started browsing blogs just like this one for DIY skincare recipes that I could make on my own at home. The first thing I made was homemade deodorant, which is great for beginners. There are only 3 ingredients in the one that I created and you probably already have all of them in your pantry. Pronounce also has DIY deodorant recipes, one deodorant for regular sweaters and a deodorant for heavy sweaters.
Some other super simple recipes include: lip balm, eye makeup remover, foundation makeup, sunscreen, and sleep salve.
After making a few recipes you find online (or in books, like this e-book that we at Pronounce LOVE), you can get creative and make up your own “science experiments” (that’s what my hubby calls them).
Source Natural Ingredients to Stock Your Pantry
Below are the ingredients that I would suggest for someone who wants to get started making DIY skincare products.
Please try to secure ingredients that are organic, raw, unrefined, GMO-free, and sustainably sourced!
Staple Carrier Oils
- Coconut Oil (this is the only coconut oil Pronounce uses) – More solid at room temp than other carrier oils, you’ll see this as a base in the majority of DIY skincare recipes. Learn more in this Pronounce post about carrier oils.
- Almond Oil (we love this organic almond oil) – Other than those who have an almond sensitivity, this is an excellent carrier oil with multiple applications.
- Jojoba Oil (this jojoba oil is divine) – Again, another staple carrier oil in skincare DIYs; learn more in this Pronounce post.
View other carrier oil options
Review our extensive post on all things carrier oils here on Pronounce Skincare!
Staple Butters
- Shea Butter (this is a fantastically smooth shea butter) – A bit more soft than cocoa butter, you can apply this solo or mixed with a carrier oil.
- Cocoa Butter (organic, raw, unrefined cocoa butter like this) – Delicious and healthy chocolate-ish-ness? Yes, please!
View other specific butter options
Review our extensive post on all things body butters here on Pronounce Skincare!
Essential Oils
- Tea tree, lavender, orange, and peppermint are favorites!
Mountain Rose Herbs is where Jess, owner of Pronounce Skincare, buys the majority of her Essential Oils for DIYs and products in the Skincare Shop.
Other Essential Staples
- Beeswax (excellent quality, sustainably harvested… our favorite beeswax)
- Witch Hazel (this is the witch hazel we have in our toolbox; a lower alcohol content witch hazel)
- Bentonite Clay (this is our favorite bentonite clay good for so many ailments)
- Vitamin E Oil (this is a great Vitamin E Oil, non-GMO, effective, super soothing)
- Aloe Vera Gel (you’ll love this aloe vera gel)
If you are looking for 3 ingredients to start off with I would suggest:
- Coconut oil (since it’s good for more than just skincare… heck, you can cook with it)
- Shea butter
- Beeswax
You can make lots of great products with just these 3 things
Tools
Most the tools you need to start creating your own natural skincare items you will find right in your kitchen. You may think about eventually having some separate gear just for creating homemade items, but when you are just getting started some simple staples are all you need.
- Glass bowls – This glass bowl set gives you 3 different sizes which are great to use as a double boiler with a variety of sizes of pots
- Mason jars – Can also be used as a double boiler (make sure that no water enters your creations inside of the jar)
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and wooden spoons
- Kitchen scale – Required with recipes requiring a weight measurement, which the majority of DIY skincare recipes utilize; this kitchen scale is fantabulous
- Storage containers – Pronounce Skincare shop offers glass jars and metals tins of various sizes. You can also find glass spray bottles, rollers and droppers. Aaand if you wish to make your own powders and deodorants, we’ve got you covered – take a look at various types of plastic containers.
With just these simple ingredients, ideas, and supplies I have been able to create a ton of different body products.
But remember, I didn’t just decide one day that I would start making my own skincare products and order everything I needed to make them all. I started slow, bought things as I could (I was a poor grad student living off of one income), and would order in bulk to save money! In the long run I saved a ton of money making my own products and had a ton of fun!
xo,
Not feeling particularly DIYish?
Simply not enough hours in the day? Pinning more than you could ever tackle these days? No worries. I have got you covered.
Please, head on over to my Pronounce Skincare Shop where I sell all my skincare creations. I love making them for my family and for you!
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Deodorants
$14.00 – $37.00 Read more
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Jojoba Oil
$8.00 – $37.00 Read more
Comments 20
Hi! Thank you for sharing tips, recipes, and how to’s for getting started.
In general, how long do the products containing water last before spoiling? Is it best to keep them refrigerated?
Hi Renee! Great question! We recommend using up water-based products within three months. Although, keeping them in the fridge will help them last longer. I hope this helps you 😊
hi I want to make my own face creams with natural herbs ,soap, tissue oils but I don’t where to start
Hi Sisipho! We encourage you to just start playing and researching! That’s exactly what Jess did when she got started. If you need any more help you can sign up for our newsletter to receive our free ebook. The ebook includes our DIY guide featuring the best of Pronounce! I hope this has helped you 😊
I’m interested in making my own natural skin and hair range I need help
Hi Saja! We encourage you to just start playing and researching! That’s exactly what Jess did when she got started. If you need any more help you can sign up for our newsletter to receive our free ebook. The ebook has loads of information and includes our DIY guide featuring the best of Pronounce!
When you are creating your own skincare products, how are you/how do you make them shelf stable? Is there a natural preservative that can be use that is actually effective or is a small amount of a commercial preservative okay to use? Just looking for guidance on how to have a decent amount of time that my products can stay safe to use if the customer is not using it right away or very slowly.
Hi Shana. Great question! It depends on the ingredients in the products. Some handcrafted skincare products with only wax, oils, and butters will last until the expiration date of the individual ingredients (so long as they are stored carefully). Others that include water with oils, wax, and butters won’t last nearly as long. I have yet to find a natural preservative that I love. I do use vitamin e and rosemary antioxidant (extract) to help decrease oxidation, but those aren’t true preservatives. I hope this helps. 🙂
I want to learn to make my own face cream
Great! We have a few recipes that could help you out like this face cream. Happy DIYing 😊
thank u jess for motivation
Of course! Happy DIYing 😊
My daughter wants to start her own natural skincare line to sell on etsy. 3-5 items is a good start but how do we create our recipes without blatantly taking them from an online blog? I’d like to help her get this dream off the ground, but don’t want to take recipes from other people to make money off their efforts.
Hi Tamara. Great question…and I love her entrepreneurial mind! I also appreciate your integrity…thank you. 🙂 As you see, I offer loads of free DIYs on my blog, but also have my own skincare line. All of my recipes are mine. Some have inspiration from other recipes, but they are all 100% my creations. Some are totally my recipes, with no inspiration from others. I started by purchasing a few key ingredients in small amounts to play with. Starting small and with one product at a time worked well for me. This will help her to understand how the ingredients work. Simply reading all that she can and then playing in the kitchen one recipe at a time is a great start. I wish her much fun and success!
just love.
Thank you ❤️
How long after leaving reviews from an order, does a discount code come through? My daughter dumped my Tamanu oil jar from you ????
Oh my…it should be pretty instantaneous. Let me know if you are still having troubles…just shoot me an email.
Hi
Where do you purchase your deodorant cases from? It looks simply elegant!
Hi Kavitha! You can find the deodorant tubes we use for sale here! I hope this helps you 😊