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6 DIY Skin Care Recipes

You are all in for a treat today: my dear friend Gabby from Essentially Eclectic is here with a round-up of some of her amazing all-natural skin care recipes.  Now, don’t be surprised if you get hungry while reading this post.  (I did!)  She uses all natural ingredients like oats, cocoa, and honey in her recipes…because she’s awesome like that.  Take it away, Gabby!

Happy Monday friends and readers of The Thinking Closet! I am beyond thrilled to be guest posting at Lauren’s blog today–my heart is all a-flutter with excitement!!

My name is Gabby, and I blog over at Essentially Eclectic, an eclectic crafty / DIY / cooking / lifestyle / whatever-I-feel-like blog that was born after a cross-country move from Arizona to the great state of Massachusetts {#BostonStrong!} left me feeling like life could use a little more creativity.

Gabby!I first stumbled across this beautiful piece of blog-land that is The Thinking Closet one fateful January afternoon when Lauren’s 10 Tips for New Bloggers literally changed my blog-life. I rebuilt my blog from the ground up and have had an amazing blogging experience since then, one I almost certainly wouldn’t have had otherwise. I left my first-ever comment on that 10 tips post; little did I know it would grow into a much longer series of emails and finally into a lovely friendship.  {Smile.}  I am so happy to be here, and I’m even happier to be meeting all of you, dear readers!

Lauren and I thought it would be a good idea if I introduce myself by sharing with you a round-up of the body care products I’ve made over the last few months, since DIY skin care is my favorite kind of DIY! I’m not sure what it is, but I find there is something very satisfying about all-natural, homemade skin care. Who doesn’t like getting Lush-like products for a fraction of the cost?? Here are six quick and easy skin care ideas that you can make at home:

LAVENDER LOTION BARS

Lotion Bars  via Essentially Eclectic

I LOVE these little guys. Lotion bars are pretty much exactly what they sound like: bars of solid “lotion.” The heat created by the friction between the bar and your skin softens the bar, leaving a thin layer of lotion and leaving you skin extremely moist.

The recipe calls for a 1:1:1 ratio of three simple ingredients, and just about each ingredient can be substituted for others if you have allergies or just want to give your bars different healing properties.  For example, I added lavender essential oil to these bars to give them a calming, relaxing scent.

Inexpensive and easy to make, these bars make great gifts. For Christmas, I gave out mini-bars to my aunts and friends, and they were a huge hit! Even my aunt’s boyfriend was asking for more! And these bars seem to last forever, too. I may have been a little overzealous in my lotion bar making last fall, and I have some bars left over that still feel just as good as the day I made them.

If you have dry summer heels, I recommend rubbing these guys over your feet before bed and sleeping in socks. You will love the results in the morning! I have also heard of some moms using lotion bars to treat dry skin conditions like eczema. You can view my post on lavender lotion bars here.

Lotion Bars  via Essentially Eclectic

 

SWEET ALMOND HONEY OATMEAL GOAT’S MILK SOAP

Sweet Almond Honey Oatmeal Goat's Milk Soap via Essentially Eclectic

This soap is probably my favorite DIY beauty experiment so far, and next to the lotion bars, it is one of my most-pinned projects on Pinterest! I have always wanted to try making my own soap, but to be honest, I’m rather terrified of using Lye, an ingredient in soap that gives it its cleaning properties. Lye can burn your skin on contact, and the fumes involved in making soap are not child-friendly, to say the least.

So, when I learned that there was a thing called melt-and-pour soap, you bet I was all over it! Melt-and-pour soap bases can be clear or opaque, and there are a variety of different kinds. So far, I have used regular glycerin soap base and goat’s milk soap base, but you can also get aloe vera bases and shea butter bases. Once you have your base of choice, add your colors, scents and other additives to create gorgeous, luscious bars of soap! You can see how I made a sweet almond honey oatmeal goat’s milk soap here.

Sweet Almond Honey Oatmeal Goat's Milk Soap via Essentially Eclectic

 

DIY EDIBLE “MUD” MASK

DIY Edible Mud Mask via Essentially Eclectic

Okay, so you got me. This face mask isn’t really made of mud. It’s made out of ingredients you probably have in your fridge and pantry!

After doing a little research on the benefits certain foods have when applied directly to the skin, I decided to throw together some of those ingredients and see what happens when you rub them on your face. My husband Josh gave me weird looks as I walked around the house with food smeared on my face for 20 minutes, but I must say I was both surprised and impressed with the results! This mask left my face feeling fresh and clean {once I washed it off, of course}, and when it dried it actually felt the way store bought masks feel!

I think the best part about this mask, however, is that you can eat the leftovers! My mask ended up tasting like a chocolate smoothie.  {Smile.}  You can see how I made this delicious “mud” mask here.

DIY Edible Mud Mask via Essentially Eclectic

 

PEPPERMINT COCOA LIP BALM

Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm via Essentially Eclectic

I started out this post with a confession: I am Minty Kiss Lip Gloss {by Victoria’s Secret} addict. I was going through more tube after tube, and I needed a cheaper, more natural DIY substitute. Hence this lip balm! I’ve made this balm twice, once using shea butter and once using cocoa butter. Although it works with shea butter, I had a much better experience with the cocoa butter–and who doesn’t like the smell of peppermint AND cocoa?? No one, that’s who!

This balm was WAY less expensive than the Vicky’s Minty Kiss, significantly more moisturizing, and it lasts forever, too. Plus, it’s all natural! Gone are the days of wondering what Polyethylene Terephthalate is and why Victoria’s Secret is putting it in your lip gloss. If you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t be going on your lips. You can see how I made my new addiction lip balm here.

Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm via Essentially Eclectic

 

LAVENDER AND LEMON OATMEAL MUD MASK

Lavender and Lemon Oatmeal Mud Mask via Essentially Eclectic

This mud mask is actually made with mud this time.  {Smile.}  Technically clay, but when you get it wet it’s basically mud, right?

The special kind of clay used in this mask is often used in masks like this because of its unique properties; when wet, the clay produces an electrical charge that is supposed to draw out toxins from the skin. Um, yes, please!

I paired this mask with an interesting combination of doTERRA essential oils. Lemon is great for the skin, while lavender is calming and soothing. Unlike the “mud” mask from before, this mask can be made in advance and stored in powder form, so it makes a great gift. When you’re ready to use it, just add milk or water and voila! You can see how I made this actually muddy mud mask here.

P.S. Don’t eat this one!

Lavender and Lemon Oatmeal Mud Mask via Essentially Eclectic

 

JASMINE DEAD SEA SALT SOAP AND BODY SCRUB

Jasmine Dead Sea Salt Soap & Body Scrub via Essentially Eclectic

This soap project was almost a disaster. The funny thing about Dead Sea salt is that if you’re not careful, it can totally “ruin” your soap. When I made this soap for the first time, I didn’t have the foresight to recognize that if you put a soluble substance {read: Dead Sea salt} in a warm, wet liquid {read: hot, melted soap base} it will dissolve. {*Facepalm*}.

This wouldn’t be a problem except for that there is something about Dead Sea salt {and what that is I am still not sure} that will keep soap base from solidifying when there is too high a concentration of salt in the soap. Before I wade deeper into the murky waters of chemistry, suffice it to say that the soap bars with the greatest amount of sea salt in them never solidified and rather became chunks of sludge. MMmmm yummy. Sludge chunks.

Now, I put “ruin” in parentheses above because this soap project actually turned out to be a surprising win. The soap bar “sludge,” when whipped up with a spoon {thereby removing the chunks} actually turned out to be a surprisingly delightful body scrub! And fortunately, many of my bars of soap did end up solidifying just fine and both the soap and the scrub smelled divine. Gabby: 1, Universe: 0.

You can check out how I overcame this almost-soap-fail here.

Jasmine Dead Sea Salt Soap & Body Scrub via Essentially Eclectic

Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading about these projects just as much as I enjoyed making them, and if you decide to give making one a try, I would love to hear how it goes and what you think of the finished project. And when you’re done here, feel free to stop by and visit me at Essentially Eclectic to say hello!

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32 Comments

  1. Wow these look great and I’m definitely putting together a skin care kit for christmas! I noticed that there’s a different kind of coconut oil listed for the lotion bars and for the Lip Balm…should we be using the different kinds listed or is it okay to use the same coconut oil for both?

    1. Great question, Ashley! I know Gabby would be happy to answer it. Just click through the link in my post to her original tutorial and you should be able to find the answer there or ask her in the comments! Thanks and best of luck.

  2. Hi Lauren,
    thank you for sharing Gabby’s recipes for wonderful diy skin care. I told Gabby she inspired me to make lotion bars which I have never made before. With the holidays around the corner, homemade skin care can make wonderful gifts. People are always so surprised bc they think these recipes are too hard to make when many of projects are super easy. I’ll keep u posted on the lotion bars. 🙂 Happy holidays!

    1. I’m so glad to hear that! And it’s true – – homemade skin care gifts are so fitting for the holidays! I’m sure your gift recipients will love them! Happy holidays to you, too, Lisa.

    1. Great questions, Marjolein. Be sure to click through to Gabby’s original post on the lotion bars, and if the answer’s not there, go ahead and ask your question on her blog, so she’s sure to see it and respond! 😉

  3. These look incredible and I want them on my face right now! 🙂 I’m starring this post to come back to in order to try some soon (perhaps once I graduate this year and life slows down a bit…??). I’m a big fan of DIY skin care! Thanks Gabby. Also, you take great pictures…the ingredients of the mud mask look so appetizing!

    1. Lisbeth, I said the same exact thing when I read Gabby’s original mud mask post. I wanted to EAT the computer screen, it all looked so yummy. Let’s make one of these creations next time we have a Sister Summer Camp, k? K.

      1. Wasn’t our most recent “sister summer camp,” labeled by Mark, our return ski back on the lake trail? We were super tired and had visions of lodge’s lounging couch by the fire glowing in our heads. Alas, there was no time for making skin care recipes…but next time! At least the next time we’ve got an afternoon handy!

    1. Thanks, Kenley, for stopping by to check them out! It’s always a treat to hear from you, friend.

  4. Such lovely products! Thanks for making it look easy, and for the links to ingredients and to your blog posts about each one! These DIY skin products would make wonderful gifts all year long! As a nurse, I appreciate you including the aromatherapy, such as adding lavender for it’s calming effect and peppermint is energizing, I believe.

    Thanks for this guest post and for your friendship with Lauren! I was blessed to hear how her 10 Tips for New Bloggers benefited you! All the best as you settle in to life in the northeast!

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Marmie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the projects and found the links helpful. I was a psych major myself so those properties of essential oils are so fascinating to me! I think you are correct about peppermint being energizing! I hope our paths cross again soon 🙂 Hugs!

  5. Wicked awesome, thanks for sharing Gabby! Now I have visions of mini care kits as Christmas presents this year.

    1. I’m having those same visions, Kristy! It’s going to be a D.I.Y.-Skin-Care-Christmas for our family this year!

      1. I just got my hands on a silhouette this weekend too. I’m so excited to start using it and I’m certain I can whip up some fun boxes and vinyl labels to go with everything.

        1. Eeeeek! Congrats! I’m so excited for you, Kristy. Oh yes, you are all set to make some nifty gifties with your new Silhouette. Have a ball!

  6. Thanks Gabby! I always love these types of recipes.
    I would love some links to where you get supplies, like the oils, jars and molds you use. I live in nowhere land and mostly have to purchase these items online. Could you drop a few links?
    Yep, Lauren is terrific and so interesting!
    Hope to see you guest host again sometime soon.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed Gabby’s post as much as I did, Karen! And that’s a good question about where to buy supplies…will be curious to hear Gabby’s answer, too!

    2. I have SO many links for you!! Most of the stuff I used can be purchased online from Amazon:

      I used this muffin tin to make my lotion bars: http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Recipe-Right-Mini-Muffin/dp/B000FCD0CS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376942844&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+muffin+pan

      I used this silicone mold to make my jasmine soap bars (I bought the round molds at Michael’s for a $1 something): http://www.amazon.com/Freshware-12-Cavity-Silicone-Petite-Loaf/dp/B003VFWWWU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376942918&sr=8-4&keywords=silicone+loaf

      This is the cheapest almond oil I’ve been able to find (it can be expensive): http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Sweet-Almond-Moisturizing-ounce/dp/B0019LVFSU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376942942&sr=8-1&keywords=almond+oil

      I used cocoa butter rounds sold by my local naturals store but this would work: http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Cocoa-Butter-Cream/dp/B004X8IFUW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1376942967&sr=8-7&keywords=cocoa+butter

      I got my beeswax from an art supply store (there is a type of painting that uses beeswax) but this would work too: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Planet-BEESWAX-PELLETS-YELLOW-1LB/dp/B00B3U0FW4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376943002&sr=8-2&keywords=beeswax

      I prefer doTERRA essential oils, but this stuff still smells great and seems to be a little less expensive per ounce: http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Peppermint-Oil-ounce/dp/B00028MKRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376943066&sr=8-1&keywords=peppermint+essential+oil

      This was the brand of coconut oil I used [there is coconut oil for eating/cooking and then some designed mainly for skin or body, so just double check you’re not eating the wrong stuff ;)] : http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Organic-Virgin-Coconut/dp/B003B3OOPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376943101&sr=8-1&keywords=coconut+oil

      I got the little jars for the lip balm at my local naturals store but you can order things like that online. I’ve heard great reviews about this place: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.php You can buy soap base online: http://www.brambleberry.com/Bases-Melt-Pour–C151.aspx or through Stephenson Personal Care’s website, or you can typically pick it up at a craft store (I got mine through Stephenson via sponsorship but I’ve bought base at Michael’s before too).

      I hope that helps, Karen, and do stop by and say hello when/if you experiment with some DIY body care! I would love to see what you come up with!! 🙂

      1. Woah, girl! What an incredible resource list! Thank you for this, Gabby. Time to go “Christmas shopping.” (You can never start too early, can you?)

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