In my last post, I wrote about some of the nasty toxins you should avoid in skincare products. Unfortunately, many commercial skincare products are loaded with the stuff. Luckily, we have been blessed by nature with a beautiful bunch of safer alternatives that we can use to make our own skincare products. Some of these ingredients you’ll already have lying around, while others you may need to source out from healthfood stores or online. Some of the ingredients are super cheap, while others are a little more pricier. BUT even if you do use the pricier ingredients, the finished skincare product works out to be much, much cheaper than store bought products – and best part is you know exactly what’s in them! Here are some of these ingredients:

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils have healing properties that can help with a range of skin conditions, from retarding wrinkles, to fighting acne, to soothing eczema. They are potent antioxidants, meaning they protect skin cells from free-radicals, and slow down aging. Essential oils are also added for their wonderful aroma, and can help to uplift and ground emotions. Essential oils support more than just healthy skin and emotions, though. Research has proven that essential oils quickly penetrate through the skin. Because of this, essential oils can affect the cells of the human body within minutes. They help create an environment that is unfriendly to free-radicals – not just on your skin, but also within your internal organs. It’s important to use 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils (such as Young Living) as anything less will very likely contain toxic petroleum-based solvents and synthetic fragrances. Therapeutic-grade are also one step above organic, as a very sophisticated and scientific process has been involved to create an essential oil that has the correct chemical properties to heal.

CASTILE SOAP

Castile soap is made from olive oil using the traditional cold process method, whereby glycerin forms as a byproduct of soap. It comes in liquid and bar form, and is often used in liquid face, body, hair and hand washes.

VEGETABLE GLYCERIN

Vegetable glycerin is a clear liquid derived from vegetable oils, is odorless and has a consistency of thick syrup. Glycerin is very nourishing to the skin, and helps increase moisture on the skin by locking it in to curb the dryness. It also helps as a ‘sticking’ agent in products such as cologne, to help essential oils linger longer on the skin.

SCRUBS

Design your own face and body scrubs using these exfoliating ingredients. Generally you would want to use 1 cup exfoliating ingredient to 1/4 – 1/2 cup carrier oil or liquid, plus 2 -3 tbsp of add-ins such as essential oils, superfood powders, herbs, flowers, citrus rind, chocolate.

● Salt: regular table salt is the cheapest, but you will get more health benefits from rich mineral salts such as epsom salts, sea salt, pink himalayan crystal salt.
● Sugar: regular white sugar is the cheapest option, but using a raw, organic sugar (i.e. coconut sugar or rapadura) is a better option.
● Ground coffee
● Bicarb of soda
● Oatmeal
● Ground rice
● Carrier oil: olive oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil
● Other liquid: milk, almond milk, soap water, raw honey

BUTTERS

● Cocoa butter: high in vitamin E; hydrates and soothes; used for stretch marks.
● Shea butter: thick, intense moisturiser; great applied directly to the skin.
● Mango butter: skin softness, soothing, moisturising; best applied in combo with carrier oil.
● Kokomo butter: healing; perfect for dry, cracked, rough, damaged and calloused skin.

CARRIER OILS

● Grapeseed oil: helps control sebum production; good for acne-prone skin
● Argan oil: shown to decrease sebum production; great for oily skin
● Neem oil: great for softening skin and getting that “supple” feeling
● Jojoba oil: neutralises ph of skin; great anti-inflammatory; good for breakouts
● Olive oil: great for super dry, aging skin and eczema
● Avocado oil: high in omega-3 and antioxidants; thicker, barrier oil
● Coconut oil: packed with protein, vitamin E and fatty acids; antibacterial properties
● Sweet almond oil: clears dead skin cells; evens skin tone and decreases dark spots
● Rosehip oil: contains vitamin C and lycopene, rejuvenates skin and maintains elasticity;
great for stretch marks

*****DIY Chemical-Free SKINCARE Workshop******

If you’d like to learn how to use essential oils to make your own natural, toxic-free skin care products, come along to our next workshops in November! If you’d like to attend but can’t make the date, please let us know and we can organise another workshop at a time that suits best.

LAUNCESTON WORKSHOP

When: Sat 5 Nov, 2pm-4:30pm
Where: Vibrant Life Clinic (Shop 3 Quadrant Plaza, 94 York St, Launceston)
Cost: $35 (to make and take five skincare products, and Paleo afternoon tea)

DEVONPORT WORKSHOP

When: Thur 17 Nov, 10am-12pm
Where: Devonport Soccer Club, Lovett St, Devonport
Cost: $30 (to make and take five skincare products)

During the workshop you will make:

Honey Lavender Face Wash – 250ml
Anti-Wrinkle Serum – 25ml
Skin Perfecting Face Cream – 120ml
Lemongrass & Ginger Salt Scrub – 250ml
Choc Mint Lip Balm – 10ml

All of the products will be made from natural ingredients, including 100% pure, therapeutic-grade Young Living essential oils. All ingredients and containers for the products will be supplied. You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to make your own skincare products! And it’s also super cheap – it is literally only $30 to make five high-quality, natural products, including the cost of the containers. Next time you make the products, you can re-use the containers and it will be even cheaper PLUS zero-waste – win win!

As spaces are limited, we would appreciate that you book in and pay prior to the workshop.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Filly

p.s. We’ve also just scheduled a DIY Toxic-Free Cleaning Workshop on Thur 1 Dec, 12:30pm @ East Devonport Community House. Stay tuned for more details!