9 Self Care Items to Make Instead of Buying

Self-care doesn’t have to break the bank. Making your own DIY self-care products is easy and uses ingredients that don’t cost a fortune. Even better, the ingredients that you use for your DIY self-care kit are unlikely to contain any toxins or ingredients that are harmful to the environment. By making your own self-care products you are saving the planet from the excessive plastics and packaging that many of these products come in.

5 Essentials for your DIY self-care kit

Being on a budget does not mean that you must forego your skincare routine. There are so many DIY self-care ideas and tips for making your own self-care products. If you have these few ingredients lying around, you are sure to be able to whip up a few different DIY self-care products:

• Carrier oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba, or sweet almond oil
• Essential oils
• Honey
• Sugar
• Oats

DIY self-care products for your skincare regime

For thousands of years, we made do with skin products made from the simplest ingredients. So, avoid the packaging, the parabens, and the plethora of ingredients in store-bought products. Making your own is easier than you think. More than likely you have several of the ingredients that you need in your pantry right now!

1. Olive oil make-up remover

If you like wearing waterproof mascara, chances are that it’s a bit of a struggle to wash it all off before you go to bed at night. Invariably, you wake up with eyes resembling those of a panda the next morning. Removing your waterproof eye make-up requires just one simple ingredient: olive oil. You could also use sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Dampen a cotton pad with warm water and then pour on a few drops of olive oil. Wipe over your eyes to remove the make-up. As simple as that!

2. Two-ingredient face cleanser

Oil cleansing is a wonderfully effective, yet gentle, way of cleaning your face. Make your own oil cleanser by combining castor oil and olive oil in equal quantities.

3. Apple cider vinegar toner

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, using an apple cider vinegar (ACV) toner may help to balance the skin’s pH, reduce oiliness, and fight bacteria present on the skin. In a glass jar with a well-sealing lid, combine one cup of raw apple cider vinegar and two cups of distilled water. Depending on your skin type, you can also add a few drops of essential oils. For example, tea tree oil to fight bacteria, or witch hazel essential oil to firm skin.

4. Foot scrub with rosemary and peppermint

To get your feet Summer ready, the refreshing combination of peppermint oil and rosemary will leave your toes feeling clean and cool! Here’s the how-to:

• Mix a quarter cup of coarse sea salt, one tablespoon of table salt, one teaspoon of coconut oil, two tablespoons of olive oil, half a teaspoon of chopped rosemary, and three drops of peppermint essential oil.
• Stir the ingredients together to form a thick paste. If the mixture is too dry, add a few more drops of oil. If the paste is too runny, add a bit more salt.
• Massage the scrub onto your feet and rinse off under warm water.

5. Body scrub with blackberry and sage

Blackberries are jam-packed with antioxidants which are super useful in warding off the adverse effects of free radicals. Let’s make this sugar body scrub:

• In a food processor, place half a cup of blackberries, 10 large sage leaves, three cups of sugar, and a third cup of coconut oil.
• Process on high until the mixture is smooth.
• Store in a well-sealed jar for about one week at room temperature.
• To use, apply to wet skin and gently massage with circular movements.
• Rinse off with warm water.

6. Sugar lip scrub

For this DIY self-care idea, all you need is sugar, honey, and carrier oil. The sugar does the scrubbing. While the honey acts as a humectant, drawing water from the air into the skin. Honey also contains many antioxidants, helping to combat irritation caused by small cuts or abrasions.

• Combine one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of carrier oil (for example coconut oil or jojoba oil), and two teaspoons of sugar.
• Store in a small container and keep for about seven days.
• To use, simply wash any make-up off your face. Apply the lip scrub and gently rub it on your lips.
• Rinse off and apply a lip balm to moisturize your lips.

For painfully cracked lips, you can add a few drops of vitamin E oil to the DIY lip scrub. To plump up your lips naturally, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or cinnamon.

Items to include in your DIY self-care box

1. Home-made lavender bath bombs

Making your own bath bombs is so much fun! Once you have the knack, you can make a variety of different bath bombs combining different scents. Let’s begin:

• In a large mixing bowl combine one cup of baking soda, half a cup of citric acid, half a cup of Epsom salts, half a cup of cornstarch, and a bit of purple mica powder (natural coloring powder).
• Whisk these ingredients together.
• Gently heat two and a half tablespoons of coconut oil to a pouring consistency.
• Add to this, ten to fifteen drops of lavender essential oil, and a three-quarter tablespoon of water.
• Gently and very slowly pour the oil mixture into the dry ingredients.
• Mix all the ingredients together until the mixture looks like wet sand.
• Pack the bath bomb mixture into a bath bomb mold if you have one. Otherwise, use silicon ice-cube trays or muffin pans.
• Allow the bath bombs to dry for twenty-four hours before using them in your bath.

 2. Three-ingredient hydrating face mask

When your skin needs a hydration boost, this easy DIY face mask takes just minutes to put together.

• Combine half an avocado, two teaspoons of raw, natural honey, and two tablespoons of rolled oats in a bowl.
• Mash the ingredients together. For a smoother mask, grind the oats in your food processor before combing with the avocado.
• Wash your face with a cleanser and warm water.
• Pat your skin dry with a towel before applying the avocado face mask.
• Leave the mask on your face for about twenty minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water and a final splash of cold water to close your pores.
• Finish off as you would your normal skincare routine.

 3. Two-ingredient hair mask

Treat your locks to a nourishing hair mask that you can whip up using only two ingredients.

• Mix one tablespoon of raw honey with one tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Gently heat the mixture in a water bath to make the application of the mask easier.
• Leave to soak in your hair for thirty to forty minutes.
• Rinse the DIY hair mask from your hair using your standard shampoo and conditioner.

 4. DIY herbal tea for stress relief

DIY self-care ideas are not just for what you put on your body. What you put inside your body can also help you feel better, healthier, and more optimistic.

• In a teapot or mason jar, combine the following: two teaspoons of dried holy basil, one teaspoon of dried chamomile, one teaspoon of lemon balm, and half a teaspoon each of dried eleuthero root and lavender.
• To make the tea, pour boiling water over the dried herbs and allow to steep, covered, for twenty minutes.
• Pour the tea through a tea sieve or strainer.
• Sip and enjoy!

Keep it simple with these easy DIY self-care ideas

Making your own self-care products is not only better for your pocket, but also for the planet too. There is a vast number of different tips and recipes to inspire you to make your own self-care products. Most of these recipes use ingredients that you already have in the kitchen. So, what are you waiting for?!