Easy Homemade Skincare Recipes Made From Things In The Kitchen

Shrove Tuesday is almost upon us. The day to use up all the leftovers in the kitchen. But resourcefulness stretches further than just pancakes. This week we look at how you can save time and money in emergencies by making easy skincare recipes from things in the kitchen. 

Grab avocados, a jar of honey, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make a raft of enticing natural skincare. Make Cold Weather Skin Salve and Aching Muscles Massage Oil with cooking oils. Grab soft fruit, mayo, and milk to make face and hair masks. Make scrubs and bathe soaks with honey, oats, and vinegar. Even use old coffee grounds to make delectable face scrubs. Jump in and make some easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen with me!

The Resourcefulness of Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is called different things throughout the world, in Germany it is called “Fastnacht”, meaning ‘Eve of the Fast’. Icelandics call it “Sprengidagur”, which translates to ‘Bursting Day’. I feel fit to burst after two pancakes that’s for sure! However, in France and over your side of the pond there’s a huge festival called Mardi Gras, which translates to Fat Tuesday, which is, of course, popular in New Orleans. 

Lent’s 40 days are associated with fasting and penance. So in the UK,  Shrove Tuesday was born from the need to use up milk, eggs, and sugar that would be restricted throughout Lent. Making pancakes to use up ingredients has been repeated each year for hundreds of years. As a child I loved Shrove Tuesday, or what we always call Pancake Day. Dad controlled the frying pan and wowed with flipping skills, while Mom refused to get involved beyond mixing the batter! But even back then I loved the resourcefulness of the occasion. 

We go a bit nuts for pancakes here in the UK. Newsreels carry segments from local areas having pancake races and screens are filled with laughing kids and adults alike, merrily flipping their pancakes. Brits use over 52 million eggs on Shrove Tuesday, a massive 22 million more than your average day.

What Has All This Got To Do With?

Well, kitchens hold more than just eggs, of course, They are treasure troves of nourishing and hydrating skincare ingredients. Perhaps you have a few things that need to be used up before Lent, or maybe giving a  few great ingredients a new purpose will prevent them from being wasted.  

Be resourceful and make easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen. Crystalized honey? 

Don’t chuck it.  We can use it. 

Have an Avocado that looks past eating? 

Smoosh it up and slather it on your face. 

Dregs of Olive Oil sitting in a bottle taking up space? 

We can use all of these things, and so much more, in these supremely simple recipes. 

Easy Homemade Skincare Recipes - From Kitchen

Now, I appreciate not every kitchen houses as many ingredients as mine does (I am such a hoarder!) But if I wandered into my kitchen right now, I could put my hand on at least three or cooking oils that could work as carrier oils. 

I have a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a jar of solid Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I have a bottle of Sunflower oil for frying, Avocado oil, and some Walnut Oil for salad oils. I can use all of these oils to make easy homemade skincare recipes made from oily things! If they are good enough to consume, they will probably work on your skin. 

Try these two easy homemade skincare recipes to nourish and protect your skin through these last vestiges of winter. 

Cold Weather Skin Salve

This is great if you are out in cold, windy, or inclement weather and get chapped skin. A slick of this thick nourishing salve will protect your delicate and exposed skin. 

The Extra Virgin Olive Oil is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, which help to nourish and hydrate your skin while fighting free radicals and protecting it from the signs of aging. 

If your hands are constantly in and out of the water, make another batch and up the wax content by x3. It will give you a great barrier cream for your hands. 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Microwave safe measuring jug
   2. Stainless steel spoon
   3. 100ml Balm Tin
   4. Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • 15 grams of Beeswax (Cera alba)
  • 20 grams of Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii)
  • 60 ml of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europaea)
  • 40 drops of Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
  • 20 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia Serrata)

Optional: Natural preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions. 

Safety:

• Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy 

Method:

Generally, I would not recommend using the microwave for heating waxes, butter, or carrier oils. Simply because it can degrade their quality by heating them too hot.

However, we are supposed to be making easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen.  Since we will be using such small amounts here, it is hardly worth dragging the double boiler out, of course, if you feel the need, who am I to stop you?!

1. 1. First, put your Beeswax into the measuring jug.
   2. Place the jug in the center of the microwave and set it for a 30-second burst. 
   3. After each burst, check the progress of the wax.
   4. When your wax is half molten, add your cosmetic butter and stir in gently.
   5. Heat them both together in 30-second bursts again.
   6. As soon as everything is molten, add the extra virgin olive oil and heat for a final 10-30 seconds.
   7. Remove the jug from the microwave and set aside to cool slightly.
   8. After a few minutes add your essential oils.
   9. Stir it all thoroughly.
   10. Set your container in a place where you don’t have to move it, or at least on a tray. Protect your surface and pour it into your 100ml salve tin.
   11. Cover the salve with a soft clean cloth, don’t allow the cloth to touch the surface of the salve, and allow it to cool fully and set.
   12. Don’t add the lid while the salve is still hot. It encourages moisture and the potential formation of mold and bacteria. Add the lids once fully cooled.
   13. List all of your ingredients on an oil and waterproof label.
   14. Add a 3-6 month expiry date, longer if you used a preservative. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Please be sure to do a 24-48 hour patch test.
   2. This Cold Weather Skin Salve is wonderfully rich and heavy and perfect even for cracked skin. 
   3. Work it gently into your skin.
   4. If you will be out in inclement weather, apply evenly to create a protective layer. 
   5. To lock in extra hydration apply immediately over moisturizer or serum.

Fancy having a go at making more skin salves? Check out DIY Skin Salve: Harnessing Nature's Healing Power.

Aching Muscles Massage Oil

This is one of the super easy homemade skincare recipes made from things that are oily and lovely. I don’t know about you but this cold weather really makes my muscles and joints ache. 

There’s nothing more comforting than rubbing this warming and invigorating massage oil into your achy bits and getting your circulation going. Even better if you have a willing partner who will do it for you! 

Ginger essential oil brings a lovely warmth and anti-inflammatory constituents. While the Juniper and Lavender essential oils will help break down the formation of uric and lactic acids.

Tamanu carrier oil has wonderful anti-inflammatory qualities, but it does smell a bit like celery, so reduce the amount if that bothers you.

Use these essential oils or tinker with the recipe to best suit your needs. Read about the 10 Best Essential Oils for Muscle Pain: Excellent for Body Aches.

You Will Need:

1. 1. Measuring jug
   2. Stainless steel spoon
   3. Funnel
   4. 100ml dark glass bottle
   5. Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • 50 ml of Avocado carrier oil (Persea gratissima)
  • 50 ml of Tamanu carrier oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L)
  • 30 drops of Ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinale)
  • 20 drops of Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 10 drops of Juniper essential oil (Juniperus communis)

Optional: Natural preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions. 

Safety:

• Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Method:

1. 1. Simply measure out the oils and combine them all together.
   2. Pour into a 100ml bottle, using a funnel. A dark glass bottle helps preserve the life of the oils from light degradation. 
   3. List all of your ingredients on an oil and waterproof label for safety.
   4. Add a 3-6 month expiry date, unless you used a preservative.

How To Use:

1. 1. Do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
   2. Warm some oil in a small bowl set over another bowl of warm water, or just warm it in your hand.
   3. Apply to your aching muscles and joints in long upward strokes towards the heart. You want to break down the build-up of acids and move them towards your lymphatic nodes to be removed by your lymphatic system. 
   4. I always find it useful to place a warm towel or blanket over the area for an extra boost.

You’ve got the first two easy homemade skincare recipes made from things that are oily under your belt. Let’s go rooting in the fridge now! 

Easy Homemade Skincare Recipes - From Fridge

I know this sounds nuts but I have so many easy homemade skincare recipes made from things that live in your fridge, it’s a bit ridiculous. 

Your fridge holds a huge range of incredible ingredients for DIY hair, skin, and body care projects. You can use dairy products like eggs, milk, and yogurt, alongside fruit and vegetables like avocados, bananas, and other soft fruits, like berries.

Avocado Face Mask 

Grab a handful of fruit and create easy homemade skincare recipes made from things that you can eat. This one is super simple and great for any skin type with its cooling and astringent fruits. 

Use chilled ingredients, create it straight from the fridge, and use immediately.

Although, it is worth patch testing a bit mashed together, a couple of days before you plan to use it. 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Mixing bowl
   2. Blender, food processor, or immersion blender

Ingredients:

• • ¼ Cucumber
  • 4 Strawberries
  • 1 Tomato
  • 2 tbsp of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)

Safety:

• Do not store, use immediately, and compost any leftovers.

Method:

1. 1. Roughly chop the fruits.
   2. Place everything in a blender, food processor, or immersion blender beaker.
   3. Add the Rosewater and blitz. If it is too dry and you struggle to get it to blitz, add more Rosewater.
   4. Pour into a bowl and hot-foot it to the bathroom. 

How To Use:

1. 1. You need to use this immediately, so it is difficult to patch-test it as soon as you make it, so mash a bit of the fruit together before you make the whole recipe and try it out beforehand. 
   2. Apply to your face, neck, and decolletage in a liberal layer and leave on for at least 20 minutes.
   3. You can apply the excess to your arms and legs if you wish. Compost any other leftovers, it will not keep, so don’t store it. 
   4. Rinse off with clean, warm water until it is thoroughly removed. 
   5. Follow with your normal skincare routine or just a moisturizer. 

I have a whole article encompassing easy homemade skincare recipes made from things you can eat in DIY Natural Face Masks: Revitalize Your Skin with Simple Ingredients.

Smooth and Shiny Hair Mask

Trust me your fridge is bursting with things that you can use to make easy homemade skincare recipes made from things you can eat.

Grab some mayo, a couple of eggs, and a dash of milk and you have an incredibly nourishing hair mask that will smooth your hair and leave it super shiny. 

You can use nut milk, but just be aware that it lacks the hair-nourishing benefits of lactose and lactic acid. However, Oat milk is a lovely substitute if you have a dry, itchy scalp. 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Measuring jug
   2. Stainless steel spoon
   3. Hot towel

Ingredients:

• • 4 tbsp Mayonnaise
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup of Milk of your choice (Lac (Milk))
  • 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar (Acetum)
  • 10 ml of Olive Oil (Olea europaea)
  • 40 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)

Safety:

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Method:

1. Measure out the Olive Oil and add the drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil.

2. Add the Mayonnaise and mix thoroughly

3. Break in the eggs and mix together.

4. Add the Apple Cider Vinegar and stir.

5. Add your milk until it is to a consistency of your liking. The thicker the better in my opinion, as it will stick to your hair better and smooth the follicles. 

6. Give it all a good mix to make sure everything is evenly dispersed, especially the eggs. 

7. Hot foot it to the bathroom again and use it immediately.

How To Use:

1. 1. Give your dry hair a good brush and remove any tangles. You can add to this to wet or dry hair, but I find it tends to work best on dry hair. 
   2. I have long hair so I find it easier to tip my head over the bath, place the bowl in the bowl, and literally just scoop it over my hair, so any excess falls back into the bowl.
   3. Work it from root to tip, your scalp will thank you for rubbing a bit in there too.
   4. Wrap your hair in a hot towel and leave for at least 20 minutes to sink in. 
   5. Rinse using clean warm water until your hair is clear. 
   6. Shampoo if you feel it is necessary, it’s not always. 

Struggling to maintain healthy hair? try Boost Hair Growth Naturally: Top Essential Oil Recipes.

Easy Homemade Skincare Recipes - From Cupboard

Open your cupboards and you’ll find all manner of weird and wonderful things you can employ in your skincare. 

I think you will love the resourcefulness of these easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the cupboard. It really fits with our Shrove Tuesday theme of using things up so they don’t go to waste. 

Don’t throw your old coffee grounds out, smoosh them on your face and body with our Coffee Grounds Face Scrub. 

You can be really resourceful with Oats, I’ll be honest, I have even used leftover Oatmeal in my bath. Tie it in some muslin and hang it from the hot water top to get all the benefits of the Oats for your skin. You don’t have to do that, try our Oatmeal Bath Soak instead. 

Coffee Grounds Face Scrub

This coffee scrub is loaded with antioxidants, which are going to help when it comes to fighting the signs of premature skin aging. Tackling the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sunspots. It can also minimize redness and tighten your pores, improving the appearance of your skin. 

Coffee grounds help to clean the skin, by gently exfoliating away dead skin cells exposing the fresh, glowing skin underneath.

People swear by using coffee grounds to reduce cellulite, but the science to support this is thin on the ground. However, a study by Lupi (2007) suggests caffeine, which is present in coffee grounds, can be effective in the treatment of cellulite.  

You Will Need:

1. 1. Mixing bowl
   2. Measuring cups
   3. Stainless steel spoon
   4. Wide mouth jar
   5. Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • ½ cup of used Coffee grounds
  • ¼ cup of fine ground Sea Salt
  • ¼ cup of Coconut carrier oil (Cocos nucifera) or a carrier oil of your choice. 
  • 20 drops of Grapefruit essential oil (Citrus paradisi)

Safety:

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy 
  • Cold-pressed citrus oil can be phototoxic, so avoid direct sunlight, UV light, and sunbeds for 12 hours after application. However, this recipe has a very low dilution rate.

Method:

1. 1. Firstly measure your grapefruit essential oil into your coconut oil and mix well.
   2. In the bowl combine the coffee grounds and salt and then add the oil mix and stir to combine thoroughly.
   3. Make sure everything is well distributed.
   4. Decant into a wide-mouth jar and label, listing all ingredients. 
   5. Store in the fridge and use within a fortnight

How To Use:

1. 1. Do a 24- 48 hour patch test before your first use.
   2. Apply to your skin in small circular motions with your fingertips. Work across the surface of your skin exfoliating gently.
   3. Avoid your delicate eye area.
   4. Rinse thoroughly with clean warm water.
   5. Follow with your usual skincare routine. 

If you want a more masculine slant, check out How to Make Skin Care For Men With NO. 103 - Rich Mahogany and try our Gamechanger Face Scrub.  

Oatmeal Bath Soak

Want another range of ridiculously easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in your cupboards? Of course, you do, and you can make this as simple as you like. I’ve just upped the process a little to get the most from the ingredients.

Pop to the cupboard, grab some Sea Salt, Brown Sugar, and a half cup of Rolled Oats. Oh and I think we'll add a dollop of carrier oil to really look after your skin, choose what suits you 

Winter seems to be lasting forever right? Treat your winter-tired skin to this wonderfully fragranced Oatmeal Bath Soak, floral heaven for your mindy, body, and spirit. Sink back and relax into this one. 

If you have itchy skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis, I cannot recommend replacing the Oats with Colloidal Oatmeal enough. It is a miracle product for mine and my husband’s ‘winter itch’ and makes a world of difference. 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Food Processor but not necessary
   2. Stainless steel spoon
   3. Wide mouth tub or jar. 
   4. Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • ½ cup of Sea Salt (Sodium chloride)
  • ½ cup of Brown Sugar (Sucrose)
  • ½ cup of Rolled Oats (Avena sativa)
  • ½ cup of Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera) or oil of your choice. 
  • 40 drops of Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 40 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
  • 10 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata)

Safety:

• • Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Method:

1. 1. First measure out your grapeseed oil and add your essential oils to it and mix. Set it aside for a moment
   2. Your rolled oats will benefit from being chopped up a bit and your food processor is ideal for this. Make sure it is fitted with a metal cutting blade and not your mixing blade. 
   3. I like quite a fine Oatmeal bath soak, so why not go ahead and just chuck everything in, oats, sugar, and salt?
   4. Pulse the mixture for a few times and then blitz for a minute. Check the consistency is to your liking, if not, blitz a bit more. 
   5. You don’t have to do this….. You can just chop the oats a bit and mix them straight into the salt and sugar without processing. So if you don’t have a food processor, do this!
   6. Tip in the oil mix and stir until it is all evenly distributed through the oat mix.
   7. Decant into a jar and seal the lid.
   8. Use an oil and waterproof label and list all ingredients. 
   9. Use within a week. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
   2. Use about ½ -1 cup of oatmeal bath soak.
   3. A fine oatmeal bath soak means you can just chuck it in the bath and not worry about clogging pipes up. 
   4. If you have larger pieces of oat, they might block your pipes, so tie your oatmeal bath soak in a piece of cotton or an old sock and just chuck it in the bath instead and remove it when you are finished. 
   5. Soak for at least 20 minutes to get the best from the ingredients. 
   6. There’s no need to rinse this particular one of our easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the cupboard! 

I’ve recently written the Ultimate Guide to DIY Oatmeal Bath Soak: Soothe Itchy Skin Naturally. There is a recipe for everyone in the family, even your itchy dog! 

Easy Homemade Skincare Recipes - From Condiment Cupboard

Yes! You read that right …easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the condiment cupboard. It’s not quite the treasure trove that our fridge or fruit is, but your condiment cupboard has at least two truly versatile ingredients, Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). Both of these are powerhouses in natural skincare. 

Again, I’ve got two super simple and ridiculously easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the condiment cupboard for you to explore.

Vinegar Hair Shine

Vinegar has been used in hair care for thousands of years, as it makes your hair super soft and shiny. It does not have to be ACV, but it is the better choice, you can substitute it for rice vinegar, coconut vinegar, or even pineapple scrap vinegar.

One of my favorite people on YouTube for easy and resourceful recipes is Mary, of Mary’s Nest. Next time you peel a pineapple, why not try out her How to Make Fruit Scrap Vinegar with Pineapple Rinds? It’s a great way to be resourceful. 

Rosemary essential oil is perfect for hair rinses but has quite a few contraindications. You can always take some fresh organic Rosemary and steep it in boiled spring water for an hour. Strain the herb out before use and compost it. 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Large measuring jug
   2. Stainless steel spoon
   3. 1 litre bottle, that is easy to grip with wet hands! Glass is not a great choice here. 

Ingredients:

• • 730 ml of Springwater (Aqua)
  • 250 ml of Apple Cider Vinegar (Acetum)
  • 10 ml of Olive oil (Olea europaea)
  • 50 drops of Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)

On standby: 15 ml of Castile Soap. 

Safety:

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy

Rosemary essential oil specific:

• • Rosemary contains constituents proven to be pro-convulsive for some people, be cautious with this essential oil if you have epilepsy.
  • The stimulant nature of Rosemary may also stimulate your blood pressure, so those with Hypertension - High Blood Pressure need to use it with caution, if at all.
  • It contains constituents that can be neurotoxic and can affect psychosis or delusory issues like schizophrenia; use with extreme caution if you experience or are diagnosed with any of these.

Method:

1. 1. Measure out the Olive Oil and add the Rosemary essential oil and mix well.
   2. Add the Apple Cider Vinegar and mix, the oil should disperse fairly well. If it does not, add a bit more ACV. If you struggle to make it disperse your vinegar is not very strong, add 15 ml of Castile Soap to help things along a bit. 
   3. Top up with the spring water and decant into the 1-litre bottle.
   4. Label, listing all ingredients.
   5. Refrigerate and use within a week. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Do a 24-48 hour patch test first.
   2. Wash and condition your hair as normal.
   3. Shake the bottle to make sure everything is evenly dispersed, 
   4. How much you use really depends on how long your hair is.
   5. Apply to your hair and make sure every strand is soaked in the hair rinse.
   6. Do NOT rinse.
   7. Squeeze the excess out and then wrap it in a hot towel for at least 5 minutes. 
   8. Dry and style as normal. 

Note: Your hair will be very soft and shiny, so don’t use this before important up-dos and styles that need a good hold. It will simply fall out because it will be so soft and shiny. 

Did you know that you can Vinegar to clean your home? Find out how in DIY Natural Cleaning Products: Get a Sparkling Clean Home, Naturally!

Honey & Green Tea Face Refresher

This is just luscious for refreshing your face. I find the artificial heat we have in our homes at this time of year leaves my skin feeling taut and dehydrated. Green tea naturally reduces inflammation and is packed with antioxidants to help fight the signs of skin aging. The honey will leave your skin feeling velvety soft, supple, and hydrated, as it helps to lock in moisture. 

Crystallized honey is ideal for this because you will be melting it down in hot water. You can also use crystallized honey as an alternative to a sugar-based face or body scrub. It is just another super way to create easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in your condiment cupboard.

You Will Need:

1. 1. Kettle
   2. Small cup
   3. Stainless steel spoon
   4. Spray Bottle
   5. Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • 1 tbsp loose Green Tea or a couple of tea bags
  • 200ml Spring water
  • 2 tbsp of honey
  • Natural Preservative of your choice - if you want it to keep for a month or so. 

Optional: Essential oils, like Lavender, Geranium, or Chamomile, but you need to use them in conjunction with a dispersant like polysorbate 20 

Safety:

• • Avoid getting in the eyes, if you do, rinse with cool clean water. If irritation persists seek medical attention taking the clearly labelled bottle with you. 

Method:

1. 1. Empty your kettle…..(and remove any dodgy-looking limescale). 
   2. Fill your kettle with 200 ml of spring water
   3. Boil the kettle and while you are waiting, put the tea leaves or tea bags into the cup.
   4. Allow the kettle to sit for a couple of minutes after boiling.
   5. Then pour the hot water over the Green Tea, add the Honey, and stir well to dissolve.
   6. Allow to steep for at least an hour.
   7. Strain out the tea leaves or remove the tea bags.
   8. If you want this to last up to a month add a natural preservative of your choice. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. 
   9. Label the bottle, listing all ingredients and adding an expiry date.
   10. It will benefit from being kept in the fridge.
   11. If you don’t use a preservative use it up within a few days. It is so easy to do, you can easily make a new batch every few days and just make it in small amounts that you can use up quickly. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
   2. You can either pop this in a spray bottle and mist your face, which is my preferred option, and I just let my face air dry.
   3. Alternatively, you can apply it with a cotton pad liberally across your face, neck, and decolletage. 
   4. Avoid getting in the eyes.

Honey can be an amazing ingredient in Natural Face Masks, click the link and find out why. 

The Final Word

My word! Did you manage to clear some space in your kitchen cupboards with that lot? You have a whole raft of easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen to enjoy now.

These recipes are eminently adaptable and versatile, simply swap and change to suit your needs. Not got olive oil but you have grapeseed oil? Use that instead. Got a ropey-looking banana rather than an avocado? Fine, use that! Not got sea salt but have pink Himalayan rock salt, ace, use that too. Only got maple syrup and no honey, don’t worry, chuck it in.

Can you see how simple these easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen actually are? You can alter them to suit your needs. 

Essential Oil Safety Reminder

Check your eye on your essential oil safety though if you plan on changing those. Use the VINEVIDA Calculator to help you work out how much essential oil you can safely use. Check the safety synopsis for any contraindications and do not use any essential oils in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

If you plan to add essential oils to water-based projects like the Green Tea and Honey Face Refresher, remember you need to add an equal amount of a commercial dispersant like polysorbate 20 to disperse the oil through the water. This is to stop it from sitting on the top and coming out in globs of undiluted oil that could irritate your skin. 

Go and stand in your kitchen, open your cupboards and your fridge, and ask yourself what incredible ingredients do you already have to make your very own easy homemade skincare recipes made from things in the kitchen. Have fun with it!