5 must-have DIY skin care recipes

Introduction

Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With just a few simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can make your own natural skin care products that are customised for your skin’s needs.

Here are 5 must-have DIY skin care recipes to add to your beauty routine:

Honey Face Mask for Clear Skin

Honey is a natural humectant that helps hydrate and moisturise the skin. It also has antimicrobial properties to fight acne-causing bacteria. This easy 3-ingredient mask will leave your skin feeling soft and glowing:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
2. Apply a thick layer evenly over clean, dry skin avoiding the eye area.
3. Leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse off with warm water.
4. Pat skin dry and follow up with a light moisturiser.

Use this honey mask 2-3 times per week to deeply cleanse pores, reduce acne and breakouts, and boost radiance. The lemon juice helps exfoliate dead skin cells while the cinnamon powder has anti-inflammatory benefits. Be sure to use raw honey, as regular honey does not provide the same powerful skin care effects.

Brown Sugar and Olive Oil Scrub for Soft Skin

This nourishing scrub exfoliates and softens skin with just 2 ingredients. Brown sugar gently sloughs off dull surface skin cells while olive oil hydrates and repairs skin:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Stir brown sugar and olive oil together until well blended.
2. Apply a small amount of the scrub onto damp skin and massage in circular motions for 2-3 minutes. Focus on rough patches like knees, elbows and heels.
3. Rinse off scrub with warm water and pat skin dry. Finish with moisturiser.

Use this scrub 1-2 times per week to reveal smoother, softer skin from head to toe. The brown sugar buffs away dead skin while the olive oil nourishes. This scrub is gentle enough for daily use on both face and body.

Vitamin C Serum for Brighter Skin

Vitamin C is an antioxidant powerhouse for your skin. It helps boost collagen production, fade dark spots and improve overall skin tone and texture. This easy serum has vitamin C as well as hydrating oils like jojoba, rosehip and argan:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon powdered vitamin C
• 2 tablespoons jojoba, rosehip or argan oil
• 5 drops frankincense essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix the vitamin C powder with the oils until fully dissolved.
2. Add essential oil for fragrance (optional).
3. Apply 2-3 drops of serum to cleansed skin morning and night. Follow with moisturiser.

Use this brightening serum daily to see results like reduced hyperpigmentation and a more even, glowing complexion over time. The vitamin C works to inhibit melanin production while the oils feed your skin essential fatty acids for a youthful appearance.

Hydrating Cucumber Aloe Toner

This refreshing toner is made with just 2 common ingredients from your fridge and pantry. It helps rehydrate dry skin and provides soothing anti-inflammatory benefits:

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel

Instructions:

1. Blend chopped cucumber until liquified. Strain through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove pulp.
2. Combine strained cucumber juice with aloe vera gel in a glass bottle. Shake well to mix.
3. After cleansing, apply a thin layer over your face and neck using a cotton pad. Allow skin to fully absorb before applying other products.

Spritz on this quick hydrating toner throughout the day to give skin an instant boost of refreshment. It’s gentle enough to use on all skin types, even sensitive. The cucumber water and aloe vera work together to provide antioxidant protection, balance pH levels, and bind moisture to the skin.

Anti-Ageing Avocado Eye Cream

The delicate eye area shows signs of ageing fastest. Using a rich eye cream helps improve fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. This one harnesses the powerful anti-ageing benefits of avocado oil:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons mashed avocado
• 1 teaspoon almond, jojoba or argan oil
• 1/2 teaspoon honey

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mash up a ripe avocado until smooth.
2. Mix in oil and honey until fully combined.
3. Gently dab cream around the eyes, avoiding lash lines. Let absorb for 5 minutes before applying other products.

Use this nourishing eye cream daily to see a reduction in wrinkles, puffiness and under-eye bags. The avocado is packed with antioxidants like vitamins C and E along with potassium to de-puff. The oil and honey deeply hydrate to smooth out fine lines around this delicate area.

Tips for Making Your Own Skin Care Products

When making DIY skin care recipes, follow these tips for success:

• Patch test on a small area before applying any new recipe to your full face to check for allergic reactions.
• Use fresh ingredients and proper storage. Ingredients like vitamin C powder and fruit juices can oxidise quickly. Keep in air-tight containers away from light and heat.
• Sterilise containers and tools well before using them to make lotions, creams or serums. Any bacteria or contamination can be harmful when applied to your skin.
• Research ingredients thoroughly and avoid combinations that can cause irritation like lemon juice or essential oils on sensitive skin types.
• Stick to simple recipes with ingredients you recognise until you become more comfortable making skin care products yourself.
• Make small batches that can be used up quickly before they expire, especially anything water-based.

Do You Really Need Fancy Skin Care?

While store-bought skin care products make claims of revolutionary ingredients and cutting-edge formulations, the truth is you can get great results with basic natural ingredients you already have access to. Simple recipes like these 5 DIY options offer targeted solutions for common skin care woes like acne, dryness and wrinkles. Plus when you make them yourself, you know exactly what’s going on your skin.

For basic cleansing, moisturising and treating of problem areas, you really don’t need fancy creams and serums with unpronounceable ingredients. These back-to-basics recipes allow you to take control of caring for your unique skin needs with nourishing natural options made by your own hands. More affordable and sustainable too!

So next time you run out of your pricey skin care product, consider whipping up one of these DIY recipes instead. Your skin and wallet will thank you!

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