How to Make your Own Homemade Cosmetics & Beauty Products plus Recipes

Homemade cosmetics and beauty products are cheap to make and additive and chemical free. Therefore they are perfect for people who want to save money, who have sensitive skins or who enjoy green living. Below you will find a number of simple beauty recipes for you to try. They are all natural and most of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen!

1.Although all the recipes here have been selected with safety in mind, before you try out any of your homemade cosmetics, always try new preparations out on your inner arm. Leave it for 24 hours to see if you have developed a rash or had an adverse reaction. This is especially important for people who are known to have a sensitive skin.

2.Certain essential oils should not be handled by pregnant women or anyone who may be pregnant or where there is an existing medical condition. If in doubt, seek medical advice. Wear rubber gloves when handling any concentrated oil and spice blends to avoid irritation.

3.In some recipes on how to make your own beauty products herbal infusions are mentioned. To make a herbal infusion: Take a handful of your fresh, favourite herbs or a tablespoon of dried herbs and pour 250 ml of boiling water over them. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes. Strain and it is ready for use. Preferred herbs for cleansing creams are rosemary, lady's mantle, lavender, chamomile, dandelion, marigold, nettle and violet.

This is a great cosmetic to make at home for tired and aching muscles. It is great to rub on tired feet, aching backs and even necks.

500 ml sweet oil

12,5 ml hydrous lanolin

12,5 ml wheatgerm oil

12,5 ml dried lavender flowers

12,5 ml dried rosemary

12,5 ml dried scented geranium leaves

12,5 ml calendula flowers

Blend the oils. Steep the dried herbs in a bottle containing the oils. Shake well daily. Keep out of direct sunlight, but keep in a warm place for 3 weeks. Strain out the herbs, pressing out all the oil. Pour into clean jars and store in a cool dark place. The secret is to massage the oil deeply into the tired or aching area, and then to soak in a hot bath. You may also add a strong rosemary brew to the bathwater if you desire.

5 ml cloves

12,5 ml coriander seeds

5 ml cassia

25 ml lavender leaves, dried

10 ml dried thyme

25 ml dried sage

Grind up all the ingredients in a hand mill or grinder. Add to a cup of baby talcum powder and use to dust under arms.

Homemade Cosmetics for the Skin

Cold Cream

20 g beeswax

60 ml peanut oil

1,25 ml boracic powder

20 ml rose water

25 g each lanolin and cocoa butter

60 ml each almond oil and strong herbal infusion

60 ml sweet almond oil

30 ml coconut oil

7,5 ml beeswax

15 ml emulsifying wax

30 ml strong herbal infusion

1,25 ml boracic powder

15 ml witch hazel

Use the same method to make all three cleansing products. Heat the oils and / or waxes and herbal infusions separately over two water baths. Where the boracic powder is used, first dissolve it in the infusion. When the waxes have melted, blend the infusion with the oils. Whisk by hand until the mixture has cooled and blended. Pour into a jar and shake well before using.

Simmer a handful of soapwort leaves and stems in enough water to cover for 10 minutes. Cool and strain. This is good for skin rashes and eczema.

Dry Skin Facial Mask

Mash 30 ml avocado, add 5 ml rosewater and 5 ml honey. Apply and leave on skin for 20 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and end by splashing the face with cold water.

Oily Skin Facial Mask 1

Mash up a small, ripe tomato and add 20 ml kaolin and 5 ml strong comfrey infusion. Mix this to a paste, adding more kaolin or infusion if necessary. Apply to the face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and end by splashing the face with cold water. This is also good for blemishes and blackheads.

Oily Skin Facial Mask 2

Make a strong chamomile infusion. Add 15 ml of the infusion to 15 ml yoghurt, 15 ml oatmeal and 5 ml honey. Apply the mask to your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and end by splashing the face with cold water. This will also help clear blemishes. The oatmeal has a cleansing effect and the honey acts as an antiseptic.

Normal Skin Facial Mask

Take one cleaned apple and cut it up into small pieces. Puree the apple in a blender, with 2 tablespoons of hone and 15 g of thoroughly bruised and chopped fresh sage leaves. Two tablespoons of rosewater may be used instead of sage, if preferred. Smooth the mixture over the skin and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water and end by splashing the face with cold water.

Cover a handful of chopped soapwort leaves and stems with water in a pan. Bring slowly to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Cool and strain into screw-top bottles. Use as a cleaner for all skin types.

To 2 tablespoons of glycerine, add 2 tablespoons of rosewater and 2 tablespoons of calendular flower infusion. Whisk these ingredients together so that they are well blended. Store in screw-top bottles and shake well before use. Smooth the moisturizer lightly on the skin, and then remove with a tissue, leaving a thin film on the skin for protection.

Homemade Cosmetics for the Hair

Soapwort Shampoo

Make a mild shampoo using soapwort. Make an infusion from a handful of soapwort to 500 ml of boiling water. add a handful of herbs (chamomile for blond hair, rosemary for dark) to the soapwort before adding the water. Leave for 30 minutes. Strain. Use 250 ml to wash hair. It will not foam like commercial shampoo but it will leave your hair smelling beautifully. To add shine to your hair add 15 ml gelatin to the recipe. Make sure that it has dissolved before using it.

Dry Shampoo

Buy dried powdered orris root from your herbalist. Part the hair in sections and sprinkle the dry shampoo on to each of the partings. Use an old salt shaker for a more even distribution but do not rub the shampoo into the scalp. When the whole head has been treated in this way, wait 5 minutes and then vigorously brush the hair for 5 minutes until the shampoo has been removed.

Herbal Shampoo for Dandruff

Beat together 2 egg whites, 1 tablespoon of green soft soap and 1 tablespoon of strong infusion of nettle leaves. Make the infusion by pouring 1/2 cup boiling water onto 1 tablespoon of chopped leaves. All to cool and strain.

Homemade Setting Lotion for your Hair

If your hair tends to lose its style very quickly you can used the following lotion. Mix the strained juice of one lemon with 1 tablespoon of vodka or brandy. Add 2 tablespoons of rosemary infusion for dark hair or 2 tablespoons of chamomile infusion for light hair.

HOMEMADE COSMETICS: HAIR RINSE

15 ml apple cider vinegar to 1 litre water. Rinse your hair with this to remove all traces of calcium and soap residue from your hair. It will also stimulate the scalp and is excellent for dandruff and itchy scalp.

HOMEMADE COSMETICS: NATURAL HAIR DYES

To lighten blond hair simmer a rhubarb root and stem in white wine for about 30 minutes. Strain. Mix in equal proportions to a strong chamomile infusion. Add enough kaolin to thicken to a paste. Apply to hair and leave for 20-60 minutes, depending on the degree of lightness you are after. Rinse off and shampoo hair as normal. For dark hair, instead of chamomile, used a paste or rinse of rosemary and sage if you want to darken your hair.

For more unconventional beauty treatments see our page on Natural Beauty Recipes and Tips written by our resident homestead blogger, Gypsy.

Do you have any Homemade Beauty Product Recipes of your Own?

If you do we would love to have them! Send us your recipes by clicking on our Homemade Beauty Recipes page. You don't kneed any special skills to contribute. As long as you can type and use a keyboard, you will be able to submit your recipes here.