Best Guide to Formulate Your Own Skincare Basics

 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to navigate the mesmerizing world of DIY skincare products at home?

Whenever I ask this question, people retort immediately “Why should I?’’.

The hurdles that one usually faces when making their own skincare products at home are acquiring accurate knowledge about suitable ingredients and then implementing different methods to create the products.

Let me guide you regarding how to overcome these hurdles through my personal journey of making self made skincare products.

My interest towards DIY skincare routines happened in my adolescence when my aunt introduced me to the exciting world of healthy skincare basics. She showed me that quite a few products can be easily prepared at home.

From using fresh Multani mud face-packs, to creating lip balms for chapped lips, the entire process has enlightened me regarding how I can craft my own unique skincare routine using home-made products I make myself.

From then onwards, I have been creating DIY skincare and It has beden an enriching experience to try out new products at home and the results so far have been amazing.

Having Goals for Your Skin

As a beginner, I decided to make a face wash for myself and hence did a bit of research for the ingredients that would be needed. Soon I realized, it’s crucial to recognize:

1. Your skincare goals

2. Your skin type

3. And the products that align with both of these

To avoid unnecessary chunks of information, narrowing down these three goals in your research would provide more precise guides for product formulation. You can also watch tutorials for making DIY skincare and find amazing ways to formulate what best fits you.

ONLY 3 Ingredients – Making a Simple Face Wash

Let me share with you how I created my first DIY face wash.

Ingredients you’ll need

• 1 cup liquid Castile soap
• 2 Tbs Sweet Almond oil
• 10 Drops of Lavender essential oil

Mixing 1 cup of liquid castile soap, then adding 2 tablespoons of almond oil, and 10 drops of lavender essential oil, I blended these in a container, ensuring the ingredients were thoroughly mixed.

For a formulation so simple, the results were incredible! The face wash gave me a natural glow. And this experience provided more inspiration to continue my journey with natural skincare formulations.

In general, I must say DIY Skincare has risen in popularity in the recent years for all the right reasons, prominent among which portrays a significant change in how individuals perceive personal care.

There is a more conscious effort that individuals are putting in to make their skincare basics right by dedicating their leisure time in making them at home.

I feel that this surging increase in DIY skincare is not fleeting, but indicates a broader movement of people progressing towards more individualized beauty regimens specifically suited for their skin type.

Avoiding Toxins

As people are becoming more aware of the potentially harmful chemicals in commercial cosmetic products, there is a growing need of creating skincare solutions at home. Consumer awareness leads to innovation.

You’ll want to bookmark this guide of the essentials of formulating your own skincare!

The importance of DIY Skincare Products 

By creating natural skincare products at home, you ensure that you are using fresh, high-quality ingredients tailored to your unique needs, which can lead to a more personalized skincare routine.

Additionally, DIY skincare can be more cost-effective – making it a pragmatic choice for those looking to improve their skincare regime within a budget.

Due to many commercial skincare products being filled with synthetic chemicals and additives, which can lead to a variety of unwanted reactions, such as allergies, and long-term skin damage – DIY skincare is both a trend and a conscious choice demonstrating keen desire for more control over ingredients you apply on your skin.

Formulating your own products, gives you freedom to use the ingredients you know and trust.

Identifying Your Skin Type 

Understanding your skin type is a quintessential step before delving into the realms of skincare formulation. If you’re unsure, observe how your skin feels throughout the day and mark the different sensations. Here’s a detailed guide on types of skin to help you choose the right ingredients for your product:

Normal Skin –

Normal skin is characterized by a balanced proportion of oil and moisture.

It has a smooth texture and an even tone, with no excessive dryness or oiliness.

Maintaining this balance is what we need when opting for skincare formulations for normal skin. This can be achieved with nourishing products like aloe vera gel and rose water, or resurface with Vitamin C additives that can help keep the skin in radiant condition. 

• Aloe Vera
• Rose Water
• Vitamin C additives

Oily Skin –

Oily skin results from an increasing release of sebum, which leads to a shiny appearance and enlarged pores.

This skin type is prone to acne, blackheads, and blemishes.

When formulating products for oily skin, focus on ingredients that help control oil production. Ingredients like different kinds of clays, salicylic acid, lemon juice and witch hazel are particularly beneficial. 

• Different kinds of clays (Rose clay, French green clay, Mud-clay)
• Salicylic Acid
• Lemon Juice
• Witch Hazel (toner)

Dry Skin –

Dry skin often feels tight, rough, and may have visible flaky patches. Products for dry skin should be rich in moisturizing ingredients to maintain a healthy moisture balance. Ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and even goat milk soap are excellent choices to nourish dry skin. 

• Glycerin
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Ceramides
• Goat Milk Soap

Combination Skin –

Combination skin exhibits characteristics of more than one skin type like a mixture of oily and dry skin. When creating products for combination skin, it’s important to balance these varying needs. Products that offer oil control, such as lightweight lotions (using Coco caprylate, a natural ester compound that transforms heavier ingredients into a smooth, light, non-greasy formula), work brilliantly for this skin type. Ingredients that work best for this skin type are grapeseed oil, Niacinamide and aloe vera.

• Grape seed oil
• Niacinamide
• Aloe Vera
• Coco Caprylate (to make heavier formulations come out lightweight and non-greasy)

Sensitive Skin –

Sensitive skin is easily irritated and can react negatively to various factors like stress.

Products formulated for sensitive skin should be hypoallergenic and free from harsh chemicals.

Ingredients like chamomile, calendula, aloe vera, and goat milk are particularly effective for sensitive skin to give it the perfect glow.

• Chamomille
• Calendula
• Aloe Vera
• Goat Milk (for lotions, face creams, and soap)

Researching the Best Active Ingredients for Your Skin Care Basics 

Here is a list to explore and research the best active ingredients that cater to your specific needs. It is a fundamental aspect of DIY skincare routines to figure out what you want to include.

Let this guide help you in formulating your own products :

Active ingredients like Vitamin C are renowned for antioxidant properties. Vitamin C helps combat free radicals, brightens the skin tone, and reduces signs of aging such as wrinkles and dark spots. Use Vitamin C in your products to get radiant, youthful skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid is another powerful active ingredient. Primarily a hydrating agent, hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture in the skin. It helps maintain skin plumpness – making it ideal for addressing dryness and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Use it to keep your skin soft and perfectly moisturized. 

Niacinamide also called Vitamin B3 is incredible for it’s ability to enhance skin elasticity, improve skin barrier function, and even-out skin tone. It’s effective for reducing redness and hyperpigmentation. This ingredient can make your products highly effective if you are looking for even toning and bright skin.

Essential Oils and Carrier Oils are concentrated plant extracts that offer various therapeutic benefits.

For instance, lavender oil is known for its calming properties – helping to lessen blotchiness and redness.

Tea tree oil has antibacterial effects and used commonly for Rosacea.

Carrier Oils like Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Coconut Oil, are used to dilute essential oils and aid in their delivery to the skin. Otherwise essential oils if not used sparingly, cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Super Fast Essential Oil Face Serum Recipe

Try using this recipe to make a new product like a deeply moisturizing face serum.

Blend 1 part each of jojoba and rosehip oils together with a tinge of lavender oil and frankincense essential oils.

Stir them together, then let it set and apply a few drops to your face.

This is a simple yet perfect DIY recipe to keep your face glowing.

Understanding Natural Ingredients:

Natural ingredients are derived from plants and minerals, and they are much gentler and less irritating than cosmetic ingredients. They often provide additional benefits, such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can endow your skin with a paragon grace.

Cocoa butter, aloe vera and shea butter are some of the most popular natural ingredients.

The Craft of Skincare Formulations

Learning the craft of formulation is having your basics on point before actually diving into the process of making your own products. It’s a beautiful amalgamation of science and art, which requires you to have a good understanding of ingredient interactions and proportions.

You’ll need to PLAN, MIX, and TEST all your formulations.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you master and refine the art of skincare formulation:

Raw Materials like distilled water serve as a base in skincare formulations due to its purity. It is almost like the most generic but crucial ingredient.

Homemade skincare products have a shorter shelf life compared to commercial products. Natural preservatives such as Vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract can help extend the product’s usability.

Preservatives like rosemary extract can be used in making your own hair oils which would also ensure long term usability of the product.

Talking about specific products, knowing some easy formulas of basic skincare products can help you achieve the soft, smooth and glowing skin that you have always dreamt of!

Let’s discuss some of the products meant for specific parts of our skin: 

Eye Creams: 

Designed for the delicate areas around the eyes, eye creams can be created in many ways. Here is a recipe I love for a soothing eye cream:

• 1 cup Shea Butter
• 1/4 cup Jojoba oil
• 1/4 cup Sweet Almond oil
• 1 tsp Vitamin E (preservative)
• 10-20 drops Lavender essential oil

Firstly melt the shea butter in a double boiler or the microwave (yes, we condone the microwave).

Once it’s melted, stir in the jojoba oil and almond oils along with a bit of vitamin E oil.

Then add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Let it cool and store it in a tiny jar to complete making your finished product.

Face Masks: 

Face masks are useful components of skincare essentials. You can whip up a quick face mask by blending Greek yogurt with honey, a splash of lemon juice, and some finely ground oatmeal (recipe below). Slather it on your face, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off to get a fresh glow using your natural skincare product. 

• 1 cup Greek Yogurt
• 3 Tbs Honey
• Splash of Lemon Juice
• 1/4 cup finely Ground Oatmeal

Blend all the ingredients together, using a stick-blender if you wish to have a finer texture.

Store your face mask in a glass jar container for up to a week.

Lip Balms: 

Personally, I adore lip balms for their shiny glow and the amazing finish that they provide to the lips. To create a nourishing lip balm, melt together beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter (recipe below). Mix in a few drops of an essential oil of your choice for flavor. Pour it into small containers and let it set to get your ideal lip balm. 

• 1 Tbs Beeswax
• 1 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/4 Shea Butter
• A few drops of any essential oil (lavender, rosewood, peppermint, or tangerine are popular options)

Blend the first three ingredients together and heat in the microwave until the beeswax melts (this ingredient takes the longest due to wax melting at 175℉. Be CAREFUL! The mixture will be super HOT!

Wait to add your essential oil drops until the formula has cooled to about 100℉ – you’ll be able to touch your hand to it and not have to pull away. If you add the essential oils when it’s too hot, the essential oils can lose their scents.

Carefully pour the mixture into lip balm contains you have ready – OR simply use a glass jar, or multiple small glass jars to store your lip balm.

Exfoliants 

Exfoliants are very useful for scrubbing and cleaning skin. Physical Exfoliants include sugar scrubs or fine coffee grounds that manually slough off dead skin cells. They can be effective but should be used with caution in order to avoid excessive exfoliation. 

Chemical Exfoliants like salicylic acid and glycolic acid dissolve dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. They are very efficacious for treating acne and improving skin texture. Start with a lower concentration of them and slowly increase as your skin builds tolerance. To make simple exfoliants at home for brighter glow, try out the following formulations : 

For a physical exfoliant, mix finely ground coffee with melted coconut oil and brown sugar, then scrub your skin (avoiding your face unless you’re using powdered coffee) to get rid of dead cells.

• 1/2 cup Finely Ground Coffee
• 1/2 cup melted Coconut oil
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar

For a chemical exfoliant, combine yogurt with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and apply it to your face for a gentle peel. Both methods help refresh your skin by removing old, dull layers and revealing your true bright complexion.

• 1/2 cup Yogurt
• 1 Tbs Lemon Juice

Safety and Storage Tips for Homemade Skincare Products: 

Creating your own skincare products involves more than just mixing ingredients; it requires ensuring the products are safe and effective. Here are some core considerations to keep in mind:

Room Temperature: While some skincare products require refrigeration, most skincare products should be stored at room temperature to maintain their efficacy.

Extreme temperatures can change the product’s composition and reduce its effectiveness.

Clean Containers: Always use sanitized containers to prevent contamination – a rule of thumb is to wash everything in a diluted bleach-water solution, and then it all air-dry. This helps maintain the integrity of products and ensures they remain safe to use and last longer.

Patch Test Everything if You’re Not Sure

If you’re new to skincare formulation, always do a patch test before applying any product in a large area of your body.

To patch test – apply a small amount of the product to a discreet area and monitor for one day to ensure there is no irritation.

Mistakes to Avoid in Skincare Formulation 

One common mistake is using overly complex formulations, which can lead to unexpected skin reactions. Avoid using ingredients known to be irritating or unsuitable for your skin type, such as undiluted essential oils or high concentrations of acid.

Always prioritize using fresh, high-quality ingredients and be sure to follow precise instructions to achieve the best results. 

Essential Tools and Equipment for Home Made Skincare 

When diving into DIY skincare, having the right tools can make all the difference. You’ll need basic items like mixing bowls, spatulas, and measuring spoons to blend your ingredients accurately.

Also keep a small digital scale, digital infrared thermometer, and a double boiler for precision (you can also use a microwave).

With these essential tools, you’ll surely be successful in creating the best of natural skincare formulations!

Consulting Experts For DIY Formulations

While DIY skincare can be very rewarding, consulting experts can provide valuable guidance if you are starting out. Seeking consultation from a formulation chemist can enrich with insights into ingredient compatibility, and safety measures.

Furthermore, experts can advise on any potential allergens and suggest modifications to enhance the effectiveness of formulations. Their expertise ensures that your DIY skincare journey is both enjoyable and beneficial.

Embarking on this unique journey blended with the three C’s of creativity, customization, and control over own beauty regimen, enhance your skin health taking charge of the skincare products you use.

Be ingenious, passionate and eager to explore the basics of DIY skincare. With careful attention and bit of patience, you can enjoy a personalized skincare routine that not only addresses unique needs but also adds a gratifying touch of self-care to your daily routine.

I hope that now you are excited to be empowered on this journey of skincare formulation. Let us together make the world and our skin chemical/toxin-free.