10 Easy DIY Skin Care Swaps – Affordable and Non-Toxic

Ditch those expensive skin care products from the store that are loaded with toxic chemicals, and try these 10 easy DIY skin care swaps instead.

Closeup of homemade bath salts with rose petals in a bowl with a wooden spoon

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It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago I was spending up to $150 a month on skin care products. Yep, you read that right. Some of you may relate too.

I used to buy expensive department store or mail-order skin care products to fight aging, wrinkles, age spots and adult acne. I used to think the more expensive the skin care product, the better the quality. Some worked, some didn’t. In the end, I spent a fortune without really getting great results.

Worst of all, most contained toxic chemicals, such as alpha and beta hydroxy acids (glycolic acid), hydroquinone, parabens, oxybenzone, vitamin A compounds (retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinol), and other toxic ingredients.1

And little did I know, I didn’t have to spend a fortune to get the best skin of my life.

10 Easy DIY Skin Care Swaps – Affordable and Non-Toxic

When I started using essential oils, I first started with DIY cleaners in my home. I made my own DIY all-purpose cleaner, homemade laundry detergent and DIY hand soap. I was thrilled to save money and get toxic chemicals out of my cleaning products.

But then, I started to think about my skin care products and slowly began making DIY skin care products with essential oils. Now I regularly use these 10 DIY swaps for toxic and expensive skin care products for just about $15 a month.

1. Face Wash

I used to think that I needed harsh face washes to cleanse all the impurities from my skin. I soon found out that those harsh cleaners contained harmful chemicals that stripped my skin of all the natural oils and contained toxic ingredients.

Oil is not the enemy when it comes to problem skin. In fact, oil is beneficial for the face. I’ve given up on traditional facial cleansers and now use the oil cleansing method (OCM) to “wash” my face at night. Here’s a tutorial on the oil cleaning method and why it’s good it’s great for all skin types.

I also have a DIY gentle face wash that you can make at home if you prefer a traditional facial cleanser without the harsh chemicals.

2. Toner

Store-bought facial toners or astringents remove excess oils, make-up and impurities from the skin. They are usually alcohol based, or witch hazel (particularly with natural brands). I’ve used both types for years – and while I love seeing all the dirt on the cotton ball – I realize now that those toners stripped the natural oils from my skin.

Now I use a homemade pH balanced toner made with apple cider vinegar. It’s way cheaper than store-bought brand toners, and it’s gentle and balancing for the skin. It’s great for all skin types.

3. Moisturizer

I used to spend a ton of money on moisturizers. Some department store moisturizers sell for $300 a bottle. It’s crazy to think that you can make your own DIY facial oil moisturizer with a natural sunscreen for just about $10-15 a month.

4. Facial Scrub

You can make a facial scrub at home for cheap and with just a couple of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with 1-2 drops of Frankincense, Lavender, or Lemon (all great for the skin). Exfoliate face for a couple of minutes and rinse off. Voila! Cheap and toxic-free facial scrub.

Find out where to buy high-quality essential oils HERE.

5. Facial Mask

Facial masks are one of the easiest DIY skin care products you can make with simple ingredients from your kitchen. Honey is a mainstay in my facial mask recipes. Check out 8 DIY honey facial mask recipes for all skin types. I also really like this easy honey face mask.

6. Facial Serum

Forget those expensive facial serums  in department stores. You can make your own for less than $5 with this DIY facial serum recipe.

7. Lip Balm

I used to spend $3-4 on natural lip balms, but then I learned how to make my own lip balm, and WOW! I can’t believe how easy and cheap it is to make. Check out my recipe for a DIY lip balm for just $0.24 a tube.

8. Eye Makeup Remover

It’s funny to think how much money I used to spend on eye makeup remover. Well, funny and then I think I could kick myself for wasting so much money and something so easy to make.

It’s so simple to remove eye make-up. Just put a little almond oil (or your favorite carrier oil) on a cotton ball and swipe over your eyes. Use a warm washcloth to remove excess oil. Or remove eye makeup as part of the oil cleansing method – which is a two-in-one shot to remove eye make-up, foundation, dirt, grime and excess oil.

9. Body Scrub

I admit I loved bath and body stores at the mall. I loved all the wonderful scents and creative names for body scrubs, in particular. Unfortunately, most of these products are loaded with toxic chemicals and additives for a longer shelf life. Plus, why spend $10-20 on a bottle of body scrub when you can make your own for $1-2?

It’s really easy to make your own homemade body scrub. Here’s are two of my favorite homemade recipes: DIY relaxing lavender body scrub and DIY zesty lemon hand and body scrub. Both have a salt scrub base and infused with essential oils.

Closeup of bath salts with rose petals in a bowl with a jar of bath salts on the side

10. Bath Salts

Make your own bath salts with 4 simple ingredients. Here’s my DIY bath salts recipe, which includes lavender essential oils but you can swap it for your favorite oils for a personalized detox bath.

The Best Essential Oils For DIY Skin Care

I have an entire guide dedicated to the best essential oils for skin care as they each offer different benefits and properties that can help transform your skin. Some of the reasons essential oils are used in DIY skin care include, helping fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, improve clarity, brighten skin, give a youthful appearance, and even help to banish blemishes.

Some of the most common essential oils used in DIY skin care include:

Find out how to buy essential oils at wholesale, and get a starter kit for 60% off retail prices. It’s the best deal around and a great way to get started with essential oils.

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

More DIY Recipes

Did you try this? Don’t forget to rate it and comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on FacebookInstagram and Pinterest.

Want More DIY Recipes?

natural beauty made simple ebook graphic

Check out my book Natural Beauty Made Simple. It comes with 45 homemade skincare recipes with a set of printable labels and gift tags. You can download it instantly to your phone, computer or e-reader, so it’s portable and can go with you anywhere!

  • Make your own organic beauty and skin care products for less than $25 a month!
  • Learn simple techniques to make your own skincare – without the fuss of complicated recipes or hard-to-find ingredients
  • Get tried-and-true recipes that work to nourish the skin and make it look more radiant than ever before
  • Create beautiful gifts for friends and family with the printable labels and gift tags I’ve included with this book

Take a peek at what’s inside Natural Beauty Made Simple.

Sources
1. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/
2. http://grist.org/living/ask-umbra-why-is-my-face-scrub-full-of-tiny-plastic-beads/

Photo credit: Bigstockphotos.com /  okkijan

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2 Comments

  1. I use Melaleuca products now but they are getting too expensive for me. Essante tried to get me to buy their products which are supposed to be totally non toxic but they too are very expensive!

    1. Definitely give essential oils a try. It’s cheaper to make your own DIY products but with Young Living you can get awesome discounts. Email me at tracey @ dontmesswithmama dot com if you’re interested.