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There’s a moment I think a lot of us have had in the skin care aisle: picking up a tiny jar that costs more than lunch, flipping it over, and squinting at an ingredient list that reads like a chemistry exam.
That’s what pushed me to start making my own.
These DIY skin care recipes are mostly short on ingredients and long on payoff. Many take under ten minutes, and you can see exactly what goes in every jar.
Here are 15 all natural, organic self care ideas you’ll wish you’d tried sooner, from lip balm to body butter to a simple toner.
The 15 DIY Skin Care Recipes at a Glance
Tap a section to jump straight to the recipes:
- Lip care: lip balm and lip scrub
- Body care: whipped body butter, body lotion, lotion bars, and body oil
- Shower staples: sugar scrub, body wash, and shaving cream
- Face care: witch hazel toner, rice water toner, face mask, and under-eye serum
- Small swaps: cuticle oil and deodorant
A quick note before you start: everything here is for everyday skin care and self-care. Do a patch test on a small area first, especially with essential oils or new ingredients, and check with your doctor or dermatologist if you have a skin condition or sensitive skin.
DIY Lip Care Recipes for Soft, Smooth Lips
Homemade Lip Balm
If you only try one thing on this list, start with how to make lip balm at home. It’s a beginner-friendly guide to the basics, and once you have it down, you can customize.
Using a simple 3-ingredient base—wax, oil, and butter—you can craft a deeply nourishing balm that actually heals dry lips instead of just sitting on top. Plus, it offers fun, custom variations like natural beetroot tints and essential oil scents so you can create your perfect go-to formula.
Once you get hooked on making your own (like I did), there are so many more recipes on the Idea Factory website, including tinted lip balm, cracked or chapped, SPF lip balm as well as a troubleshooting guide. See the full line up.
DIY Lip Scrub
Another super simple homemade recipe that you will wish you tried sooner! Sugar and honey are all you need for this easy DIY lip scrub that smooths dry, flaky lips in minutes.
Homemade Body Care Recipes for Dry Skin
DIY Whipped Body Butter Recipes
Tired of lotions that evaporate 20 minutes after you apply them? Most store-bought formulas are 60–80% water and packed with synthetic emulsifiers. Homemade body butter is the exact opposite—just pure, whipped nutrients your skin can actually absorb. In this featured guide, we break down:
- The Base Formula: Simple, ultra-nourishing, and customizable.
- 6 Custom Recipes: Tailored for different skin types and natural scents (including anti-aging, summer shimmer, sensitive skin and more)
- The Anti-Grease Secret: How to get that luxury, fast-absorbing texture without the greasy feeling.
- Troubleshooting: Quick fixes if your batch gets too hard or melts.
See which DIY whipped body butter recipes are right for you.
Homemade Body Lotion
When you want something lighter than a butter, try this DIY body lotion recipe. It makes a silky lotion in about 20 minutes and includes a few variations.
Natural Lotion Bars
These little gems started trending last year and I’m hooked! DIY lotion bars are a solid moisturizer that melts into your skin, which makes them super handy for travel and zero-waste routines.
Body oil
For a light, non-greasy glow, this DIY body oil is an easy way to keep skin soft and hydrated.
Shower Staples You Can Make Yourself
DIY Sugar Scrub
They’re simple, affordable, smell amazing, and somehow make even a regular shower feel like a mini spa moment. And the best part? You can customize them based on your mood, the season, or whatever ingredients you already have at home.
Three simple jars are waiting in these easy DIY sugar scrub recipes, in vanilla, lemon, and lavender.
Body wash
If you’ve been on Pinterest, you know there are 1,001 body wash recipes out there, but after trying quite a few, this one has been a consistent favorite.
So skip the sulfates and synthetic fragrance and try this homemade body wash recipe. It’s made with castile soap and only takes about five minutes to whip up (seriously!).
Shaving cream
Most store-bought shaving creams are packed with foaming agents that strip moisture. If you already struggle with dry skin, that can turn shaving into a frustrating cycle of razor bumps and post-shave itchiness.
This thick, creamy DIY shaving cream (I call it a shaving butter!) doubles as a moisturizing treat for dry skin.
Easy DIY Face Care Recipes
Witch hazel toner
Make your own with this DIY witch hazel toner recipe, which has five versions for different skin types.
Rice water toner
If you’d rather go gentle, this DIY rice water toner is simple and beginner-friendly.
Face mask
A three-ingredient skin tightening face mask is a quick way to turn a regular evening into a spa night.
Under-eye serum
Made with coffee, aloe, and almond oil, this DIY caffeine under-eye serum is a good one for tired mornings.
Small Self Care Swaps That Add Up
DIY Cuticle Oil
You can make DIY cuticle oil with jojoba oil and vitamin E, and the post even covers refilling your own cuticle oil pen.
Natural Deodorant
This was something I’d never imagined making, but after doing some research and seeing all of the “natural” deodorants that were hitting the market, I thought I would try making my own – and I love it!
Give this DIY natural deodorant cream a try. It has just four ingredients, plus a baking soda-free option if you have sensitive underarms.
Tips for Making DIY Skin Care Recipes at Home
- Patch test first. Try a small amount on your inner arm before using any new recipe on your face or all over.
- Start with clean tools and jars. Wash and fully dry everything so you don’t introduce bacteria or moisture.
- Label and date every jar. You’ll be glad you did when you’re deciding what’s still good.
- Make small batches. Recipes made without preservatives, especially anything with water, don’t last as long as store-bought products, so make only what you’ll use soon.
- Go easy on essential oils. A little goes a long way, and some oils can irritate skin or be unsafe around pets or during pregnancy.
More DIY Skin Care and Self-Care Ideas to Try Next
If you’re ready to keep going, a few more of my favorites:
- DIY solid perfume with six scent blends
- DIY coffee body butter
- DIY SPF lip balm
- DIY lip balm troubleshooting guide if a batch doesn’t turn out right
- Beginner guide to DIY tallow soap
And if you like the make-it-yourself approach beyond your bathroom shelf, don’t miss my guide to 15 DIY cleaning products worth making instead of buying.
Pick one recipe this week and make it. Once you’ve filled your first jar, the rest of the list gets a lot more tempting.
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Please note: This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
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